662894 Tue Oct 27 21:56:50 -0700 2009 37 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 5136424 Ok. I moved here from NYC. I miss like really good challah bread and I'm not sure where I can get it. While you're at it how about a good Jewish deli? There are jews here right? Tue Oct 27 21:56:50 -0700 2009 230635 MrMuskOx 1 5136462 I think the challah from the Grand Bakery in Oakland is excellent. I'm not sure exactly where it's sold in SF, but I'm sure some stores carry it. I think others like Irving's. good jewish deli? Not so much available here. Tue Oct 27 22:38:15 -0700 2009 5136424 92823 milklady 1 5136471 I think the challah at Acme Bread is very good, though it may not be exactly traditional. The original shop is in Berkeley, but Acme bread is also available at various stores in SF--someone else will have to chime in, though, about whether the Acme challah is sold at particular grocery stores, etc. Tue Oct 27 22:51:22 -0700 2009 5136424 21142 abstractpoet 1 5136506 You might check Semifreddi's. On average their breads aren't quite as good as Acme (imo) but they do a couple of specialty items that are very good to excellent (ciabatta roll, cinammon twist bread). I don't know how their challah stacks up but I thought it was very good. They ahve 4 retail locations in the East Bay and their products are in grocery stores, even Lucky's. www.semifreddis.com Tue Oct 27 23:32:26 -0700 2009 5136424 27275 ML8000 2 5137254 I generally don't like Semifreddi's stuff, but their challah is excellent. Wed Oct 28 09:04:54 -0700 2009 5136506 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 5137264 i completely agree with Robert on this one. Tho I don't care for their other stuff, heir challah is tasty. Wed Oct 28 09:16:32 -0700 2009 5136506 97528 escargot3 1 5136536 Jews, yes. Deli's, not so much. Prepare to be homesick for challah. At this point your best bet in SF will be Noe Valley Bakery. It's not exactly how I like it, but it is close and it is a nice bit of breadmaking. Plus they do a nice circular braid on the holidays. I'll 2nd the Grand Bakery recommendation and add a link. They're also good for fix of any other kosher baked good you might crave. I also like the challah at Arizmendi, even if it is not exactly traditional. Close, but they add a little flair and difference to everything they do. I've linked to the Emeryville store since that's where I go, but I'll bet the SF store is just as good. Wed Oct 28 00:23:00 -0700 2009 5136424 261092 BernalKC 1 5136540 Seriously, there's no reason to go to the East Bay. Irving's which is sold at Israel Kosher Lotta;s http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/504218 CHALLAH: The prettiest I’ve seen in the Bay Area with a brown crust that is golden from egg yolks. It is the closest to the challah I grew up with (not Jewish, but Polish). It has an almost brioche-like texture. $4 Citizen Cake http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/46373 The challah wasn't as dense as I like it, but the sesames seeds were very nice House of Bagels http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/329176#1911606 Didn't care for the egg challah. Haven't tried the water challah yet. Some people like Noe Valley Bakery challah Not sure if yhe cafe at the JCC makes it What deli items are you looking for Wed Oct 28 00:31:36 -0700 2009 5136424 10264 rworange 2 5137760 Irving's Challah is good...it is sold in a number of places...even the bookstore at the S.F. JCC here's a link to his website with locations... http://irvprem.com/ Wed Oct 28 11:43:22 -0700 2009 5136540 10485 ChowFun_derek 3 5147249 I second the recommendations of Irving's Premium. I think it's the best I've had in the Bay Area and reminds me of what I grew up with at Rodef Sholom - Marin JCC in San Rafael, which is where I have purchased it on Friday mornings the last few years. I have had Grand Bakery's version many times since the late 80s. I think Irving's is better. Sun Nov 01 13:16:19 -0800 2009 5137760 11323 melisky 1 5136820 Canyon Market in Glen Park makes Challah on Fridays only and I like it quite a bit. Certainly better (imo) than Noe Valley Bakery and very fresh. They have plain, poppy and sesame. Wed Oct 28 06:16:58 -0700 2009 5136424 16655 bdl 2 5159381 i second the recommendation for the plain. Haven't treid any others. Thu Nov 05 15:53:27 -0800 2009 5136820 14459 jupiter 2 5179374 I like Canyon's in house baked breads a great deal, but if the rounded challah I tried is similar to the standard twist, one shouldn't expect a very rich, or eggy challah. That may suit some preferences. Fri Nov 13 12:03:16 -0800 2009 5136820 145096 