Bonkers for Bakeries, Gaga for Grodzinskis!

With Shabbat fast-approaching, and fresh challas being baked, there is no time like the present to feature my childhood-favourite kosher bakery, Grodzinskis, and its impressive history. Grodzinski started baking back in 1888 when the family picked up and moved from the old country of Lithuania to England. Read on!

Family History:
"The history of the Grodzinski family in England dates back to 1888 when Harris and Judith Grodzinski arrived from Lithuania bringing with them the art of great bread making. They [rented] ovens from another kosher baker and set up the business from a market barrow in London's East End, establishing a baking tradition that is still adhered to today."

 "The business grew and soon the family moved in to 31 Fieldgate Street where they set up what was to be their home & bakery for the next 40 years. Harris and Judith's son Abraham and their grandsons Harry and Ruby kept up the high quality of baking, whilst at the same time expanding the business. Wherever the English Jewish community went, Grodzinski went with them, delivering to a number of wholesale customers from two horse drawn vans."

"By the late 1930's, most of the baking was moved to premises in Stamford Hill. This proved to be a fortuitous move as on 29th December 1940, the original bakery in Fieldgate Street was completely destroyed in a German air raid. Expansion continued after the war and by the mid 1960's Grodzinski was the largest Kosher Bakery in Europe."

"In 1999 the first Grodzinski bakery was opened in Toronto thus continuing the family baking traditions into the fourth and fifth generations."

 Grodzinskis Today

Grodzinski specializes in bread, cakes and cookies. Its most popular seller, and my personal favourite, is its braided challahs. When I was living away from home in London, Ontario, my mom would occasionally send them up as a treat. They reminded me of home.

Grodzinski has expanded their menu, now making delicious breakfast and lunch platters, with a range of sandwiches, fish, cheeses, vegetables, fruit, and of course, dessert!

 What do challahs go for these days?

• Small 3.00
• Large 4.30
• Extra Large - Jumbo 5.00
• Crown 8.95 / MG 9.95
• Multigrain - Large 4.85
• Multigrain - Small 3.50
• Spetl - Large 6.50

Verdict? Worth every penny!

For those of you who want to try your own hand at braiding a home-made challah, check out this easy-to-follow YouTube clip.