What you see here is the most aloof of all mythical creatures. You have a better chance of seeing a unicorn than seeing this.....a Chinese bagel. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, bagels in China. Upon my return to the US, I was asked what I culturally missed the most. My response was a good bagel. Having grown up in New York, and lived in Connecticut, bagels were easy to find. But in China, I was relegated to eating Lenders Bagels, which everyone knows is not a bagel. In fact, I'm not even sure that it's bread. So when I happen to come across these bagels, not more than 300 feet from my home, it was like witnessing the Second Coming.I prepared it at home with loving hands. Watching the toasting process with loving anticipation until it was toasted to perfection, applying the proper amount of butter so it would not be too soggy and giving it the correct consistency and taste. I brought it to my nose like a fine wine, savoring the smell and the texture. I could feel a tear of happiness rolling down my cheek.
Each morsel was chewed until it was pulverized to dust in my mouth and it never took me so long to eat a bagel. It was thoroughly enjoyed. How does it compare to a New York bagel you ask? I tried to manage my expectations. Nothing is as good as a New York bagel. This would qualify as a 3 day old bagel in New York but still, IT'S CHINA. I thought I've seen everything but never thought I would see bagels in China. Truly the world is global. Now, where can I get some lox?
