I’ve been gluten-free for the better part of a month now but just couldn’t bear to leave NYC without a bagel. The craving is as much about taste as it is about smell, texture, and emotional need.
At a quarter of 7 on a rainy Saturday morning the shop was deserted allowing me to take in the full depth of the smells and sights. All the bagels were lined up for the day. The air was punctuated with fresh bagels and coffee.
I ordered my usual, whole wheat everything, egg, and swiss and enjoyed observing the line form behind me as I waited. The woman behind me was also towing a roller suitcase. Maybe she too was unable to leave this city without a bagel.
