Vasilopita Politiki (Βασιλόπιτα Πολίτικη)

Vasilopita Politiki is the New Year's bread of Constantinople, a round tsoureki-rich loaf scented with mahlepi, Chios mastiha, and a little kakoule. It isn't the crumbly cake some houses bake on the mainland. This one pulls in soft strands, shines under egg glaze, and hides the flouri, the lucky coin, for the first cutting of the year. The region is the dish's surname here: Politiki means from the City.

The method that decides it is when you add the butter. Build the dough first, then work in softened butter a little at a time, after the flour has found its strength. If you pour in everything at once, the dough stays heavy and tears; if you wait, it stretches, rises high, and gives you that tender tsoureki pull.

I keep the almonds simple, a cross or the new year on top, because the bread already carries enough perfume. In my Thessaloniki kitchen I hide the wrapped flouri from underneath once the loaf is cool. The surprise remains, and no one bites down on metal. A recipe written down is a recipe saved.