Chabaso - FAQ

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Here are some of the most popular questions our customers ask. Do you have a question? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at info@chabaso.com or reach us via our contact page.

Do you have a retail outlet?
Yes we do! Chabaso's Bakery Outlet is officially RE-OPENED! Come down and visit us at 360 James St, New Haven M-F 7am-3pm and Sat 8am-12noon. It's located right on the corner, and parking is available on the street. We have tons of fresh bread and you can even grab a cup of coffee too. Hope to see you there soon!

What's with all the holes in the bread?
This is our most popular question! One of the most important characteristics of a ciabatta is the large holes that make up its interior. As an artisan product, the quantity and size of the holes can and does vary from day to day. These holes, the hallmark of a high quality ciabatta, are achieved by utilizing a form of prefermentation called a poolish. A poolish requires long resting times, up to 24 hours, to allow the bread to fully develop its light texture and rich, complex taste. In the time it takes for other breads to be mixed, baked, shipped, and eaten, our ciabattas are still sitting, waiting until they are absolutely ready to be handcrafted and baked by our bread artisans. The result is the fragrant, airy bread so many have come to love!

Sometimes the holes in your bread make it difficult to cut for a sandwich. Any suggestions?
Yes! Because of our signature airy texture, our ciabattas need to be cut specifically to make the perfect sandwich. Always remember to keep in mind the safety of your fingers when slicing the bread. First, with a long serrated bread knife, cut the ciabatta lengthwise. Second, cut a piece crosswise to your desired size. Then, fill with your favorite sandwich fillings and enjoy!

I'm trying to eat more whole grains. What breads can you suggest?
The following breads have Whole Grain Council stamps listing the grams per serving of whole grains in each bread:

7 Grain Loaf (8g)
Rainin' Grains Ciabatta (8g)
Cranberry Pecan Loaf (8g)
Cranberry Harvest Rolls (12g)
Wheat Ciabatta Rolls (13g)
Wheat Ciabatta (10g)

I love your breads, but I often don't finish it all in one sitting. What is the best way to store your bread?
Don't worry, it happens! Our breads are baked fresh daily with no preservatives, and should be eaten soon after purchase. If you plan on having the bread within the next couple of days, the best way to store it is to fold over the bread bag, wrap it in plastic, and leave at room temperature. If you'd like to enjoy the bread much later, wrap it in plastic and stick it in the freezer.

If I do save it for later, what's the best way to reheat your bread for a fresh crust?
If you stored the bread at room temperature, preheat your oven at 375 degrees. Unwrap the bread, take it out of bread bag, and place it directly on the rack in preheated oven. Baking times vary as follows:
STIX®, Rolls, and Classic Baguettes: 2-3 minutes
Loaves under 18 oz and Parisian Baguettes: 4-6 minutes
Loaves over 18 oz and Sourdough Boule: 5-7 minutes

If you froze your bread, remove from freezer, unwrap and place directly on a 375-degree preheated oven rack. Baking times vary as follows:
STIX®, Rolls, and Classic Baguettes: 7 minutes
Loaves under 18 oz and Parisian Baguettes: 10 minutes
Loaves over 18 oz and Sourdough Boule: 15 minutes

Let cool, then enjoy!

Does Chabaso make low sodium bread?
Currently we do not have specific low sodium bread; however we are sensitive to customer demand for lower sodium products and are keeping this in mind for future product development.

Is your bread Kosher?
Yes, all of our daily fresh deliveries are produced in a Kosher bakery and are certified Kosher under the Orthodox supervision of the Vaad Harabonim of New England. To be sure, you can check our packaging for the Kosher symbol.
If packaging does not include the kosher symbol that is usually because some stores finished baking off our breads in their ovens. Check with the bakeshop to see if their ovens are kosher.

I can't find one of your products at the store, what can I do?
If your local store isn't carrying one of the flavors you desire, ask the Manager of the Bakery Department if they could start ordering it. You can also write to us to see if it is being carried at a different store in your area.

For some reason I can't find my favorite flavor at a store where I usually purchase it. What happened?
There are a few things that could have happened in this situation. Even though it is hard to believe, sometimes certain types of bread do get discontinued for various reasons. Another reason could be that some of our products are produced seasonally. Lastly, sometimes stores choose to no longer receive a product. If you have found your favorite product missing, you can write us to find out what happened, or consult the bakery manager at the store you shop at.

I'm really trying to support products that are environmentally friendly, what is Chabaso doing to help?
Here at Chabaso, this is important to us as well. All of our products are made with NO chemical preservatives or artificial coloring. Where possible we support and use locally sourced ingredients.
Our paper packaging is made from brown kraft paper material. The majority of our products are packaged in these kraft bags containing 70% recycled material, or if they are grease resistant bags 20% recycled material. Both types of bags can be recycled.

Also, we are continually working towards lowering our energy consumption.

I want to purchase a large quantity of bread, how I can order it?
Unfortunately you can't place a large order directly with us; however if you go to your local carrier of Chabaso bread, they may be able to place a special order for you.

What is the best way to contact Chabaso?
The best way to contact us is by email. You can also visit our Talk With Us page and submit your comment or question. That way we can review your question, direct it to the correct person, and get back to you as quickly as possible. We'd love to hear from you!

Chabaso Bakery | (203) 562-9007 | info@chabaso.com