sugartoof 2 5180015 If you are in GP, I highly recommend trying the Destination Bakery challah. IMHO, much much better. I do like Canyon's other breads though. (And their tortilla chips!) Fri Nov 13 16:22:27 -0800 2009 5136820 11836 Kmanlove 1 5137257 There's no great deli around here. Miller's East Coast West is probably the closest. Wed Oct 28 09:08:52 -0700 2009 5136424 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 5137462 Surprisingly enough, Draeger's makes a good challah. If you're ever on the peninsula, that is. The trip will give you a reason to try the ONLY reasonably good kosher restaurant in the entire bay area. Wed Oct 28 10:23:37 -0700 2009 5136424 20470 LarryW 1 5137574 Okay for all you other Jews out there: I discovered not so long ago that Harvest Market in the Castro has Cinnamon and Chocolate Babka from Greenberg's in New York. I don't know how this wound up there, but it's one of the best things in the world. They're in the front window with all the rest of the bread. Wed Oct 28 10:51:39 -0700 2009 5136424 276743 pauliface 2 5179158 Harvest Ranch Market 2285 Market Street (between 16th St & Noe St) San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 626-0805 Fri Nov 13 10:58:32 -0800 2009 5137574 13519 Cynsa 1 5137904 Moscow & Tblisi Bakery has a sweet challah as well as a non-sweet challah. Wed Oct 28 12:23:17 -0700 2009 5136424 12275 wineguy7 1 5138292 Surprisingly (perhaps), the Boulangerie people (Bay Bread) make a good challah. I believe they have it available at the flagship Pine St. store on Fridays. It is brioche-like in texture, and makes for delicious French Toast once it gets a bit stale. Wed Oct 28 14:18:04 -0700 2009 5136424 46254 mrs bacon 2 5179403 I was going to suggest Boulangerie too. I think it's actually a Brioche bread and what I had was loaf shaped (maybe they have a twisty challah too?). It was great, and very similar to the soft thicker, very rich eggier challah rather than the more airy, lighter stuff with a more subtle flavor, that you might find in Brooklyn sometimes. If you're looking for that lighter water challah, I think it's going to be more about texture than flavor. I also like House of Bagels version if you an eggy yellowish challah. I'm of the impression Grand Bakery tastes better direct from the shop. Whatever Molly Stone's sells is usually dried out and bland. Fri Nov 13 12:15:53 -0800 2009 5138292 145096 sugartoof 3 5180990 Have you tried both HOB challahs? They have a water challah and the other kind. Sat Nov 14 07:37:14 -0800 2009 5179403 10264 rworange 4 5183453 I'm mostly partial to the egg challahs. The water challah's are very similar to me, they just taste like an "off" version of the egg challah. They're best with raisins, or candied, during Jewish holidays. I don't think I'd drive across a bridge to get a HOB challah, but they are traditional challahs, at least. Sun Nov 15 12:24:46 -0800 2009 5180990 145096 sugartoof 1 5138317 I like challah from House of Bagels on geary st. Wed Oct 28 14:28:00 -0700 2009 5136424 90048 balabanian 1 5145849 Okay. I eat challah most Shabbat evenings and lunches, and I can tell you that I've had it all in the Bay Area. Without question, your best challah for old fashioned consistency, sweetness and softness is the Grand Bakery's. They're in Oakland, but Mollie Stone's on California in SF carries it. Second choice is Semifreddi's, which is just okay but generally what you'll find everywhere. And Irving's is close to my heart because I know the family, but the best thing about their challah is the mongo sizes. You can get giant Irving's challahs, which are awesome to behold. Acme challahs are stupid. It's like someone decided, hmmm, let's do our "artisanal thing" on challah...which ought to mean, doing it like gramma did, right? But no. It's a crusty peasant loaf like everything else trendy in town. Challah is not trendy. Challah is not crusty. I bought one of these once, thinking, oh cool, badass challah. Brought it to a Shabbas dinner and people were like, what weird-ass challah is this? Stick with their sour batards and olive loafs, that's what they do well. :-) But yeah, I have to echo what some others have said here. This is not a good town for Jewish food in general. I am gonna check out the new Kitchen Table restaurant in Mountain View soon, which has gotten some good reviews for its pastrami and kosher charcuterie but really, heavy sigh, it's kind of exciting these days to be in LA or NY and taste some different challah for kicks. I'm gonna start baking my own soon, or at least I keep saying that to myself. Sat Oct 31 17:34:34 -0700 2009 5136424 135924 