« Uhhh . . . Phone Number? | Main | Magic Kingdom »
June 20, 2007
The Staff of Life
Let's talk about bread.
How lucky are we in Vermont, and especially in the Chittenden County zone, to have a collection of committed artisan bread bakers? The answer: Very.
So many of them are so good, it's almost an embarrassment of riches when you peruse the bread shelves of the local grocery stores. For a guy like me who grew up on Wonder Bread - and cajoling my mother to remove the "crusts" at that - I've come a long, long way.
My entirely subjective vote for the grandest local breadsmith (and let's hear yours via comments) is the venerable O'Bread Bakery of Shelburne. The lovely Chuck and Carla Conway are the owners, and they have dedicated their entire adult lives to producing bread, real bread, bread that nourishes the body and soul. Since 1977, they have been one of the few, if only, private business allowed to operate on the grounds of Shelburne Farms. Visiting their ovens located in the towering castle barn is like a trip back to the 16th Century.
O'Bread makes a variety of loaves, each one more delectable and enchanting than the next. Allow me this paean to my favorite, their take on raisin bread, which they named, "Cinnamon Raisin Swirl." It's so friggin' good that words fail me, and I'm a certified professional writer. Let's just use a word so favored by the younger generation: This bread is sick.
A Chi Kung teacher of mine was attempting to explain "chi" to the class. The concept of chi underlies the entire range of Eastern movement practices including T'ai Chi and the various martial arts. (It's also the basis of traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture.) So he says, "Chi dwells at the intersection where energy becomes matter and matter becomes energy." Hmmm, thinks Grasshopper . . .
What does this have to do with O'Bread's Cinnamon Raisin Swirl? Hey, don't rush me.
The thing about this heavenly loaf is that it's just too savory to call bread; it's more like cake. But, then again, it is definitely bread-like in shape and size. So, this is what I've come up with: O'Bread's Cinnamon Raisin Swirl dwells at the intersection where bread becomes cake and cake becomes bread.
Thank you very much.
June 20, 2007 at 12:54 PM in Stuff I Love | Permalink
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451b91969e200e008c8d40b8834
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference The Staff of Life:
Comments
Have you ever taken a look at the Vermont Fresh Network's website? If not, you should, they have some really great hidden gems in the area! (http://www.vermontfresh.net)
We are really lucky to have such amazing farmers, producers, bakers, etc. in such a little state (all of which seem to be slightly underappreciated)!!!
As a side note, I used to be a big fan of Klinger’s, but since moving to a different part of town I have discovered the Great Harvest Bread Company. I need to get down there and check it out. Has anyone been there? What’s the scoop? I’m pretty sure it’s a franchise so I have my doubts.
Posted by: Erin | Jun 21, 2007 12:32:38 AM
Hey, Erin - I think you're so right about the "underappreciation" of such much of Vermont. I don't think Vermonters are ungrateful by nature, just that the many blessings of our state tend to be subtle and nuanced, easy to not notice and take for granted.
I can't tell you how many born-and-bred Vermont kids I drive, who had left the state for Boston or New York or points west in their early '20s, only to return 5 or 10 years later, and so thankful to be back.
Regarding bread, the subject at hand, I do like Klingers, though I always think of Mash when I munch their loaves.
Posted by: Jernigan Pontiac | Jun 21, 2007 12:01:00 PM
Here in Barton, the Grand Union sells the most amazing bread. It's so great that they actually call it "Wonder" bread. MMMMMMM.
Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Add a little fluff and some skippy, and you've got yourself a party.
Posted by: The Wonder Boy | Jun 23, 2007 3:50:14 PM
Yup, Wonder Boy would love Wonder Bread. It is something to wonder about . . . : )
Posted by: Jernigan Pontiac | Jun 23, 2007 3:54:16 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
