Pain au Levain
playing with dough
date: April 5, 2025
location: San Francisco, CA
camera: Leica Q2
Pain au Levain: Flour, Friends & Fresh Loaves
Taking the Pain au Levain class at the Civic Kitchen in San Francisco with my friend was such a fun and memorable experience. The space itself is so welcoming, with its warm lighting, shelves lined with a rainbow of cookbooks, and every piece of kitchen equipment you could possibly need. Our instructor was a true bread-making legend, known not only for his skill but for his levain starter—affectionately named Lucky Lady 99—which has been alive for 39 years and even has a spot in the Starter Hall of Fame in Belgium. We learned the full bread-making process from mixing to baking, all broken down with patience, humor, and a deep love for the craft.
Of course, no day of baking is complete without a good meal, and we paused midway through for a lovely lunch—open-faced tartines, a crisp salad, and a little wine to round it all out. The day was a perfect mix of focus and fun, with plenty of laughter and good conversation kneaded in between the dough. After class, we walked back to her place, where we met up with our husbands and her daughter for a leisurely stroll through Bernal Heights. It was the perfect way to end the day—stretching our legs, enjoying the view, and soaking in the good energy from a day well spent.
