Georgian Bread, Home of Awesome Cheese-filled Khachapuri
- By Robyn Lee
- Dec 4, 2011
- Comments
- A straightforward name.
I'm not the kind of person who'd be labeled as "the life of the party"; I'm more like the person who stands in the corner and looks lost or confused. So to shoot myself up the ranks without gaining any social acuity, I bring out the big guns: Georgian cheesy bread, aka khachapuri.
- One loaf is the size of...a whole buttload of quarters.
- This one had congealed a bit before we dug in. Still tasty, though.
Georgian Bread in Brighton Beach is a small bakery well known for their imeruli khachapuri ($6), a large, flat round of soft, slightly chewy and crusty bread filled with a mixture of cheese, egg, and butter. Buy at least two of them: one to tear into right away (preferably shared with at least three other friends, who will subsequently loooove youuuu) when it's fresh out of the oven, and one to eat later at home.
...Or to bring to a oven-equipped party where people will fawn over your contribution of warm, soft, curd-y (not so much gooey), salty cheese wrapped in carbs. Those people may not remember your name, but they will remember the khachapuri.
- Get a behind-the-scenes look at Georgian Bread in this video from Chow.
I only bought two loaves (if that is the correct khachapuri unit) during my last visit to bring to two parties; on retrospect I should've bought more, considering how rarely I go to Brighton Beach. They reheat well and, I'm guessing, would freeze fine. Don't just buy two of 'em; buy...four. Or five. Yup, that should do it. Just make sure to hold the loaves horizontally when it's still hot or all the cheese may gloop to one side.
- Khachapuri from Pirosmani.
You may remember khachapuri from my post about Pirosmani, a Georgian restaurant that makes three kinds of khachapuri (among lots of other Georgian dishes). Their breadstuffs are all very good, but their imeruli khachapuri almost looks anemic compared to Georgian Bread's.
Another option for satisfying a khachapuri craving: make it yourself. (I keep forgetting this option exists. Is that what my kitchen is for? Oh yeah.) Here's a recipe that looks promising and fairly simple.
(Many thanks to Noah for introducing me to Georgian Bread!)
Georgian Bread
265 Neptune Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11235 (map)
718-332-8082
Comments
If I hadn't given up dairy, I would stuff this blown up cheesy pita bread into my mouth. These are reasons I could never go low-carb, haha.
you shouldn't be so self-deprecating. you seem like a lovely and likable person
Kim: Oh no, dairy is your friiiend!...unless it makes you sick. In which case, maybe not. :[ I'll eat cheesy bread for the both of us.
Eric: Aw, thanks. I didn't realize quite how self-deprecating that sounded until you pointed it out, haha! Maybe that's disturbing. I'm pretty used to the self deprecation thing. Anyhoo, there are certain parties where I'm total awkwardsauce, while others where I'm pretty normal. :)
I didn't have lunch, and seeing this just makes me cry in sad, sad hunger. I wonder if these are baked in a skillet or on a griddle. The baked one in the recipe you linked to looks sorta raw-doughy just under the crust. Maybe it needs more baking.
although that's too far from me, i'm glad to know this exist in case i ever want to go to brooklyn again! and you posted! hurray.
Julie: You're right, the one in the recipe does look undercooked, hmmmmuuuh. I still wanna try making it sometime, "sometime" being...next year.
Danny: Whenever I go to Brighton Beach I think, "Man, why don't I come here more often? This food is awesome!" And then...I don't go back for like half a year. Maybe we can arrange a group trip next time. CHEESY BREAD AWAITS.
You should seriously get some kind of bonus from the New York tourism board :D My friends and I are determined to get out there on a trip based off of your food posts. This is one of those posts that keeps the "dream alive"!
Khachapuri ftw! btw, the random Georgian bakery we found while walking from GB to Brighton Bazaar is apparently just as good as GB, according to Noah and his sources. Time for a return trip already?
I was thinking what Shine said, you should get a bonus or something for promoting them! I keep wishing I could just hop on a plane and get to these places....ahhhh once I graduate! Cool blog sista:)
Shine, Annie: Haha, thanks! Cheesy bread is definitely the key to bringing in the tourists.
James: YUP. ...Get ready for Cheesy Bread Tour 2012!