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Roman 'panis quadratus' (B.Y.O.V.V.)

Inspired by conversation a couple weeks back with fellow h̶a̶r̶d̶-̶c̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶n̶e̶r̶d̶s̶ scholars of classical receptions in science fiction, I replicated a Roman panis quadratus, 'quartered bread' (so called for the four diameters that divide the circular loaf into eight triangular wedges). For those interested, at the bottom I post the various stages of the bake.


The bread, if such a thing may be said, is relatively famous in the coveted cross-section of Classicists and bakers: a loaf was preserved for nearly two millennia, in the very oven it was baking in, thanks to the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE. Does this imply that Doctor Who had a hand in the mixing?

To honor that ancient means of traveling across time--i.e., getting frozen in carbonite--I paired the boule with a thematic carbonated beverage. B.Y.O.V.V.!


Stages in the bake


sourdough starter


overnight levain (biga)


the dough, after bulk fermentation, tied to replicate division into eight wedges


the segmented dough ready for baking (with 'baker's mark' at top)


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