HIGH-QUALITY, SIMPLE INGREDIENTS
ROBUST FLAVOR
HAND-CRAFTED TASTE
It’s no wonder that artisan breads and rolls are beloved for all they bring to the table. And here at Rich Products—from batards to ciabatta to focaccia to boules—we’re making it simpler than ever to serve these delicious options to your customers.
HOW WE BAKE
THE ARTISAN DIFFERENCE
The delicious taste and crisp final products of our finest breads and rolls start with the work that happens at our Artisan Bread plant. We sat down with R&D Manager Mai Lee to discuss the process that sets our products apart.
A:
Here, artisan bread is made with quality, simple clean label ingredients and a natural sourdough starter (called levain) that delivers flavor and texture through its long fermentation process—rather than other loaves that use just flour, water and salt. We also bake our breads in stone hearth ovens and continue to add our own hand-crafted touches.
Q:
We often hear about “fermentation time” in artisan bread making. Could you tell us why we take so much more time with our bread, and what difference it makes in the taste and texture of our final product?
A:
Fermentation begins with the starter, and we do bulk fermentation of the dough and proofing in a controlled temperature and humidity proof box. This builds both flavor and texture. Our high hydration and stress-free make-up let us to maintain gas in the dough, which produces a moist, open crumb. The bread is baked in a stone hearth oven with steam. The stone transfers high heat to the bread to generate oven spring and help set the crisp crust.
Q:
We’re proud of using traditional methods in our bakery. Could you walk us through some of these traditional techniques and explain why they’re still important in modern breadmaking?
A:
Our boules are carefully shaped by hand, and our loaves are individually scored – a proud testament to our commitment to craftsmanship and preserving the artisanal integrity of our breads.
Q:
There’s a lot of talk about “starters” or “mother dough” in artisan bread making. Could you explain what these are and why they’re so important to our process?
A:
The sourdough starter is the life of artisan bread. A starter is made by combining flour and water and allowing it to ferment over time. Although it sounds simple, there are complex reactions going on. During this process, lactobacillus bacteria and wild yeasts are found in wheat flour and the environment interacts with sugars naturally present in the flour, creating a balanced starter culture to leaven breads and create bold flavors. Our starter is unique due to our environment and how we maintain and feed it. Being close to San Francisco, it contains lactic acid bacteria, which is what’s found in the city’s famous sourdough breads. Our starter produces complex lactic and acetic sour flavors and has strong leavening power. You only get this through years of maintaining a stable starter.
Q:
Here at Rich’s, we’ve developed a unique way to bake authentic artisan bread on a larger scale while maintaining its craft quality. Could you share what makes our process special and how we’ve managed to preserve the artisan characteristics while producing at scale?
A:
Our artisan bread is produced using traditional methods with a focus on quality ingredients and utilizing stress-free equipment for large-scale production. We’ve been able to maintain the traditional aspects of artisan bread while achieving a larger output. Although there’s plenty of new technology that lets us automate some processes, we still use manual methods which offer flexibility and create that handcrafted touch.
JOIN RICH’S ACADEMY
TO LEARN THE ART OF OUR ARTISAN BREADS
Join us for Parbaked to Perfection, a free, on-demand course from Rich’s Academy that explores all the tips, tricks and transformative possibilities of bringing our parbaked breads and rolls to your operation.
Get the best of both worlds: fresh-baked breads and rolls that simultaneously ease back-of-house labor pressures. Our parbaked portfolio helps you serve up the taste customers crave with scratch-quality products that offer easy handling.
Take me back to the Resource Center!
SINGLE PRODUCT INSPIRATION FOR HEALTHCARE
Welcome to the third edition in our series Versatility Unleashed, where we showcase all of the ways you can stretch the versatility of one product across multiple recipes to maximize efficiency for your healthcare program. In this edition, we’re showcasing the versatility of our Premium Custard Base — your shortcut to rich, custard flavor in everything from beverages to desserts and more, without the labor intensive steps of scratch preparation. Let’s whisk up the possibilities!
CRÈME ANGLAISE BREAD PUDDING
Transform classic bread pudding into an elevated dessert by incorporating a velvety crème anglaise made with Premium Custard Base. This adds extra creamy deliciousness without all the extra work for your kitchen staff!
CRÈME BRÛLÉE
Crème Brûlée the easy way! Deliver a fine-dining favorite for your patients, residents, or guests with little labor. Made with Premium Custard Base, this elegant dessert boasts a silky, rich custard crowned with a perfectly caramelized sugar crust that cracks at the touch of a spoon — indulgence made simple.
RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE SHOOTERS
A graham cracker crumb base and a cream cheese filling made with Premium Custard Base, topped with red raspberry sauce, delivers the delicious, creamy cheesecake profile everyone loves in an easy-to-eat and -serve format.
ESPRESSO CHOCOLATE MOUSSE SHOOTERS
This café-inspired, rich chocolate and espresso dessert option delights patients and guests alike. Just a few ingredients combined with Premium Custard Base, and you’ve got an indulgent mousse that presents itself beautifully in portioned shooters!
PUMPKIN PANCAKES
Infuse your pancake batter with Premium Custard Base and pumpkin purée for a seasonal breakfast, lunch or dessert that’s light, fluffy, and bursting with autumn flavor.
WHISK UP THE POSSIBILITIES.
PREMIUM CUSTARD BASE
Premium Custard Base brings rich, creamy custard flavor to any menu, from breakfast to beverages to decadent desserts. Ready to thaw and use, this chef-inspired liquid base is crafted for authenticity and versatility — easily infused with seasonal flavors or into classic timeless recipes. It delivers a silky, indulgent texture and consistent, scratch-like results, helping you inspire indulgence all year long with minimal time and labor.
Contact a Healthcare Foodservice Specialist.
Product information, recipe inspiration, or simply someone to talk things through with — we are here for you. Let us know how we can help.
Take me back to the Resource Center!
SINGLE PRODUCT INSPIRATION FOR HEALTHCARE
Welcome to our new series Versatility Unleashed, where we showcase all of the ways you can stretch the versatility of one product across multiple recipes to maximize efficiency for your healthcare program. In this edition, we’re showcasing the versatility of one dinner roll dough SKU, using Rich’s Simply Proof & Bake Parkerhouse Roll Dough — your shortcut to scratch-like quality with minimal effort. Let’s roll out the possibilities!
JAM-FILLED DANISH PASTRIES
These Jam-Filled Danish Pastries offer a delightfully sweet twist using Parkerhouse Roll Dough. Once proofed, roll out your dough and shape and fold into stars, then spoon with jam in the center. Bake until golden brown and bubbling. Perfect menued as either a breakfast treat or dessert!
THANKSGIVING SLIDERS
Bring the comfort of the holiday season to your healthcare menu with Thanksgiving Sliders — a craveable, handheld take on holiday leftovers. Our baked Parkerhouse Roll Dough offers the perfect carrier for layers of thinly sliced turkey, cranberry sauce and swiss cheese. Before heating the sandwiches in the oven, brush the rolls with butter and any sauce or seasoning in your pantry, like dijon mustard, worcestershire or everything bagel seasoning.
MEATBALL CUPS
Offer a warm, familiar favorite in a new compact, easy-eating format. Begin by pressing your proofed Parkerhouse Roll Dough into muffin tins, then fill each cup with marinara and a fully cooked meatball, then top with shredded mozzarella. Bake until golden brown and bubbling for a protein-packed option that works equally well as a lunch or dinner entrée.
ASIAGO OLIVE ROLL
Transform your Parkerhouse Roll Dough into a delicious artisan creation. These Mediterranean-inspired Asiago Olive Rolls deliver bold, savory and global flavor as an elevated bread offering or an entrée. Chop up your proofed Parkerhouse Roll Dough on a cutting board using a bench cutter. Dump your shredded asiago and chopped olives onto the pile of chopped dough. Then chop the ingredients into the dough, continuously chopping until all of the ingredients are incorporated. Form the dough into a roll and chop into as many roll doughs as you started with. Place on a parchment-lined pan and bake until golden brown before serving to your patients or guests!
ZA’ATAR BREAD
Bring on more global flavor with this aromatic Za’atar Bread — a simple way to add variety and interest to your menu with minimal prep using our Parkerhouse Roll Dough. After the dough has proofed overnight, flatten each dough to remove all of the air and create dimples with your fingers. Brush an olive oil and Za’atar spice blend onto your dimpled dough. Bake until golden brown for a warm, herbaceous flatbread that pairs well with salads, soups, or mezze-style plates with hummus and other dips, spreads, olives and cheeses. This offers a sodium-conscious option inspired by the Mediterranean diet.
READY TO ROLL!
SIMPLY PROOF & BAKE PARKERHOUSE ROLL DOUGH
Simply Proof & Bake Parkerhouse Roll Dough offers a soft, rectangular-shaped roll with a subtly sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with a variety of applications. Convenient proof-and-bake format makes it easy to deliver fresh, scratch-made bread with minimal time or labor!
Contact a Healthcare Foodservice Specialist.
Product information, recipe inspiration, or simply someone to talk things through with — we are here for you. Let us know how we can help.