Chernushka Rye Bread

A very good "BUD" is trying to find Chernushka Rye bread in the Chicago area.
He's tried a lot of leads. All dead ends.
Any suggestions or ideas??

Thanks,

Wally Wade

Hi,

FYI - Chernushka is nigella seed.

You need to look for bakeries featuring Russian breads, though no guarantee it will be there. Garden Fresh has quite a few Russian breads, especially the one on Townline Road very close to Alef. If you don't see what you want, at least take note of the bakeries producing these Russian breads. What you want they may still make, though the store you are visiting doesn't necessarily order it. You may want to call them to see where it can be purchased.

I would call:

Alef Sausage & Deli
356 Townline Rd
Mundelein, IL 60060
(847) 566-0008
alefsausage.com

Levinson's Bakery
2856 W Devon Ave
(between Francisco Ave & Mozart St)
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 761-3174

These people are from Georgia, though they may know a resource:
Argo Bakery
2812 W Devon Ave
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 764-6322

Please report back on what is found.

Regards,

Cathy:
Will do.
Thanks,

Chicago Specialty Bakers makes a large variety of Russian and Eastern European rye breads. I have never seen a rye bread containing those seeds, but CSB might be worth trying. The Hebrew word for Chernushka (AKA black cumin) is "ketzakh". That might help when checking out Jewish bakeries.

Chicago Specialty Bakers
1152 Tower Ln
Bensenville, IL 60106‎
(630) 860-1225

If you don't mind driving a few hours, Zingerman's in Ann Arbor has it:
http://www.zingermans.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=B-CHR
Hmmm....leave Chicago at 5:00 AM, be back home with a car load of bread (and Zingerman's sandwiches) for a late lunch...tempting.

My friend has ordered from Zingerman's. $ 8.50 for a 1 1/2 lb loaf of rye + $ 12.50 for shipping.
Will check out the other sources so graciously provided.

Thanks,

Wally Wade

You should try Fresh Farms on Touhy, they have a large selection of Euro/Asian/Middle Eastern breads. I alway get a loaf of a Russian rye of which the name eludes me but it is small and long but on Saturday's I have to get to the store after 8:30am as that's when the guy delivers the bread!-Dick

Perhaps this may give you hope or at least another source to consider:

Russ & Rye: [Re]Building the Jewish Bakery Tradition

...
Most pumpernickel these days is simply rye colored brown with molasses, but Gordie's version shows what the loaf is all about it. It's a unique two-tone bread with a thin, chewy charnushka-sprinkled rye top and a dark brown pumpernickel loaf below. The rye "lid" serves to keep the bread moist, and its crumb is enriched with the bittersweet bite of caramel and a fistful of nutty chopped rye berries. Jewish bakers relish texture as much as flavor, and this loaf has both in spades.
...

If you scroll to the bottom, they list other sources for Jewish breads.

Regards,

Plum Grocery, on Wells, a little south of Division, carries Zingerman's bread. You have to call & order certain types,
like Chernushka.
My friend who grew up on the lower east side of NY, checked almost all bakeries in the area. A few who said they made it had "no clue".
Ordering a loaf from Plum. Zingermane is making the end of June.

Wally Wade