BRING BACK THE WHITE BREAD

Does anyone in the USA remember the simple pleasure of  sinking one’s teeth effortlessly into a piece of tender white bread?   I’m here to shout that the self-denial and accompanying snobbishness of turning up our collective noses at white bread is not justified, simply because of the great pleasure it returns when eaten.

The Japanese have taken white bread consumption to a whole new level of pleasure.

As an American, when you first see that all white rectangle of gluten, you immediately go, “Wha???!!” Then, as you learn to trust Japanese culinary taste and talent, you start to think that you might be missing out on something. You also consider the fact, that the Japanese are much more slender than Americans, appear quite healthy, and apparently are none the worse for eating white bread!

When my husband brought home the above package of sliced, one inch thick white bread, four slices to a package, I was secretly delighted.

Waking up early this morning, I made a beeline to our kitchen and that cute package waiting on the counter.

It was everything I remembered from childhood times ten.  Those were the days when I could eat a whole package of Wonder Bread in one sitting and enjoy the fun of playing with its texture by smooshing it down with the palm of my hand until it was wafer thin.  Something, I imagined, like a communion wafer.

I did not play with my white bread this morning.  Just popped that baby into my mouth and savored every easy bite of blandness, refinement and gentility it represents.

p.s. It makes great toast, too.  WITH BUTTER!!!!!