"the food industry's top priority's their bottom line, not your bottom"

What are the odds that I would meet an author who would comp me a book that's this good? It's likely that she knew that I would be impressed. This book is already changing my life.

The book is called "If It's Not Food...Don't Eat It!" by Kelly Hayward, and it's blowing the whistle on what's really going on with the food we eat, if we don't change our eating habits. Most people are killing themselves to live, eating some of the poison that passes as food.

I'm no exception. Until recently, I was selling my soul to the Aspartame Devil. I knew better, but now I'm walking the talk. When I got out of the joint, I was taken in by what I considered to be one of the greatest inventions since I had departed from society: Trident's tasty sugarless gum. I knew it was wrong, but a guy's gotta have some vice!

It's not the first time I've had to recover from an addiction, and this time it's relatively easy. In fact, every time I make a good step--now that I have discovered a clear path-it just feels good. And it's just plain easy to leave behind that which doesn't belong.

Anyway, for a guy or girl who's taking the high road, this book is a no-brainer. (In the interest of full-disclosure, I must say that she awarded my "Good Seed" Spelt Bread "Best Bread in the World" status. So sure, I'm going to be nice to her. But this glowing?) I'm only a few chapters in, and I can't wait to get back to it. This lady is cool, and her book is righteous!

(In the photo: The fine lady on the left's name is Tara and she's a personal trainer, which is about all I know. The other fine lady--on the right--is Ms. Kelly Hayward, author of "If It's Not Food...Don't Eat It! The guy in the middle, well, he's just having a really good day!

And what's up with the big chunk out of the digital photo? Weird.)

it's not always easy, but it's always great...

I think it is part of my mission as a 4-time loser and life-long knucklehead who's learned how to learn (and therefore, how to live) that I try to help others do the same. My life rocks. Every day! I do something simple, but oh-so-challenging--you guessed it, I make killer bread--and yet what I do affects (dare I say) thousands of people, in a good way!

I don't think this is quite what I expected would happen when I was released back into society 25 months ago. I think I thought it would be easier. I knew I would create some good things(I hadn't been baking in prison all those years, but I had learned some great lessons about the creative process) but I had no idea what, just how. I knew I wasn't going to fail because for me, there was no such thing. (I cannot tell you how blessed I was to reach bottom and hang out there for as long as I did. The worst day I've had in the past 25 months is nirvana compared to the many, many bad days that came before.)

I really didn't expect some of the battles I've had since I got out of there. I thought I had learned the lesson of humility and could swallow my pride in any situation and let reason and truth rule. I had found a path in prison--a very lonely path--which had given me incredible strength and courage. Now I see that these things didn't prepare me to avoid fights, but gave me the tools to survive them and come out a better person.

In some ways it's been hard, yes. But the rewards are really the stuff of dreams. Every day, I get sincere and meaningful praise. People love me for what I do.

So how do I plan to help others find the way? Well, probably not by giving speeches...at least, not yet. My life is exceedingly full, bro. I don't have the time to prepare for public speaking. I think I will help others by just keeping on this path, and telling people about it. The word will get to those who are willing and ready.

Remember, I had to scrape bottom for a long, long time before I found my way. Others who are like me will have to find their own bottom, then maybe I can help them. By example.

(Photo #1 Amy Troy doing a story for Channel 8 News in late 2005. Photo#2 Shobi with Tessa in a recent shot. Photo #3 Dick Shymanski--Naturebake and DKB Sales Boss. he mean-mugged the first shot I took. this one shows the real Dick.)

clearly from the heart...

Dear Dave:

I came across your wonderful bread at the Vancouver Farmers Market last year. I have loved it from the first bite!
I have to say my favorite is the Blues bread. I even have my partner eating your Blues bread and she is not hip on most healthier breads out there.

