Food memories play such a unique role in our eating experiences and food personalities. The first time I was introduced to Irish soda bread was through my great aunt. She took me to a bakery in New Jersey where you walk through the inner workings of the bakery and grab hot, fresh loaves directly off the bakery racks, fill up a paper bag with fresh bread, take it to the counter where they slice it to your preferred thickness and individually bag the loaves. I had never been to a bakery like this and I was fairly certain it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. (And since I’ve never been back, it has managed to retain its whimsical, does-it-actually-exist quality.)  The magical racks of so many different types of fresh bread were intoxicating. My aunt insisted on filling my bag with a variety of bakery goods, including Irish soda bread.

I began nibbling on the loaf during the bus ride back to New York and I couldn’t stop!  It was dense, lightly sweet from the currants, and tangy from the caraway. In short, completely addicting. Somehow I managed to save enough to share with my roommate at the time who had never tried it before either.  We both were hooked!  After demolishing the one loaf, we were on a mission to find this illusive Irish soda bread from New Jersey again.  Luckily, being in New York, we really only had to open our eyes … since it is sold in regular grocery stores all around the city.  And, as we came to find, was the standard sandwich bread at a touristy ice cream parlor only a few blocks from our apartment.

When we needed a break or just a moment to digest our thoughts, Em and I would venture over to this touristy spot and indulge in an order of Irish soda bread.  It was served slightly toasted with butter and was probably way too expensive, but we were too young to care.  It was a remarkably simple comfort but at the time it was exactly what we needed.  These days I still find myself drawn to Irish soda bread when I’m in need of something comforting.  It always reminds me of good family, good friends, and good conversation.

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