#87 – PROVOLONE BREAD at PARISI BAKERY

Once again Time Out New York released their Top 100 Dishes of the year and once again, I’m going to eat my way through every one. And no price point or subway delay will stop me. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100.

Cheese and bread is a perfect combination. We’ve seen this in many forms: grilled cheese, pizza, bagels and cream cheese. Carbs and fat are the basic pleasures of life, so I had no qualms about trying the provolone bread at the classic Little Italy bakery Parisi.

The only obstacles I faced were their hours. They closed anywhere between 3 and 4 and the first two times I arrived, they had sold out of the cheesy loaf. Third time was the charm and I was pleased to find they had two loaves left when I arrived just before 3 one Tuesday afternoon. I picked the one with more visible cheesy bits (thanks to Time Out’s suggestion) and saved it for dinner later that night.

I was tempted to rip into the package as I carried it around with me throughout the city, but I resisted. When I finally did cut into the bread at home, I discovered two large pockets of cheese. It looked as if the provolone had clung to the upper corners of the bread. I was worried the cheese flavor would be exclusive to one area and that I wouldn’t experience it in every bite. Would I have to add some butter or sliced cheese to this thing?

The answer was no. It was great just on its own. There must have been less visible cheese bits throughout the dough because each bite tasted like a perfect calzone. The slightly sharp provolone was rich and buttery and the soft Italian bread stood up perfectly to it.

The exterior had a crusty bite topped with melted bits of crunchy cheese. And inside, it was soft, cheesy, and delicious. I couldn’t imagine putting anything on this bread (maybe a piece of salami or prosciutto) because it would get in the way of the perfectly fresh, cheesy bread.

And there we have it, folks, another example why cheese and bread make for the perfect marriage. I, for one, say “I do!”

Would Parisi Bakery’s Provolone Bread make my Top 100 of the year? Quite possibly, especially considering it only cost $3.75 and it puts all other regular Italain loaves to shame. 9 out of 10.