Pain Rustique or the Beasts 1st child

Ok, I'm not saying I didn't have some serious issues making my first bread at home, using my own oven and levain (the beast). What I am saying is it's not bad, not at all. 

This has a crunchy top, and a soft, uneven crumb. I was scared to make this for many reasons: we don't have a steam oven, the oven is super hot (460F) and I'm a total novice. But once again the Hamelman book came to the rescue, nice details, bar one. When do I add the second batch of yeast and the salt? Two huge issues. Needless to say I forgot about both. But you know what the bread still tastes like bread but needs a salty spread, topping or something to be truly tasty. It does cut a good figure though!

Day One: The Beast aka my Levain

I'm growing a beast, a pet that requires feeding regularly and for the next 6-10 days it needs to be fed every 12 hours and then every 24 hours after that day in and day out. Yes my beast is a levain. Something that when I start to make breads at home will add to the complexity of the flavors. 

At school I hear "David, have you fed the levain?" "Sarah, have you fed the levain?" everyday the beast requires feeding. Then you rip a portion off add it to your bread and Bam - instant sour goodness! 

I'm using a book that one of my teachers recommended called:  "Bread: A Bakers Book of Techniques and Recipes: by a crazy obsessed bread man called Jeffrey Hamelman. Heaps of recipes, lots of great advice. The books geared to both the home bakers as well as professional bakeries, and the portions show it (for instance 23 loaves of roasted garlic levain vs. 2 loaves).

Anyway, everyone meet the beast.