Hot Cross Buns 2010
Well, I have three days left in the Bay Area. So if anyone has any leads I'd be happy. I'll be in the East Bay and SF over this short time frame. POSSIBLY Sonoma, but unlikely. If anyone has anything to suggest, I''ll try to make it there.
Otherwise, I hope people will report and I can virtually enjoy them and add them to my list for 2011. Here's my HCB lists
SF Bay Area: Hot Cross Buns - The best choices
http://www.chow.com/lists/edit/1138
SF Bay Area: Hot Cross Buns - Bad to meh
http://www.chow.com/lists/edit/788
SF Bay Area - Hot Cross Buns to try
http://www.chow.com/lists/edit/1245
Hmmm .... I can probably get over to Boudin if only to kvetch (if one can kvetch about hcb). Who knows. There might be a hcb miracle and they went back to the original stellar recipe. If not, I'd be interested to see if they can possibly hit a new low. Each year I'm amazed on how they can sink to yet another hcb level of hell
By rworange
on Mar 3, 2010 08:10 AM
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I guess the buns I saw at the Marin Sunday Market last year will have to wait until your return.
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the Beckmann's Old World Bakery had Hot Cross buns at the Farmers Market at Grove & Divisadero Street last Sunday 10 am - 2 pm. Just right with a hint of cardamom, not too sweet.
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Not sure if this counts as a lead, but I had one from Rulli in Larkspur last week and quite enjoyed it. It was different from your description in your first link -- definite spicing, probably cloves and I didn't pick up a general lemon flavor. Nice, soft texture, candied citrus, glaze on top with a custard cross. I think the bun I had from Mayfield Bakery in Palo Alto last year was better, but those won't be available until 1 week before Easter.
Just a note that, despite my enjoyment of the HCB, I thought Rulli's goods had gone down in quality from the last time I tried them several years ago. Many of the cookies had an off taste, either stale or from cross contamination. I actually spit out one.
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Sad to hear. They closed te shop on Chestnut St in SF. I really enjoyed their cookies. Hope they maintaiin the quality on the pannetone ... oh well, there's always someone new.
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You will be missed rworange! I always look forward to your posts especially in search of HCB's. There is something to be said for foods that come around once a year and then disappear. Makes us really look forward to their next appearance. My favorite HCB last year was from Rulli on Chestnut. Take care rw and hurry back.
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I hate HCB, so I have not tasted these; but I noticed some very pretty ones at The Cakery on Burlingame Avenue in downtown Burlingame. They had the lemon crosses and I think I saw a couple of different colors of citron peeking out. I got some small croissants and liked them; flaky and crunchy; they also had large sandwich-size ones that looked too pillowy for my taste.
Panera Bread at the little shopping center with In-N-Out at the Millbrae Avenue exit off 101 has HCB with frosting crosses and raisins. It is a chain, but they bake on the premises and I really like their white whole grain bread for sandwiches.
Both of these would be possible stops near SFO...if you wanted to eat hot cross buns all the way to Guatemala!
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Thanks. We're driving though ... yep, driving to Guatamala. So on this board any suggestions up to the limits of the South Bay on this board will be welcome.
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I had one of those from the Cakery two years ago, and really enjoyed it.
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I bought a couple from Flour Creations booth at the Santa Rosa farmers market this morning. I liked the HCB more than last year's: not so much cardamon, substantial texture but not dried out, lots of currants, and icing cross. Also, it now has a retail location in Windsor with regular hours.
195 Windsor River Rd, Windsor, CA 95492
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Thanks to whomever that recommended Mayfield Restaurant/Bakery in Palo Alto, I went down today to pick some up, and I think I hit the Holy Grail of the HCB. It was so beautiful to look at, and the taste was perfection. It also helps to know that the ingredients were of high quality ( Panera uses partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup)... Just wholesome ingredients, and amazing. :)
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Kudos go to emily.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6019...
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My parents happened to mention tonight that when he was in Alameda the other day my Dad went into the Boniere Bakery and bought a couple of hot cross buns, They said they were excellent.
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Shout-out to rworange from Jonathan Kauffman at SF Weekly,
http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2010...
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Hey ... thanks !!! Especially since I COMPLETELY missed Easter this year ... thanks to the delay at the border endtering Mexico. I was really looking forward to Easter in Guatemala. Ya would think in Mexico it would be easy to find a Catholic church. I did have something tasty that day ... maybe it was that tlayuda.
Maybe I can entice Kauffman to pack up his keyboard and review Central American restaurants ... I did talk him into that lizard soup once ... garrobo I believe ... oh yeah, in my misc notes somewhere there is mention of a restaurant in Mexico deicated to iguana.
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