Your bread has become an even more important part of my life. I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes. I have changed my eating habits completely. Your breads are a staple in my eating lifestyle. I have learned how important "good carbs" and fiber is to me. So when it comes down to it;
Dave, You are an important part of my life now!
Living with diabetes is challenging, and you make it a lot easier to follow a healthy diet with all the breads I can choose from.
Thank you for making such a quality product and God bless you on your journey!
Most Sincerely,
Bobbie Bacoccini

must've been a slow movie...

I just bought my first loaf of your bread from Whole Foods yesterday.
It is soooooo delicious!! I found out about it at the movies of all places. I was sitting chatting with some people next me to that recommended it.
Just wanted you to know I love the 21 Grain and can't wait to try your other ones.
Keep up the great baking and creating.
A almost 41 year old in LO
Have a great week.

a McMinnville fan

Hey Dave,
Not so much a question as a quick little note :-) I discovered your bread almost by accident two summers ago at the Farmer's Market. It kind of dropped off my radar for a bit as I moved up and down the I-5 corridor between colleges and home, but I couldn't bring myself to buy another loaf of bread at a store. I went low carb for awhile because I just couldn't bring myself back to substandard bread! When I moved into my first apartment in August (with my very own student sized kitchen!), I started baking my own bread in pursuit of that Farmer's Market taste I had tried two years ago, but haven't quite been able to find it.
Today, while at my friendly local organic grocery store in McMinnville, I found it! Dave's Killer Bread! That was what I had tasted so long ago! I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to renew my friendship with your bread. I'm a bit of a baking snob now, and I refuse to buy anything ready made from a store. Cookies, cakes, scones, rolls, crackers - I make them all from scratch, or not at all. But for your bread, I'll happily ignore my inner June Cleaver and make an exception.
My loaf pan is going to miss me.
Kudos,
Carrera

another blast from the past

While touring the expo yesterday, Glenn and I (the two bookends in the picture) ran into lots of people we hadn't seen in years (particularly me, since these people don't go to prison). In yesterday's post, I ran down my family's history with The Moores from Bob's Red Mill. Today, Ill introduce you to Paul Wenner, the founder of Gardenburger.

A couple of years before I got out of the joint, I had got into the habit of reading the Oregonian daily pretty religiously (although it was always a day late at Snake River in those days). And I almost fell off the punk bunk when I read "Gardenburger acquired for half a billion" or something of that nature. It was hard to fathom. Back in the 70's, NatureBake supplied his restaurant, where it all started, with hamburger buns. I was totally not even paying attention. All I wanted to do was find a drug that would save me.

Now Paul lives in Maui, of course. And he even visits P-town now and then, where he still has a house from those days. He didn't get to where he is the easy way. He worked 70-80 hours a week back in the day.

I know all about that, although I've slowed down and started balancing a little. I have a feeling it's the "calm before the storm". There's no shortage of people all over the country who've tried DKB and want it in their local stores. The best we can currently do is UPS. This week, we sent our first order to Rainbow Grocery in San Fran. QFC and Metropolitan Market in Seattle have both expressed their desire to get the bread.

It's only the beginning for us. Remember: baby steps!

maybe you can go back...

Anyone who is into healthy food knows about Bob's Red Mill. Today I had the real pleasure of spending a while talking with these great people: Bob and Charlee Moore. Bob reminisced about his first wholesale customer, my father, back in 1978. Bob liked my dad's whole grain breads, and began selling them in his store. My dad talked him into selling him wholesale lots, and Bob delivered the flour in his station wagon.
(I wouldn't remember much of this if Bob hadn't told me himself. At 15, I was already fully occupied in setting up the nightmare that would ensue for the next 25 years.)
Bob didn't seem too impressed with the name "killer" bread. But I guess he doesn't mind if I keep using some of his killer ingredients to make it.
Glenn (my brother) and I are about to wrap up this trip to Natural Foods Expo here in Anaheim, Ca. It's bedtime now, so I'll introduce more of the stars tomorrow.