Spoiler Alert: This book by the owner of Margot Bakery in London is NOT for the novice baker.
I am currently hell bent on moving away from pappy supermarket UPF bread and also moving away from industrial yeast. The plan is to get more fermenting buddies into the kitchen and sourdough is to join ranks with Hugo the kefir. I have some experience with sourdough (given, not made), but with a lot of travelling keeping it was a problem.
The starter process was explained in good detail, however the chapter on the starter and even more so the dough shaping would have greatly benefitted from illustrations - all those different folds are rather difficult to follow.
And you’d better have no full time job - e.g. the ciabatta takes 60 hours to make - sans baking!

All in all, an interesting and generous array of different sourdough bread and pastry recipes with mouth-watering pictures.

This is a really excellent and beautifully formatted guide to making sourdough! It seems to explain the process well enough for beginners and has recipes that experienced artisans will enjoy as well.
I love the photos.

I am a sourdough novice. I tried a starter once and then attempted a loaf of bread and it was a disaster. I am fascinated by sourdough though!
I thought the instructions given for starting a starter and keeping it going were very in depth. I may actually attempt to follow these more detailed directions and see if I can succeed.

The recipes were amazing. I had no idea the variety of sourdough delights that could be made. There are the breads but also sweet and savory recipes that I'd never even considered! I appreciated that there were photos of all of the finished products and some of them also included step by step photos to help you master the techniques.

There are many steps for each recipe, and that may on the surface seem overwhelming. But I greatly appreciate being specific with regard to the steps, especially when making something I am not familiar with.

I haven't tried any of these recipes personally, seeing that I killed the only starter I ever tried. But I think I'd feel comfortable attempting a bread recipe first and then perhaps progressing to other more complicated recipes once I felt comfortable working with the sourdough starter.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to receive an advanced copy of this book to review. I'm happily and voluntarily leaving an honest review.

A lovely book of recipes from Margot in London. The recipes are in chapters on Bread, Sourdough Pastry, Sweet Sourdough, Savory Sourdough, Margot Specialties (cookies and cakes), and Jams and Spreads.
There is a significant section on creating a sourdough starter, including a chart showing three weeks worth of what to do. There is also a section on dough.
Each recipe has a color photo, and I found there to be a good variety of flavors in here.

Beautiful pictures, lots of great information and several recipes that I can't wait to try out. The only reason why this isn't a 5 star book is for the same reason most sourdough bakery books don't reach that 5th star; the recipes aren't accessible to the home baker. Most sourdough books of this kind require the use of different "refreshments" as this book calls them. The average home sourdough baker is going to have their main starter and that is the one they're going to keep fed. Having to take a bit of that one to create these other refreshments to then bake that particular loaf isn't always as accessible as it is to a bakery. As someone who doesn't like to keep a lot of discard around, and who doesn't bake every day, I don't want to have to take a bit from my main starter. I just want to use that and bake these beautiful loaves.

Modern Sourdough is a delightful addition to any baker's cookbook collection. Michelle Eshkeri's detailed instructions for growing a sourdough starter offer a helpful starting point for bakers of all levels and the book only gets better from there.

I got into sourdough during the pandemic (like so many others), but I still had so much to learn and this book is definitely going to up my game. The book is hugely visually appealing, with gorgeous photos that made me want to start baking again immediately.

It features a wide range of bread recipes to suit every taste, from classic loaves to fancy pastries. This book even includes recipes for desserts and jams/spreads from Michelle's restaurant Margot, all of which look absolutely amazing.

Whether you're new to sourdough or looking to try something new, this book is a valuable resource. Get ready to up your baking game and enjoy the delicious flavours of homemade sourdough creations!

This book really needs a subtitle! It is the most wonderful introduction to the methods used at Margot bakery to create breads and viennoiserie using sourdough but also includes cakes and biscuits.

These methods take time, many days in some cases before you start to mix but well worth it.

It includes recipes that are unfamiliar which makes it all the more exciting for an experienced baker. Definitely a keeper

While I enjoy baking with yeast, sourdough is still a bit intimidating and yet I SO wish to master it. Especially baking sweet breads with it. Modern Sourdough teaches you how to make starter and create savory and sweet bread with it which is "one-in-all". This book contains breakfast ideas such as pancakes, crumpet, familiar breads like brioche, ciabatta, and flat bread, treats like brownies, cakes, and cookies.

This book isn't certainly for novice bakers, however, it will help you to build up some confidence as long as you follow the instructions well. Not all recipes come with pictures and some recipes are rather new to American readers (at least for me!). I can't wait to start baking, but expect most of recipes are pretty time-consuming and require patience along the way. If you're interested in delving into sourdough, give this book a shot!

I have a couple of sourdough recipe books, but neither have enthused or encouraged me as much as this one. It’s straightforward, packed with colourful photos and every step is clearly laid out so the reader can get to grips with this slightly tricky dough. I’ve never managed the starter dough but, but for the first time after decades of baking pg, I’ve got a culture going and I’m thrilled.

