Irish soda bread 2010?

[rworange]

Anything new out there?

i'm probably going to pick up some at Virginia Bakery. Once upon a time, long, long ago, Boudin made a nice one. i haven't had it for years though. John Campbell is good, of course.

[hhc]

Arizmendi in SF has it on there website, anyone try it?
http://www.arizmendibakery.org/

How's Virginia Bakery, Berkeley - still the best?
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/34942

[rworange]

I see from the website that Arizmendi is opening in San Rafael on April 6th
http://fourthstreet.arizmendi.coop/co...

i haven't had the bread for a few years, but Virginia Bakery is very consistant so I imagine it is the same. They will also have lots of nice holiday cookies and cupcakes

[rworange]

VIRGINIA BAKERY

Cheery metallic shamrocks on strings dance in the window

Irish soda bread is even better than I remember it. Today it is decorated with green sugar sprinkles. They ask if you want it sliced. It has a medium dense crumb, the right amount of raisins, a nice light crust and not so much soda your mouth puckers

They have cupcakes with Baily's Irish Cream filling, vanilla butter cream on top with a drizzle of butterscotch and a plastic shamrock for decoration. This was ok. The filling more like an Italian rum custard.

Lots of other green cupcakes cakes, cream puffs and eclairs with green filling and cookies.

Picked up a morhing bun too which is every bit as good as La Farine

CHEESEBOARD

Irish soda bread and scones ... no sugar in them. Typical CB scone texture. The soda taste is there but not too much There's a raisin here and there. this is the type with rye seeds in it

BERKELEY BOWL WEST

As of 10 am only one cupcake with green frosting

ACME

I know they don't do holiday stuff, but it never hurts to check

Me; Do you have anything special for St Patricks Day?

Counter person: Everything we do is special

She and customer behind me exchange knowing glances and chortle ... yes ... chortle

Me; Um, yes, but any Irish soda bread

CP: We don't have anything liked that

Buzzer sound ... wrong answer. The first response should have been ... sorry, no we don't

To be really pleasant that should be followed by ... it would be nice if we did

and how about a follow up sales pitch .... is there anything else you might like

you do NOT chortle at a customer making them feel like they are dirtying your floor with mud

Get over yourself Acme

[chocolatetartguy]

At the Cheeseboard, the Irish soda scone is damn good and actually reminded me of a big baking soda biscuit. Also no line for cheese at 2.