Help me find rolls

January 5, 2006 8:15 AM

The Cheesecake Factory serves up some rolls. Could it be pumpernickel? Where do I get them?

The Cheesecake Factory in Arlington, VA - and I assume at the chain's other locations - serves some sort of roll before dinner comes out. It's soft, and dark brown, and it's got a slightly sweet taste to it. I'm not a bread expert, and it's been a while since I've have pumpernickel, but are they serving up pumpernickel rolls? Or is it something else? I don't remember pumpernickel being sweet at all.

Whatever kind of rolls they are, where would I find something like it (rolls not sliced bread)? The grocery store I regularly frequent doesn't carry anything like it. If you know a specific place in Northern Virginia, that'd be great.

posted by clearlynuts to food & drink (10 comments total)

I know the bread/rolls you are talking about and it's not pumpernickel. It's very similar to the sweet, brownish bread they serve at Outback and other chains as well.

Sorry I can't be more help, but I am sure it's not pumpernickel, which is harder & less sweet.
posted by catfood at 8:25 AM on January 5, 2006

i haven't seen it in roll form, but i'm pretty sure what you're referring to is similar to squaw bread, like the charthouse brand sold at costco.

you can try making your own rolls!
posted by booknerd at 8:33 AM on January 5, 2006

I've had the bread and love it. Trust me - it's pumpernickel. (Or rather, a mass-produced Americanized version of pumpernickel.) Pumpernickel recipes typically call for the addition of molasses, resulting in a bread which is dark and sweet.

Here is a recipe I found online for Cheesecake Factory Pumpernickel Bread.
posted by peppermint22 at 8:43 AM on January 5, 2006

Definitely pumpernickel. Some searching turned up references to molasses pumpernickel at Cheesecake Factory, so I think peppermint22 nailed it.
posted by daveleck at 8:49 AM on January 5, 2006

Are you talking about the brown ones with uncooked oats on top? I never thought it was pumpernickel because I can't stand rye flour, which is in pumpernickel. The closest I've come was these. When I made them I didn't have instant coffee so I used 1 1/2 cups of coffee rather than water. The recipe also doesn't call for oats on the bread but that is easy enough, however you might want to use an egg wash to get them to stick on though. I also didn't have the caramel coloring so I skipped that, and they were light brown rather than dark brown. I assume the coloring would have fixed that.

The taste was spot on. No idea where they can be bought though.
posted by jwells at 8:59 AM on January 5, 2006

I am pretty sure it's not pumpernickel. It's not nearly as dark or savory as real pumpernickel, and it's not like real pumpernickel is hard to find in the US.
posted by catfood at 9:01 AM on January 5, 2006

FYI -- There's a site where you can find tons of recipes for restaurant (and fast food outlet) foods -- CopyKat.com. I searched there and found 4 recipes for Cheesecake Factory dishes, but not your bread, alas.
posted by nancoix at 9:51 AM on January 5, 2006

I think it more closely resembles Boston Brown Bread, which comes in a can and is usually eaten with baked beans. I don't know if you can buy it down there, but up here (Massachusetts) it's near the beans.

The bread at the Cheesecake Factory lacks the rye taste I associate with pumpernickel.
posted by nekton at 9:53 AM on January 5, 2006

It's wheat bread. "The Factory Burger" on their menu is available on sourdough (which is the other bread they include in the basket) as well as the bread you're talking about. Here's the decription from their menu (the first item under "Specialties"):

THE FACTORY BURGER
Charbroiled with Cheddar Cheese, Tomato and Grilled Onions.
Served on Sourdough French or Wheat Loaf with Fries
posted by santry at 10:06 AM on January 5, 2006

If somebody has a local CF, give them a call and ask. That'll settle this, but good...
posted by daveleck at 10:39 AM on January 5, 2006