malasadas!

[Ruth Lafler]

Prompted by a post in another thread, I stopped by the Boniere Bakery this morning to check out their hot cross buns. But right next to the sign for hot cross buns there was a sign for malasadas. I've heard of them but never had one, so I had to try one. This version was kind of free-form (reminded me of a smaller version of a donut shop apple fritter), with a dark, crunchy exterior liberally coated with cinnamon and sugar. The inside was moister and fluffier than a donut -- it melted in my mouth, leaving a subtle perfume of orange (apparently some versions of malasadas include orange zest). I know everything fried is better hot, but this was pretty darn good at room temperature. A steal at 50 cents, too. Since I'm not a morning person, it didn't occur to me to ask how long they'll have them, but presumably through Easter.

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Boniere Bakery
3249 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA

[Jim]

I just checked with Boniere Bakery and they only make Malassadas during the Easter season. You can still order them for next week, but that's it until next year.

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Boniere Bakery
3249 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA

[brhau]

Thanks! I've been dying for malasadas ever since Tita's closed ...

[ML8000]

Tita's was good. Really liked that place.

[Nina]

Today, for some reason, I was craving a cupcake, and decided to stop in at Boniere and try the malasadas as well (I was the poster who mentioned their HCB and unwittingly launched Ruth in the direction of the tasty pastry). Very delicious, reminded me of my grandmother's homemade doughnuts in terms of the crunchy crust. I also got a couple of petits fours because I hadn't had any in decades, and they were great -- they come in white and chocolate cake, and in addition to regular decorations there are some Easter and St. Patrick's Day versions which are quite cute. Boniere also has small Easter-egg-shaped frosted cakes. I also bought a loaf of wheat bread which is very good, for $2.25. And a cupcake. Yum.

[Ruth Lafler]

Thanks for the initial inspiration and the follow-up, Nina! Their bread is a whole other topic. In an area where the bread scene is dominated by crusty Artisan-style loaves, I'm almost not sure what to make of good, old fashioned "American" bread. I bought some around Thanksgiving to make stuffing, and it's pretty good. On request they'll slice it for you with their bread slicing maching right there in front, which is kind of fun. As Nina pointed out, it's really cheap -- I think it's cheaper than the same-sized loaf of crappy bread full of icky ingredients at the supermarket.

I'm kind of curious to try their rye bread. They also have challah on the weekends.

[RWCFoodie]

Ruth, you really had me going there - I don't think I've had a Malasada since our last visit to Maui... and we're going to be in Alameda tomorrow so I thought WOW - until I called to check their business hours... closed on Sundays. Booo - but I guess I'm really better off as I hate to think about how many Points there are in them! sigh...

[Ruth Lafler]

I thought I'd update this thread. Among other things, Boniere Bakery is now open Sunday mornings. Malasadas are all the way up to 75 cents this year. Still yummy.

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Boniere Bakery
3249 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA

[wolfe]

Thank you for reviving this. I wanted to try them so much but was disappointed to find that while they are big in Honolulu they are non existent in Muai. I serious depleted their morning supply and they are very good.

[Ruth Lafler]

You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed them.

[CYL]

You can get malasadas at the Portuguese bakery located near China Stick. They usually have them fresh every day.I usually get the day old ones as they are cheaper and I just take them home and freeze them. When ready to eat I just thaw one out and put in the microwave for a few minutes. This bakery also has Portuguese sweet bread and Portuguese cookies too.

[wolfe]

Correct me if I'm wrong, happens frequently, but you mean the Portuguese Bakery near China Stix, a Chinese restaurant in Santa Clara. Malacadas with a "c".
http://www.portuguesebakery.com/

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China Stix
2110 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95050

Portuguese Bakery
2082 El, Camino Real Santa Clara, CA

[CYL]

Yes, it is the Portuguese Bakery in the Mervyn's Shopping Center in Santa Clara that we are referring to. We have purchased the malasadas in Santa Clara on multiple occasions before. We have not seen the Portuguese Bakery web site before nor have we seen it spelled with a "c" before. Is that a typo on the web site????

We have been eating "hot malasadas" from Leonard's bakery in Honolulu, Hawaii since ages ago. Leonard's malasada is the best, but we are not aware of anyone on the mainland making malasadas even close to Leonard's; except, when we do it ourselves at home.

Anyone for the French beignets ala Cafe Du Monde via New Orleans?

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Portuguese Bakery
2082 El, Camino Real Santa Clara, CA

[wolfe]

No a typo based on google search and this note by pre rw in 2005.
"Unlike other Portuguese bakeries, the Filhos / Malacadas (Sugar Doughnuts) are not seasonal but always available. They are like a fritter shaped churro either plain or filled with strawberry jelly. When I asked about other flavors, I was told that you could special order lemon or custard filled donuts. They were different from Hiser Bakery. However, Hiser calls them Malassadas. So maybe this is a different thing. When I asked about the difference between filhos and malacadas I was told they were the same. Only called different names on different islands."
Something like mangu and mofongo.

[Mick Ruthven]

>we are not aware of anyone on the mainland making malasadas even close to Leonard's<

Does that include the Portuguese Bakery in Mervyn's Shopping Center in Santa Clara?

Have you had malasadas at Tex Drive In on the Big Island to compare with those at Leonard's?

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Portuguese Bakery
2082 El, Camino Real Santa Clara, CA

[RWCFoodie]

Hi CYL: I picked up some of the day old ones after the lunch for Rose - the ones I got must have been rrreeeaaallllyyy day old - microwaving didn't even save them. Isn't there another place somewhere over towards Alum Rock Park?

Will be on Oahu in May and can't wait to get to Leonard's to try the best!

[Ruth Lafler]

I made the supreme sacrifice of going back this morning and asking -- yes, they'll have them through Easter.

[swag]

"Malasadas" is such a São Miguel word. People from the other islands of the Açores, like São Jorge or Pico or Terçeira, call them plain old "filhos". Though your folk with the São Miguel accents will beg to differ. ;)

[Xiao Yang]

I thought malasadas were supposed to be forbidden during Lent. Aren't they, like paczkis eaten on Mardi Gras for that reason?

[Ruth Lafler]

Yeah, ironic, isn't it? Apparently for people who aren't observant, they've just become generally associated with this time of year.

[ML8000]

Year around in Hawaii bruddah...

[susancinsf]

Do some of the Hawaiian restaurants in town have them?

[rworange]

What town?

Kilohana Grill in Emeryville next to Arizmundi's and in San Ramon has them in the morning
http://www.chow.com/places/4756
http://www.chow.com/places/4757

[ML8000]

Not 100% sure but I think only on weekends at Kilohana.

[rworange]

Yep. That's the only time they are open in the morning. Hours and website link are on Place record.

[twocents]

I think the Emeryville Kilohana closed down.

[ML8000]

I just checked their website and they took off the Emeryville location. That's a shame although not surprising given the location. Not much walk by traffic if any...and the parking lot is goofy. I'm surprised how Arzemendi stays in business there.

There's a few really good things there like the teri beef, which I'm usually not a fan of. Their's is really good. Oh well, at least they're still operating in San Ramon.