I’ve been cooking and baking for over 50 years and this is one of the best cookery books I’ve read. It’s great as an ebook on a tablet, works seamlessly, but when oublished, I shall buy a hard copy as I want it on my cookery book shelf. It’s brilliant.

As a new sourdough baker, I found this book incredibly helpful. This book included directions for baking bread with measurable attributes such as dough temperature. I’m excited to try some of the new recipes included beyond just a basic loaf. Thank you for this advanced copy!

I'll need a physical copy of this: to read it better and to be able to review it. But first impression is excellent, very didactic and clear, good infographics and the photos are beautiful

This book talks all things sourdough, this book totally is hitting the trend of sourdough making and it comes with such great sourdough ideas! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

Beautiful photography in this. The bread looks delicious and the recipes sound accessible. I definitely plan to make a few.

This is an excellent cookbook! Sourdough baking can be confusing and the author does a great job walking through the steps. I loved her ideas, I’ve got some new recipes to try!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Let me tell you I’ve already made a few of these recipes the New York rye is my favorite the crumb is amazing. I want a physical copy for sure.

Modern Sourdough is a cookbook where each recipe starts with a sourdough starter! The book starts off with how to make a starter and this is where I got confused. I'm a beginner and I'm also assuming this cookbook is for beginner and intermediate sourdough bakers. However because I've never seen what a sourdough starter looks like, I would've appreciated more pictures. I did deduce that an "alive" starter has bubbles in it. I was super excited for the Babka and pizza recipe! The recipes came with great pictures.
The author of this cookbook, seems like a pro at sourdough and it would be nice if we could get gluten free or dairy free recipes in the future. There also is no section for tools/equipment needed which I feel was needed. The "Dough Process" section was very helpful.

Thank you to NetGalley and White Lion Publishing for the ARC!♥

Modern Sourdough is such an amazing cookbook! It has everything I would want in one. Thank you for providing images of the recipes. I feel so many cookbooks lack in photos of their dishes. This will be an immediate purchase for me when it comes out. The recipes were amazing, and I can't wait to make even more.

I recently delved into Michelle Eshkeri's "Modern Sourdough" cookbook, an exciting opportunity for me as a devoted home baker. Exploring this book introduced me to fresh techniques and recipes for crafting delectable sourdough bread.

Michelle Eshkeri's extensive baking background and fervor for sourdough are apparent in her work. The book is replete with detailed explanations and meticulous, step-by-step instructions that reflect her expertise. While not a prominent chef or celebrity, her passion for baking shines through her writing.

"Modern Sourdough" caters to both amateur and seasoned bakers. Eshkeri's lucid guidance and valuable tips make sourdough baking accessible to newcomers, while the innovative recipes and methods offer seasoned bakers an opportunity to diversify their skills. Whether one is an aficionado of artisanal bread or merely curious about sourdough baking, this book serves as a valuable asset.

Eshkeri's engaging and approachable writing style makes the cookbook a delightful read. It is worth considering that some reviewers may anticipate recipe testing to provide further insights into the cookbook's offerings.
The essence of "Modern Sourdough" is to assist home bakers in mastering the craft of sourdough bread. Eshkeri accomplishes this by furnishing a comprehensive introduction to sourdough baking, sharing personal anecdotes, and presenting adaptable recipes. The cookbook is thoughtfully structured, with clear headings, user-friendly instructions, and informative sidebars. The inclusion of weight measurements and conversions enhances its accessibility to a global audience of bakers.

The imagery in "Modern Sourdough" is striking. The photographs beautifully showcase the final bread products, offering visual aid for techniques and shaping. The illustrations are precise and contribute to a better understanding of the recipe steps. The quality and relevance of the visuals amplify the cookbook's overall allure.
Despite my inability to test the recipes due to ingredient constraints, I found the recipes themselves to be detailed and well-crafted. Eshkeri's instructions are thorough and easily comprehensible, catering to both novices and experts. The incorporation of wholewheat starter instructions and enticing sweet sourdough recipes captured my interest, prompting me to experiment with them in the future.

In conclusion, "Modern Sourdough" is an exceptional resource for sourdough enthusiasts. Michelle Eshkeri's ardor for the subject shines brightly in her prose, offering valuable insights for bakers at every skill level. While certain recipes may require specific ingredients that could limit some readers, the book's overall layout, readability, and visual charm make it a valuable asset for any baking enthusiast. I wholeheartedly endorse "Modern Sourdough" to those embarking on a sourdough baking adventure or seeking to enhance their proficiency in this delightful culinary pursuit.

As I am tackling the new to me world of sourdough I found this book truly inspiring. Sourdough is very intimidating, however, after reading through this book I feel more confident in my starter, and I now know a ton of new ideas of things I can make instead of just plain sourdough bread. I can’t wait to try some of these recipes, especially the flatbread and cinnamon rolls.

Sourdough bread is the most intimating thing to attempt to make. This book gives you the step by steps on making delicious homemade sourdough bread. It’s easy to understand and breaks down everything for you.