In Search of a Bagel...

When we first moved to the DC Metro area from New Jersey three summers ago, one of our greatest disappointments was the loss of our favorite bagel shops in Hoboken and Montclair. We kept our minds open and began taste-testing the local Virginia options, but nothing was up to that chewy yet crispy quality of the boiled New York bagel we'd grown to love. Perhaps even more horrifying was the fact that we couldn't find a single bagel shop in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia area) that cooked with an actual grill and a real egg. Seriously, everything was imitation microwaved.

Finally, we settled for the best local option: the Bagel Cafe in Herndon. It serves its purpose, but it's never been just right, and all our Northern friends know it (which is why they bring us dozens of bagels from NYC and NJ whenever they come visit). But this summer, we decided enough was enough: it was time to go on a quest for a real NYC bagel.

Enter Yelp. After reading piles of reviews, many by self-proclaimed "New York Jewish Bagel Aficionados," we were down to Bethesda Bagel and Goldberg's New York Bagels (with branches in Potomac, MD; Silver Spring, MD; and Rockville, MD--among others). The latter's name (and many outstanding reviews) sold us, so we set off on our Friday morning trek to Rockville.

And it was worth the trip. The orders were scratched down on a plain white piece of paper (no silly computer systems); the eggs were grilled with extras like sauteed onions and plenty of cheese; and the bagels! Chewy inside and crispy outside, the bagels had brought us home.

I'd be dragging Jeff back today if it weren't for the fact that this shop is so authentic that it keeps Kosher--none of the branches are open on Saturdays. But you better believe I'll be finding excuses to drive to Maryland again soon...