Etymological query

[dsrtao]

Does anyone *not* in my family use the term "bulka" to describe challah made in a pullman-style loaf rather than round or braided?
In Polish it seems to mean a bread roll made with eggs, which is pretty close, and very likely the original source -- but I'm looking for anything in between.

Comments

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

I grew up with bulkie rolls, which Wikipedia thinks is from the same root word, but they're not like challah.

[dsrtao]

I didn't think of that. Thanks!

It lead me to thinking about alternate spellings, et voila: bulkeh turns out to be commonly used in Yiddish for "challah roll", which is clearly a middle link between Polish and my family's interpretation.

[siderea]

I just saw your post and was going to say, I grew up with "bulkie roll" meaning per bread:challah::hamberger roll:bulkie roll. It was made with egg.

While I'm here, can I just whine a bit about the fact that my local Shaw's does not carry bulkie rolls, while the Giant Eagle in, um, I think it was Portersville, did? My mom has a tradition of using stale bulkie rolls for the breadcrumbs in poultry stuffing, which is delish.

[mama-pipa.livejournal.com]

Thats what I first thought of too..

[cellio]

I have heard some of the older guys at the morning minyan use either "bulkie" or "bulkeh" (but not "bulka") to refer to a roll that's fairly airy (anti-dense, if you will) and that sometimes has a bumpy top. I suppose that could be vaguely reminiscent of braids, but it's not braided. (The bakery that made them went out of business last year, so I haven't seen a recent instance.)

Bulka bread

[sareena99.livejournal.com]

Bulka is made from challah dough, but in a long bread pan.
Pieces of the risen dough are formed into smooth rolls and place down the length of the pan. After it has risen again, the loaf is brushed with beaten egg and sprinkled with poppy seeds.

I have never seen this bread sold in the USA although it was (and is still) common in the UK where I grew up. The word *bulka* is Polish for a roll, so *bulka bread* is just a series of rolls baked into a loaf. BTW, it is served sliced, not pulled apart like monkey bread.

http://www.countrystyle.co.uk/reading.htm
(scroll down)
>J. Grodzinski & Daughters
9 Northways Parade, Swiss Cottage, London , NW3 5EN (020 7722 4944)he Grodzinski product range includes a really stunning "Rye Granary Wholemeal" rich with caraway seeds and with a very good texture - rye often has the reputation for being chewy, but not the Grodzinski. They also make good cholla plaits and bulka - a loaf made with egg-rich, slightly sweet cholla dough - as well as rolls, beigels, and platzels. <
and
http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:te-2-FnHhRgJ:koshersolutions.co.uk/shop/product/bulka_loaf_large_/+bulka+bread&cd=40&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
>Bulka Price: £1.95 ...<