Chad Robertson

San Francisco's Tartine Bakery is wildly popular, not only for its loaves and croissants, but also for its recently published cookbook, Tartine Bread, which has only been out for half a year but already has a cult following of amateur bread obsessives that The Wall Street Journal examines in a recent article.

I'm too timid to try fostering sourdough starters, but there have definitely been times when I've doled out upwards of $7 for Tartine's legendary loaf — which, although huge, is easy enough to devour within minutes. Katie feels the same way: it's a steep price to pay, worthy for certain special occasions.

How much money are you willing to spend — and how far and wide are you wiling to go — for that impeccable loaf?

Source: Flickr User kowitz

When it comes to food newsletters, I subscribe to them all. One that I look forward to getting is Tasting Table's Chefs' Recipes. The ingredients are seasonal, and the dishes timely and clever. I usually hit print before I've finished reading the email! Earlier this week, the featured recipe was a kale Caesar salad from Chad Robertson's Tartine Bread cookbook. Since I love Caesar salads, I had to make this hearty variation immediately. The tangy lemon-garlic dressing stands up to the bitter greens. Use the vinaigrette right after blending (it separates easily) and be sure to coat each leaf with the delicious mixture. Serve with roast chicken, a bowl of soup, or just enjoy a huge plate of it alone — that's what I did! I promise this dish won't disappoint, so get the recipe now.