BUT... Way in the back of the case there is a wonderful little weave of bread coated with powdered sugar. When its warmed the steam sighs out of large pockets held loose in its lush yellow interior. Simply one of my favorite Starbucks offerings.
Mallorca Bread (Ensaimadas)
Culinary Synonyms (these are words the I relate immediately with the topic):
Sweet Yeast Bread, Brioche, Yeast Risen, Egg Bread, Challah, Danish, Coffee Cake
Origin:
Mallorca or Majorca, A small Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea
Its also seen as a Puerto Rican Dish
The Run Down:
Just like most small semi-sweet breads it is considered a breakfast dish, to be dipped in coffee while yammering on about neighbors or who did what with whom. The sort of dish that you are encouraged to slowly eat and enjoy with company. Its woven so that it is not to be just slammed into your mouth, it is to be pulled apart and dipped with care or elegance.
Elegant is a very good word to put with this dish. Its tanned and powdered with sugar its soft and simple. I'm a big fan.
History:
Given its laborious production process and high cost ingredients it was, like many egg breads, it was for celebrations and special get-togethers. I have found many recipes that claim to be 200+ years old, so in no way is this a new or contemporary dish. It is very popular in many cultures outside of Spain including The Philippines and The Caribbean Islands.
Science:
-Egg Breads have High Fat content, Mallorca Bread even higher given that it is traditionally made with a special rendered pork fat called Saim.
-Mallorca Bread is made with a starter and sponge method, meaning that yeast is allowed to sit with a portion of the flour for a specific period of time.
-High Gluten flour SHOULD be used when making it because the high fat content will make an uphill battle for gluten to climb before you get a good mouth feel.
Recipe:
(I will not post a recipe for anything that I have never made myself; I want to make its accurate so you trust the continuity of my blog)
Conclusion:
Get a friend, take 30 minutes, go to a coffee shop, acquire a Latte with a generous amount of cinnamon and a Mallorca Sweet bread, sit, sit, sit and enjoy.
-b
