BreadTalks: American Bread with Andrew Coe

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | 4:00pm–5:00pm ET 

Join award-winning author and culinary historian Andrew Coe for a conversation about his new book, American Bread: A History (University of California Press), a fascinating journey through the breads that have nourished Americans for generations. From early corn breads and immigrant baking traditions to sliced white sandwich bread and today’s sourdough revival, Andrew uses iconic loaves to tell the story of how bread has shaped American life. 

Andrew will be joined by Amy Halloran, writer and author of The New Bread Basket (Chelsea Green Publishing), for an engaging conversation about the evolution of American bread culture and the rise of today’s artisan baking movement.  

Whether you are a professional baker, bread enthusiast, or simply curious about the history behind the loaves we love, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for the role bread has played in American history and culture. 

 Praise for American Bread: 

"I love this book! A must-have for every enthusiastic baker." -Daniel Leader 

“A fascinating study of the pursuit of daily bread and the human spirit, transporting the reader through American history, one loaf at a time.”  -Amy Scherber 

“An essential reference.” -Apollonia Poilâne

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS:

Andrew Coe is a writer and independent scholar specializing in culinary history. His new book, "American Bread: A History," will be published in October 2026. He and his wife, Jane Ziegelman, are co-authors of "A Square Meal: A Culinary History of the Great Depression," which won a James Beard award. His ground-breaking "Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese Food in the United States" was a finalist for a James Beard award and named one of the best food books of the year by the Financial Times. He has written books, articles, and blog posts on everything from the ancient history of foie gras to the secret criminal past of chocolate egg creams to where to buy the tastiest bread in New York City. He has appeared in documentaries such as the National Geographic Channel's "Eat: The Story of Food" and "The Search for General Tso." He and his wife live Brooklyn with their two children. 

Amy Halloran lives in Troy, New York, where she is writer in residence at the Hart Cluett Museum. Her book, The New Bread Basket profiles people who are reviving regional grain production. Her fiction has been published by Gargoyle and McSweeney’s. She is studying the twinned histories of the modern American loaf and the modern American woman, and working on a book about the myths and other ingredients that baked her, and her forebears.