San Francisco-Style Sourdough Bread

Sourdough bread made in San Francisco is characterised by its pronounced sour flavour, produced by a strong degree of lactic acid in the dough brought about by a particular species of lactobacillus called L. sanfranciscensis, a native to the Bay Area. It’s possible to make a close imitation of it, though, even if you live several thousand miles away as I do. After a couple of near-misses, I spoke with my friend Ciril Hitz, formerly the department chair for the International Ba