You can buy them at Trader Joe’s, Costco, Whole Foods or Publix. But there’s nothing like walking into a bakery or market and purchasing a freshly made challah, knowing that a South Florida baker got up early that morning to make the dreamy, soft creation in a local kitchen.
Challah is an eggy bread eaten by Jews on the Sabbath, holidays and special occasions. Many cooks make their own at home, although the process takes several hours as the dough must be kneaded and rise several times to achieve its spongy perfection.
If you’re starved for time or have no inclination to knead, here’s a list of locally owned South Florida bakeries and markets that sell challahs. Sometimes they come in rolls, sometimes marbled, sometimes braided and sometimes round; all have gotten excellent reviews by local bread connoisseurs.
Call ahead to make sure each site is selling them on the day you want them. Challahs are popular, especially on Fridays, and often sell out in the morning.
Lox & Bagel, 21065 Powerline Road, Boca Raton; 561-245-8363; kosherloxnbagel.com
A loaf is $8, rolls are $1.75 each for a pack of six. Head over in the morning; the staffer who answered the phone said challahs sell out early.
Flakowitz of Boynton, 7410 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach; 561-742-4144; flakowitzofboynton.com
Challahs are baked every day but usually sell out in the morning. There were none left on a recent day at 2 p.m. They cost $5.30 each.
Palm Beach Bakery & Cafe, 206 E. Ocean Ave., Lantana; 561-585-0222; palmbeachbakeryandcafe.com
This Finnish bakery ships bread all over the country. A pack of four challahs goes for $27.99. You can check out their other breads, too; they offer Rosemary Bread ($27 for four) and a Bread Combo, with two loaves of Cardamom Bread and two loaves of Rye Bread ($41.80).
Shloimies Kosher Bakery, 7772 NW 44th St., Sunrise; 954-572-6101; shloimies-kosher-bakery.business.site
A twisted challah goes for $7, as does a plain white bread. This bakery is highly recommended by local residents who comment in “Let’s Eat, South Florida“, the Sun Sentinel’s foodie Facebook group. It’s open only three days a week: Wednesdays to Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
KC Market, 5650 Stirling Road, Hollywood; 954-963-1313; koshercentral.com
Challah, braided or round or whole wheat, is $5.99. The market also sells a six-pack of challah rolls for $5.99. A mouth-watering assortment of pastries are also for sale, including large Chocolate Cheesecakes ($34.99) and Cinnamon Babka ($14.99).
Protano’s Bakery, 2116 Sherman St., Hollywood; 754-216-3033; protanosbakery.com
A “Let’s Eat, South Florida” amateur foodie offered this recommendation for Protano’s challah: “Protano’s in Hollywood is a commercial bakery and they make a beautiful braided challah bread along with other choices.” A regular challah goes for $6.79, while jumbo is $7.56.
Florentin Bakery and More, 3000 Stirling Road, Hollywood; 754-704-1328; florentinbakery.com
A braided sesame challah goes for $4.98 at this kosher bakery and cafe, which also sells smoothies, freshly squeezed juices, cakes, sandwiches and all-day breakfast.
Aroma Market & Catering, 9200 Glades Road, Boca Raton (561-931-3300); and 8819 Stirling Road, Cooper City (954-252-2600); aromamarket.net
Aroma offers a terrific assortment of challahs in different shapes and sizes, including Mom’s Sesame Pull Apart Challah for $7.99, Mom’s Apple Cinnamon Challah for $11.99, and a bag of mini challah rolls for $5.99.
Grove Kosher Market, 22191 Powerline Road, Boca Raton (561-620-7999); and 2889 Stirling Road, Hollywood (954-544-5210); grovekosher.com
Lots of choices here. The New York Pull Apart Challah ($7.99) looks especially tempting. There’s also a New York Challah with Everything ($5.99) and a Whole Wheat Challah ($7.99).
Pita Pan Bakery, 23269 State Road 7, Boca Raton; 561-451-9477; and 8602 NW 44th St., Sunrise (954-741-0171); pitapanbakery.com
Pita Pan boasts of selling “America’s best pita bread,” but their challah is pretty good, too. All challahs are $5.50, and there are whole wheat and sesame seed variations.
Do you know of a locally owned bakery that’s not on this list? Send it to AskLois@sunsentinel.com and we will add it to the story.
