Breaking Passover

I was assigned to write a piece about breaking Passover. In case you don’t know, “leavened” products (most bread, pasta, and pastries) are prohibited during the holiday. As someone who eats an egg and cheese bagel for breakfast, cereal in between meals, and is constantly rewarding herself with cinnamon rolls (I deserve it for writing the header on my paper, don’t you think?), abiding by the limits of Passover was something I could not do. Even for the sake of journalism. Sorry, FM. To make up for it, I scoped out some of the best places to grab a meal once Passover is over.

By Monika K. Piascik

There’s method acting and then there’s method journalism. There are some things you do for the sake of the craft and then there’s going too far. I was assigned to write a piece about breaking Passover. In case you don’t know, “leavened” products (most bread, pasta, and pastries) are prohibited during the holiday. In order to feel the sweet satisfaction of biting into some bread for the first time in over a week, I thought I’d follow the restrictions of Passover for a few days myself. As someone who eats an egg and cheese bagel for breakfast, cereal in between meals, and is constantly rewarding herself with cinnamon rolls (I deserve it for writing the header on my paper, don’t you think?), abiding by the limits of Passover was something I could not do. Even for the sake of journalism. Sorry, FM. To make up for it, I scoped out some of the best places to grab a meal once Passover is over.

Bruegger’s Bagels in Porter Square

Who knew a “New York Authentic” bagel is just one stop away on the T and a 10 minute walk from the Quad? Or that bagels are kettle boiled? Or what kettle boiling is? Bruegger’s brings you both the bagel background and bagel bliss. It boasts 336 possible combinations of bagels and spread. Aside from the standard favorites, it also offers rosemary olive oil, sundried tomato, and cranberry apple bagels, to name a few. The shop offers a unique range of spreads including cucumber dill, bacon scallon, and smoked salmon cream cheese. Eating a cinnamon sugar bagel with peanut butter and jelly was the highlight of my day even after I got an email noti- fying me that my Friday 9 a.m. was canceled. How’s that for an endorsement?

Georgetown Cupcakes on Newbury Street

With Finale closed (I swear I’ve never rewarded myself for finishing work with a whole cake), I have to settle for tiny cakes (or cupcakes, as some call them). You’d think that the lack of size would come with a lack of flavor. Or so I thought until I stumbled upon Georgetown Cupcakes on Newbury Street. The store offers its most popular flavor, red velvet, every day, as well as different specials for each day of the week, including mint cookies and cream, peanut butter fudge, and salted caramel. Check the shop’s Twitter or Facebook for the free flavor of the day, and trust me when I say nowhere in the Square has cupcakes comparable to these.

Flour Bakery and Cafe in Central Square

Located in Central Square, this branch was opened in 2010 by Joanne Chang ’91. The sticky bun alone is mentioned in 162 Yelp reviews. There’s even a sticky bun bread pudding alongside warm croissants, scones, brioche, and french toast. Donuts, rice crispy treats, and Boston cream pie cake round out the menu. Pizza, stuffed bread, and a variety of cookies continue to make it a post-Passover fantasy. The only downside is that a lot of people have discovered that they key to “making life sweeter” is “eating dessert first,” so get there early to try to avoid the lines.

Petsi Pies on Putnam Ave

What if you’re desperate for pastries and aren’t willing to make a trip? I’ll let that “pass” just this once, because after Passover, you might not have the energy to make the trip due to gluten deprivation. Besides, you’ll cetainly satisfy your sweet craving at Petsi Pies—and you should be just fine making the short journey past Berryline. It offers the banana chocolate chip muffins and but- termilk currant scones you’ve been craving for the past week. Next to the brioche, streusel, and poundcake are sweet pies from Mississippi Mud to Mixed Berry. You definitely can’t go wrong with Classic Apple. Not in the mood to eat a whole pie by yourself, or only have friends who have been enjoying leavened products all week? Petsi serves pies for one to two people as well as six to eight (I wouldn’t judge you for getting the largest size after that severe withdrawal—no one has to know).

Hi-Rise on Mass Ave

This is what I would consider Panera Bread’s slightly more upscale cousin. You might be familiar with their sandwiches if you’ve ever used your BoardPlus at the Barker Center café. What that café doesn’t offer, though, is all of the bread loaves you’ve been missing out on (along with a charming waving cat figurine—what’s up with not having one of those, Barker Center?). From seeded to flute, baguettes, and huron, Hi-Rise even offers signature Jewish challah. And, if you want to check out the café while still following Pass- ove rules, Hi-Rise has you covered with unleavened chocolate and almond mac- arons and chocolate fallen cakes. While everything else is pretty overpriced, the bread is pretty reasonable. The vanilla loaf and sourdough were my favorites.

What else can you do when Passover’s over? If these joints don’t make up for the eight breadless days, try making jokes about it being “toasty” outside, pulling a Katniss and falling in love with the baker’s son, or putting a bun in someone’s oven (only joking). Eat your cereal in a bread bowl for all I care—after this past week, you totally deserve it.