Monday, April 28, 2025
Evelyn Heredia, owner of Phoenix Family Chiropractic, held Malverne’s annual Community Irish Soda Bread Throw Down on Mar. 23. This is their eighth year hosting this event.
Community members submitted their bread at the chiropractors office earlier that day, which were then tasted by a panel of judges. There were eleven entries in this year’s competition.
Pennie Schwartz, the previous owner of the chiropractic office, began the Irish Soda Bread Throw Down. “When I took the practice over, she told me to promise her that I would continue the Irish Soda Bread contest,” said Heredia. “So, that’s what I did.”
Mayor Tim Sullivan, caterer Ed Hassel, and Jerry Hughes, owner of Connelly Station, were this years judges and sampled each bread. They were instructed to award the breads based on presentation, freshness, moisture, shape, crumb, balance of flavor, and even browning.
“It’s interesting how some of them are so different then the others,” said Sullivan.
“Yes, even in the shape,” Hughes agreed.
All scores were tallied up to calculate the winners. The top three bread makers were each given a prize basket, which included a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur and gold shot glasses.
Jennifer McInerney won third place and Mary Ellen Cantanno won second. Tiffany Hughes was awarded first place for her bread after winning second in last year’s competition.
Hughes was excited to win the Irish Soda Bread Throw Down. She shared her key tip for a good Irish soda bread.
“You don’t want to handle the dough too much,” Hughes said. “Like you would pizza dough, you want to knead it. Don’t over handle it. The bread should be very rustic.”
“I use buttermilk,” she added. “And I think that makes a difference.”
After the judging was completed, community members were welcome to taste all of the soda breads and make their own judgments. The office supplied butter for the breads, Guinness and other snacks.
