DISCLAIMER

The statements made on this website are the personal opinions of Laura and Diane. If we feel that a restaurant visit is not up to par, please remember it is our opinion. If you disagree with us, feel free to write us at info@newenglandbites.com.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

On the Hunt for: Portuguese Sweet Bread (Massa)

October 15, 2011

Here in my hometown of Fall River, MA, we are very lucky. Why, you might ask? Because we have a large population of Portuguese residents. That means we also have access to their delicious Portuguese foods. Besides the chourico and linguica (spicy sausages), malasadas (fried dough) and kale soups, we also have massa - a sweet bread that's often eaten at breakfast. These massas are usually found as a large round loaf but sometimes (especially around holidays) you can get them as small rolls (often with an egg in them). They are usually delicious and ... um ... usually dry. That's why, when you find a place that sells a nice moist loaf, you go there ... often.


Word of mouth is so important when on the search for a nice moist sweet bread. You ask 25 people, you'll get the names of 25 different bakeries that have the best bread. My favorite has been a small bakery/restaurant in nearby Swansea called Cornerstone. Their bread is always so fresh, soft, flavorful and moist. However, I've heard so much about the sweet bread at Lou's Bakery in Fall River, we had to give it a try. So early one Saturday morning, Laura and I stopped in. We were lucky they still had some massas (come early, they sell out fast) so we grabbed a large loaf ($4.50). It was so soft and aromatic. We also bought some muffins and cookies. Hey, we had to experiment, didn't we?


This sweet bread is fantastic! It's right on par with Cornerstone, which is a sincere compliment. Fresh, soft, full of flavor, and yes, very moist. It's one of the best. Laura slathered her slice with butter but I had mine plain; it was that moist. I'll definitely be going back to Lou's. Get up early and get yourself some for a tasty breakfast. Mmm, sweet bread french toast!

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