Until recently, I liked my bread plain. If I felt adventurous, I might opt for some whole grains in it, but nothing else. Then I went to Bread & Butter Baking Company, a semi-new addition to Jamaica Plain. When I tasted its raisin-pecan loaf, my bread preferences were history. The loaf has a crispy crust, but a soft, moist middle colored light purple by raisins. Each bite perfectly combines the sweetness of the fruit and the crunchiness of the nuts.

Though the bread can hold up as a delicious snack (or meal!) on its own, it also serves as an interesting base for a cheese sandwich or some butter or olive oil. The only way to improve this bread: get a loaf warm from the oven — which you can manage fairly often, since Bread & Butter does all its baking on the premises.