Yes, we know that Denver is not New York, and for any NY native, the food here just doesn't compare. Still, this year Denver came close to getting authentic New York bagels when Rosenberg's Bagels and Deli opened on Welton Street.
See also: Rosenberg's Bagels and Deli Is on a Roll
Of course, if you're anything like my East Coast Jewish mother, your initial reaction will probably be something along the lines of, "It's not a New York bagel unless it's from New York" (cue the accent, heavy on the cynicism, and skip over the part about what went wrong in my upbringing that led me to the delusion that, as a native Coloradan, I have any credible knowledge of bagels).The key to these fluffy wheels of dough is in the water — New York City water, to be specific — and Joshua Pollack, a New Jersey native who's the mastermind behind Rosenberg's, hit the nail on the head when he decided to alter Denver water to match the chemistry of NYC's.
It was also a pleasant surprise to see a deli that's heavy on the smoked fish offering plenty of vegetarian items on the menu, and tofu to boot. Reserving the soy option for the next visit (which will be very soon), we found the egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on a sesame bagel looked the most tempting: simple and substantial. And it did not disappoint.
If the name is not self-explanatory, the egg and cheese breakfast sandwich consists of eggs and cheese on a bagel. Lightly seasoned with a dash of salt and pepper, the eggs are cooked to your preference (I went with scrambled), and the cheese comes in your choice of American, mozzarella or cheddar (the latter suited this combination).At any deli, if the bagel is bad, the bagel sandwich is going to be no better. But this sesame bagel was perfect. Rather than the chewy or under-cooked bagels common in some Denver bagel outlets, this one was warm, seeded on both sides, and fluffy all the way through to the last bite.
What could be better? This New York-style bagel sandwich comes without the New York price tag, ringing up at just $5.25. That could quickly make Rosenberg's a favorite spot for a tasty caloric indulgence.
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