Archaeology of Bread

 WHAT IS A BRIOCHE? While technically a French Viennoiserie (pastry) recipe, little to no sugar is used in this pain.  The bread is loaded with butter and egg which gives it an almost creamy taste.  Yeast is used which allows the dough to aerate (yielding a lighter, more tender texture).  Think of it as a […]

WHAT IS A CHALLAH? Traditionally this is a loaf of braided bread baked to celebrate the Jewish sabbath.  The classic recipe is a leavened bread consisting of egg, water, flour, yeast and salt.  However the name has become a generic term for any bread used in Hebrew rituals.  The word comes from the Torah where […]

 WHAT IS A KHACHAPURI? Also called Georgian cheese bread or Christmas pie, this recipe is traditionally served on January 7th.  This pastry is a sinfully delicious recipe that involves melted cheese and a sunny side up egg on top!  Yeasted dough is molded into a football shape, and a mix of fresh and older, sharper […]

 WHAT IS A CROUTON? Much like French toast, croutons are a great way to both recycle stale bread and add some character to your salad!  The word itself comes from the French word croûte or crust (as in bread).  During Medieval times soup was often served in sops or pieces of stale bread.   Today stale bread […]

 WHAT IS CHRISTMAS BREAD? Several countries have variations on this theme but Germany with Christmas stollen and Norway with Julekake are the most well known.  This recipe is a popular holiday alternative to fruitcake.  In general oats, butter and egg are mixed with zest and candied fruits and baked.  Historically in the city of Dresden […]

 WHAT IS A BAZLAMA? This is a traditional flat bread native to Turkey.  In appearance it’s similar to an Indian naan.  In their native Turkey, villages will cook them over a wood fire.  Interestingly the size of the wood fire is not consistent, and varies in proportion to the size of the family.  Much like […]

 WHAT IS AN AREPAS? Arepas are also known as corn pancakes.  For thousands of years, this Latin American recipe has consisted of maize kernels soaked, ground then formed into patties and cooked.  Created several hundred years ago by the Timoto-Cuica, this recipe was a staple among the tribes of Venezuelan and Colombia.  Today this pancake […]