New York Bagel Co. Bagels

Dear Friend,
I am writing to tell you about something very close to my heart. I hope it will touch you, as it has touched me. It is a very serious matter and should not be taken lightly. Please leave your comments after you have finished reading.

Anyone who has read my opinion on Boston will know that I spent quite a few months there last summer. You would also know that I spent the first night in a hostel. It wasn’t the most pleasant night’s sleep. There were 10 of us in a tiny room (3 sets of bunk-beds and 4 gatecrashers on the floor) with no air-conditioning. That would have been bad enough, but it was 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside and the window was jammed shut. To say I woke up in bad humour is a major understatement. I made my way down to the hostel’s lobby with my group (after having a shower, of course – I might have been moody, but I’m not smelly!). The trip co-ordinators announced that we were getting a free breakfast in a place just around the corner. As soon as I received my meal voucher I saw that it was for a bagel in Dunkin Donuts. “Dunkin Bloody Donuts!” I shouted. I was well annoyed. Despite this, I wasn’t going to pass up the offer. I would probably be rejected by my Students’ Union if they heard that I had refused free food – it goes against the ethics of student life.

Five minutes later I was in the queue in Dunkin Donuts, purple meal voucher in hand. When it was my turn to order, I asked for a bagel. “What kinda bagel?” the girl replied. “What kind of bloody bagel”, I though?? The almost-edible kind! The girl must have seen my confused white Irish head and decided to help me “You want plain, poppy, sesame, onion, cinnamon, blueberry or egg?” “Plain”, I said. It sounded like the safest option. “You want it toasted?” More questions! “Yes” I replied. “What kinda cream cheese you want?” What kind of cream cheese? “Plain” I tried. It seems to be the right answer, because finally she went away. By the time I had gotten over the shock of being asked 100 questions just to buy a piece of bread, she had returned and handed me a bag in return for my voucher. I sat down and took the bagel out of the bag, put on the cream cheese and took a bite. “My God, it’s delicious”, I thought. It was so warm, crunchy, runny, sweet, savoury and mouth watering. I had lost my bagel-virginity and it was worth the wait. For the next five minutes I could think of nothing more that the delectable piece of culinary delight in my hands.

But it wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I had tasted the good life, and I wasn’t giving it up. I went straight to the counter and ordered another. This time I tried a sesame bagel. I paid for it, this time with hard cash and quickly sat down. The second time was better than the first - none of that awkwardness that you feel when you take your very first bite. It was heaven and I loved every minute of it.

Almost every time I felt that hungry feel deep down in my stomach, the first thing that came to mind was a bagel. It wasn’t enough to sample different types of savoury bagels anymore – soon I found myself hooked on the sweet ones too. And I loved them all – cinnamon, strawberry, blackberry, blueberry, banana and - my favourite of all - cranberry and walnut. That wasn’t all. Soon I found myself deviating for the plain cream cheese. I tried veggie, sun-dried tomato, peanut butter, and strawberry, among others. There was no limit to what I would try and how far I would go to get the perfect bagel experience.

By the end of the summer, I found that my diet consisted of a coffee and bagel for breakfast, a coffee and a bagel for lunch, and a proper dinner. My friends began to notice that I was loosing weight. My clothes were becoming looser and I found that I had more energy. I was feeling better about myself and I knew my life would never be the same – all because of the bagel.

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But what is a bagel?
It’s a type of bread that is shaped like a donut - a round yeast roll with a hole in the middle, malt rather than sugar, cooked in water, and then browned in the oven. This process produces a dense, chewy roll with a crisp exterior. It comes in a variety of flavours, some of which are mentioned above. Really, you can put anything into a bagel.

What’s the best way to eat a bagel?
It can be eaten as it is, but tastes much better when toasted until golden brown. It is also delicious when you spread something on it – cream cheese, butter, mustard, laughing cow or even jam – whichever you prefer.

What mealtime is it most suited to?
Anytime! It is most popular at breakfast time, but can be enjoyed at other mealtimes too. It is a quick and easy snack to make.

Where can I buy a bagel?
Most of the large supermarkets like Tesco now stock them. A number of convenience shops that have deli counters, or that bake their own fresh bread have them. Also, places like Dunkin Donuts sell them too.

How much do they cost?
Prices range anything from 20c to €2.00 and beyond. This depends on where you buy it, and what comes with it (for example, cream cheese or a garden salad).

How long do they stay fresh?
Bagels only stay very fresh for a few hours. It is possible to freeze them on day of purchase, then defrost them and toast them as required.

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Now that I am back in Ireland, I have had to relax my bagel obsession. It got tired of them and I don’t think that my obsession was hurting those close to me. The only reason was that they aren’t as readily available in Ireland – there isn’t an Au Bon Pain, a Dunkin Donuts or a Finagle a Bagel on every corner. I usually have to go to Tesco to buy them. This doesn’t mean that I will ever forget the good times that I have shared with bagels – how could I?

The point of writing this opinion is to get you to eat bagels. Tell your friends, colleagues, family – hell, tell your enemies! I’m sure that everyone who tries them will be hooked. Soon there will be bagels shops everywhere and I can once again live out my bagel fantasies, and be proud to be a bagel-addict. Please do it for me, do it for yourself – do it for MANKIND!!

Spread the word – long live the bagel!!!

Until next time - be happy, eat bagels.

Yours truly,
Frank
(Darkchild_ie)

P.S. – I know my opinion isn’t on New York Bagels, but it’s the closet I could find!!