If you love the idea of serving a delicious Easter dinner or Passover-safe desserts, but would enjoy spending more of the holiday with friends and family–there are several Montclair bakeries that can help limit your kitchen duty.
The Pie Store is selling traditional Italian Easter Pie–a special dish indeed. You could spend hours preparing the crust and multiple thin layers of meats and cheeses: Genoa salami, pepperoni, capicola, ham and imported prosciutto, ricotta, sharp provolone and Parmigiano Reggiano–or you could just head to Watchung Avenue and pick one up.
The rich, but not too heavy, savory pie comes in 5 and 10 inch sizes. They’re also baking lamb and feta cheese pasties and traditional English hot cross buns.
If you’re looking for classic Easter bread, the Montclair Bread Company on Walnut Street is taking orders for gorgeous 8-inch rounds, topped with brightly colored, hard-boiled eggs. The bread, which will be available starting on Friday, is so pretty that it could easily double as a centerpiece.
They’re also baking hot cross buns now, and Easter basket doughnuts on Sunday only, from 7am-2pm. Owner/baker Rachel Crampsey says the glazed doughnuts are made with brioche dough, coated in green coconut, and the hole is filled with jelly beans to resemble a nest. Cute!
If you’re in search of Passover desserts, head down the street to Gina’s Bakery, where you’ll find flourless brownies and chocolate cake, and key lime mousse pie available with matzo crust. Last day to order is Thursday by 5pm.
Those who appreciate a delightful macaroon can order them by the dozen from Lauren’s Luscious Macaroons. Previously sold at Dean & DeLuca, Citarella, and Garden of Eden gourmet markets in NYC, Montclair resident Lauren Kaiser now bakes them out of her home each year for the Easter and Passover holidays. Kaiser’s favorite flavor is mango ginger chutney, made with real mango, Major Grey’s Chutney, grated fresh ginger, and adorned with crystallized ginger. They come in 7 other flavors, including pomegranate, pb&j and double chocolate espresso. Order by email at: laurenmkaiser@aol.com.
Where do you buy your favorite Easter or Passover-safe baked goodies?
I actually took a bread making class with the current owner of the Montclair Bread Company where we learned how to make that Easter bread. I think she’ll be teaching other courses at the Adult School this semester and I encourage others to sign up.
We must remember the true meaning of the Easter holiday and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Oschter Haws (the original name for the Easter Bunny) is a fictitious embodiment of all that is unholy with American gluttony for chocolate, candy, eggs and all things savory and sinful. See the Good Lord RISE from his grave and RECLAIM our sacred holiday with the Hammer of God at https://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/04/oschter-haws-easter-tale-of-calamity.html