Long, long ago, our lives were very simple. We did not have much of anything beyond our basic needs. Yes, we had bread and buns but I only came across this…
…in 1973 when I went over to Singapore.
They called it “French loaf” and it was hard and crusty. They served it with sup kambing (mutton soup) at the Indian shops or with their celebrated Singapore chili crab at their seafood restaurants at places like Bedok. We dipped the slices in the soup or gravy to soak and to soften and ate.
I only got to know its other name…
…more recently, not that long ago.
The guy at this bakery doesn’t use that name – he calls it a French loaf. I guess if he uses baquette instead, some customers may have a problem pronouncing it and will come out with their own peculiar versions. Have you heard the one about the guy who went to a restaurant and ordered a quiche? LOL!!!
Personally, I feel that the ones from that bakery are slightly harder and a bit more crusty than this one that I bought from here, not like the ones in the good ol’ days in Singapore – those were so hard that it could be used as a lethal weapon. LOL!!! I don’t know if it is available at the other bakeries in town but I sure am glad that these two do not come across as regular bread made in that longish cylindrical shape and are a little bit like the baguette that I used to know.
Now, how do I usually eat it? For one thing, we can cut it into short lengths, cut slits in them and stuff them with whatever filling we fancy to make our own Vietnamese banh mi. but usually, I will just slice it diagonally and toast the slices and eat it just like that or with any bread spread I fancy and not too long ago, I made some sprinkle toasts with it.
The other day, my girl made these garlic toasts…
…for her breakfast. She applied butter on the slices that I had cut, sprinkled chopped garlic, cheese and parsley on top and put them in the oven to toast till the cheese had melted and had turned into a lovely golden colour…
Yes, she enjoyed it done this way.
As far as I know, the guys here get theirs by special order, done the way they like them (I think they come in shorter lengths) for their toasted garlic bread served with their very nice chicken sauce…
They do not cut the loaf diagonally like I do so theirs are round, not so long.
What about you? How do you usually enjoy yours?
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 