Calling all the New Yorkers out there.  Before we moved from the Netherlands (I know I keep going back to those days….), I tried my hands at making bagels. And succeeded too. And because I promised you bagels and Nigerian stews (not served together mind you) – here it is.

See I feel that for my American experience to be complete, I have to go to certain places – New York City is one of them. A place I’ve long associated with fun, fashion and gastronomy. Whenever  I think of New York, I think Blueberry muffins, hot dogs, bagels and a mean espresso. And though I haven’t quite made it that far yet, I was willing to search for the heady, fresh baked flavours of ‘New Amsterdam’.

I found gorgeous bagels at Bagel Alley in The Netherlands and quickly acquired a taste for them. This café celebrates the yeasty bread treat – a touch heavy and chewy with that distinct, light sour taste and shiny top. I was astonished at the variety of bagel recipes on the menu – everything from the standard cream cheese to a ‘pizza’ and a BLT (Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato).

Burrata, Fig Jam on a Poppy Seed Bagel

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