When I first moved to the US for school, I saw and experienced many things for the very first time. I remember walking on campus and seeing a sudden movement; it was a squirrel. An ordinary sight for most but to me, it was the first time I saw one. My initial reaction was to chase it but noticed no one else was paying any attention to it. So I walked past it, trying to act cool but I was really fascinated. I did the same when I first experienced snow. I didn’t want anyone to know so I calmly walked to the bus stop with my tongue sticking out.
Deli faves
I was always very curious. In college town, I would see a few unusual dining places. There was a deli run by a German and his wife that sold delicious sandwiches of thinly cut roast beef between pumpernickel bread with mayo. Just before putting the sliced bread together, he would sprinkle the filling with salt. Perfect! I still try to duplicate this sandwich today.
There was also Hals deli that served a sandwich called the Ithaca Bomber. It was a three-layer sandwich with pastrami, corned beef, cheese, coleslaw and ham. Fantastic! Another place my buddy Big Mac and I would frequent was a place called the College Town bagels. They had on display boxes of different bagels: plain, whole wheat, garlic, onion, cinnamon, etc. I liked my bagels plain with a thick slobber of cream cheese and smoked salmon. The bagels were baked fresh everyday and they were always crispy even if they were not toasted. I would visit any of these three places depending on my mood.
Big Mac was my best friend. He was a 6’3” burly Fijian and the star of the Cornell Rugby team. His stomach reached down to his knees. Sometimes, he and I would drive to the house of another buddy Francis Manglaus and feast on two boxes consisting of a dozen each of breakfast sausages, eggs and bagels. After a heavy workout, I would cook and this would be our feast. I have no idea where we put all that food.
Since New York City was five hours away, I would drive down to visit my mom or just do my regular food trips once a month. The family was still operating the Maharlika restaurant on 5th avenue between 45th and 46th streets then. In the city, I frequented a place called the Bagel Nosh. It was a chain of shops serving authentic New York Bagels. I became so engrossed in bagels, I did research in our library and started making them after I graduated. I remember having to boil them prior to baking to get that crunch one expects in this Jewish delicacy.
Local discovery
I have come across many bagels since then. I have seen many in the grocery or weekend markets but just by holding and weighing them, you’ll know they are not the standard you’re looking for.
As I was driving along Fort Bonifacio once, something caught my eye. It was like seeing that squirrel again. It was a shop that had a huge bagel sign. I made plans to visit it but never got around to actually doing it. But one day, while walking down the corridors of Power Plant Mall in Rockwell, there it was—a food stall selling what looked to me like authentic New York bagels.
There were also various spreads but I didn’t bother looking at the other spreads. I was focused on the cream cheese with smoked salmon mixed into it. Same quality and taste as my New York bagels. What a flashback. It was crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Bagel perfection! I bought a dozen to let my kids try. I wanted them to experience the joy I had discovering these.
I freeze the bagels, thaw by popping them in the microwave for 30 seconds, slice then toast. I spread some cream cheese only or cream cheese, sliced tomato and a sprinkling of lemon pepper. Yum! Today, my freezer is never without a bagel. I simply love them. Are they fattening? Most definitely. But like I say, they’re worth all the calories.
Happy eating!
L.E.S. Bagels sets up a stall on weekends at the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Makati. They also have a shop in McKinley Hill at the Fort in Taguig.
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