Best bread: Matt Murphy’s; Union Bar and Grille

by Ruth Tobias, 09-24-2007

While Lifetime Achievement Awards are undoubtedly due to Sel de la Terre and Harvest for their rainbow assortments, the breads we can't currently get out of our heads - or into our bellies fast enough - come courtesy of Matt Murphy's (14 Harvard Street, Brookline, 617.232.0188) and Union Bar and Grille (1357 Washington Street, Boston, 617.423.0555). The former makes its brown bread from scratch, with pride in the fact that no two loaves turn out exactly the same; that said, every hunk we've ever ripped off has proved equally, delightfully dense and nutty. Meanwhile, Union's warm, moist skillet cornbread nearly constitutes a meal in itself.

[Photo by Joel Veak]