sarahlefton 2 5145921 The easiest I have made was from "A First Jewish Holiday Cookbook" we bought for my daughter 20+ years ago. My braiding skills, never good, have deteriorated but it still looked and tasted pretty good. Sat Oct 31 18:23:42 -0700 2009 5145849 105235 wolfe 2 5146899 I have always been a fan of challah with a crisp exterior imbued with poppy or sesame seeds...perhaps these are known as water challas, (Challot) but this Boy from Brooklyn, definitely is NOT partial to soft spongy challah...I like a slightly sweet, 'eggy' taste.......with a full not 'cottony' interior.....personal taste...I guess Sun Nov 01 10:14:01 -0800 2009 5145849 10485 ChowFun_derek 1 5146529 Around Rosh Hashannah, I was able to get a challah baked by the Bread Workshop from the Country Cheese shop on Divis. It was awesome, and by far the best I've had since moving from NY. The store only does special orders for it around holiday time, but I'm not sure if the workshop makes challah regularly Sun Nov 01 07:02:00 -0800 2009 5136424 1109257 trepverter 1 5147271 A new option, the Pasta Shop is now making their own in house. I haven't tried it but it looked good. Sun Nov 01 13:26:39 -0800 2009 5136424 11369 Robert Lauriston 1 5149447 Nabolom Bakery off of College Ave in Berkeley makes a decent challah. Mon Nov 02 11:08:56 -0800 2009 5136424 13173 pepper 1 5150738 Destination Bakery in Glen Park makes a truly incredible challah. It has a perfect texture and taste: just the right amount of chewiness and sweetness. And it is pareve (no butter--some bakeries like Noe Valley cheat and use butter). Every once in while, the challah is a bit dry, but I would say 90% of the time it is fabulous. (And pick up a great pie when you are there) Mon Nov 02 17:46:18 -0800 2009 5136424 11836 Kmanlove 2 5162583 Okay...I originally suggested the challah at Canyon Market which is certainly adequate. But today I tried the Challah from Destination Bakery because of Kmanlove's recommendation. This blows the socks of Canyon's and is the best I've had so far in the city (okay, I haven't had that many, but still). A truly beautiful loaf! Fri Nov 06 19:46:42 -0800 2009 5150738 16655 bdl 3 5179120 So glad you like it! I think it is one of the best I have had in the U.S. Fri Nov 13 10:49:57 -0800 2009 5162583 11836 Kmanlove 1 5153458 IIRC (remembering back to 2000), I bought challah at House of Bagels in Burlingame for my son's bar mitzvah. They were really, really good, and they do different sizes depending on how many people you need to feed. I believe Suzanne's Bakery in Millbrae also does a good challah, but I don't think I've bought any, just had them at a friend's house. I think Suzanne also does round ones for the High Holidays. House of Bagels probably does that too. Obviously, my memory isn't perfectly clear on that subject, but it's worth a try if you're willing to venture south. As for a good Jewish deli, there isn't anything that comes close to what you want (and I grew up in Brooklyn, so I definitely get it). Max's Restaurant Group (lots of locations) does a good job of presenting the cuisine but none are delis per se, and they don't get any love on this board. I was at Oakland Kosher about 2 years ago, and they had a lot of grocery items they shipped in from NY (Ba Tampte red horseradish!!). I'm not sure what they stock now. I had some chicken soup w/matzo balls that literally had me in tears, it was sooo good. Tue Nov 03 16:10:46 -0800 2009 5136424 14447 rednails 1 5156350 Welcome west, from a native New Yorker. The best challah I've ever had is made by a baker in a tiny little shop (it's literally about as big as a pickup truck) in on N. Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos called Mama's Bakery. He closes early Friday and all day Saturday for the Sabbath. Crazy good, you have to taste it to believe it. My mom came to visit and now she has me ship it back to her in NY... I send her challah, she sends me bagels. And so it goes... Wed Nov 04 15:10:15 -0800 2009 5136424 1114575 Kiji2 2 5156501 Here's the website for Mama's Bakery in Los Gatos. http://www.mamasbakery.com/ Wed Nov 04 15:58:30 -0800 2009 5156350 10039 Melanie Wong 3 5157849 Sjnce we've wandered far away from SF, in Penngrove, Full Circle Baking does a nice challah. Not destination worthy, IMO, but good for anyone in the area. Thu Nov 05 07:43:36 -0800 2009 5156501 10264 rworange 1 5181101 I'm certainly no expert, and couldn't vouch for its "pareve-itude" but I am happy when Friday rolls around if only for the availability of challah at Boulange bakeries throughout The City. Sat Nov 14 08:42:28 -0800 2009 5136424 17299 little big al