You most likely acknowledge Bob Moore’s face from the bundle of each Bob’s Pink Mill product—he’s the man with the white beard and pleasant smile. After falling in love with stone-milling at their household farm, Moore based the corporate together with his spouse in 1978 in Oregon Metropolis, Oregon. The model, which is understood for its big selection of flours and different grains, is now in grocery shops throughout the nation. On February 10, Moore died at 94, the corporate introduced. He’s survived by his sister, Jeannie, his three sons Ken, Bob Jr., and David, and his grain firm, which has been employee-owned since 2010.
Senior check kitchen editor Shilpa Uskokovic displays on the methods Bob’s Pink Mill made specialty grains and flours extra accessible, and the affect he had on American baking tradition.
I solely met Bob Moore as soon as, throughout a Zoom cooking class in 2023. He didn’t say a lot, however I bear in mind recognizing the identical white hair and bearded face from the bundle of his merchandise. I bear in mind considering, What number of instances have I seen that face in grocery retailer aisles? It was spectacular, I believed, that the founding father of this enormous firm would nonetheless take the time to be at this cooking class with 9 cooks.
Moore’s passing this week made me consider the primary time I discovered Bob’s Pink Mill merchandise in my native grocery retailer means again in 2013. I used to be struck by simply what number of merchandise this single firm provided. That was after I was working in eating places equivalent to Jean-Georges and Marea, and I bear in mind being shocked to see the identical elements we utilized in an expert kitchen, like xanthan gum, proper there on the shelf. It sat subsequent to the area of interest grains and hard-to-find flours like amaranth and hazelnut flour that, beforehand, had been principally confined to well being meals shops.
I’m actually not the one baker or cook dinner to have a second like that—and that’s what’s most spectacular in regards to the firm. It made different flours and gluten-free baking accessible to extra folks. Within the years earlier than Bob’s Pink Mill was broadly out there, rice flour was one of many solely gluten-free flours on cabinets. In reality, I believe it’s truthful to say that there wouldn’t be the identical momentum and group behind gluten-free baking that we’ve got at this time had been it not for Bob’s Pink Mill merchandise. By making merchandise like coconut flour, tapioca starch, egg replacer, and millet flour simply accessible to most house bakers, Bob’s Pink Mill made it potential for gluten-free and vegan baking cultures to essentially thrive.
Past making gluten-free baking simple, Bob’s Pink Mill has been instrumental in making it enjoyable. Various flours to make use of in gluten-free bakes can really improve the flavour of the ultimate product. Whereas choices was restricted, Bob’s Pink Mill has allowed bakers to search out the flour that brings a brand new layer of taste into their cooking. Buckwheat flour, as an illustration, can add a sturdy nuttiness to your bake, whereas teff flour is considered one of my favorites for pairing with chocolate in recipes.
Moore could have handed away, however his legacy will reside on in each gluten-free buckwheat cake or batch of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies I bake.
