After the Hurricane...Holloween

After a day of being closed due to Hurricane Sandy, the bakery reopened this morning...and who should be in the window decorating..."Pumpkin Head"...I mean..."the great pumpkin"...no, ugh...oh yes, it was Matilda Wessel...a shinning sight to behold after days of grey, rain, wind and scenes of devastation and destruction.
I raised a cup of coffee this morning wishing a quick recovery to my old neighborhood in Greenwich Village and lower Manhattan...
Here's a link to a new song from Pam Ortiz's just released album "Rattle Them Chains" that seems appropriate to these past few days...the song is titled "After The Hurricane."

Brioche !!!

     Many posts ago I mentioned something to the effect that I've waited for Evergrain to open in my neighborhood for about 4 decades - ever since I left Greenwich Village, and the French Bakery a block from our apartment.  And, ever since Evergrain opened in Chestertown, I've been quietly, patiently and hopefully waiting for the arrival of brioche - my favorite.  Alas...it's here.
      Brioche has many descriptions, it should be light and moist.  Some would describe it as an enriched bread or to quote author and chef Michael Ruhlman, "good brioche is a celebratory bread,  a cross between bread and cake.  Hell, it's really cake sneaking in as bread."  The one that I had this morning was excellent, light and moist. I had my own private celebration!   With a side of jam (yes, you can get some jam for your brioche, croissant or scone for a little bit extra - I chose raspberry today) and a cup of coffee...I'm a happy camper with a smile on my face for the rest of the morning.
       Look for the brioche roles on the left at the checkout counter but leave one for me.  Rumor has it that the traditional brioche roll, formed like a woman's head with pinned up hair  (brioche-a-tete) may be coming soon.