Sometimes I'm glad I don't live in NYC any more. 8 bucks for a challah?

You wouldn't believe the Bowery. It's ritzy. So weird.

I WANT BAGELS.

Can't get 'em around here. The things they call 'bagels'... I don't wanna say.

I'm going to try to make them, that's how desperate I am. Maybe this weekend.

Yer killin' me, man.

Think Yank has problems in RI? Here in the land of biscuits and pulled pork, most people are content to call the pillowy rolls they hand out at Panera Bread "bagels."

I don't know if it's an actual recipe change or if I'm just the victim of a shifted context, but lately I've been more content to eat a Bruegger's bagel than I used to be.

Still, for my fellow expats who are up for a little adventure, I can report that this works surprisingly well -- and rewards a little practice:

http://johndlee.hubpages.com/hub/Homemade_bagel_recipe_Make_great_nadrolled_water_bagels__its_as_easy_as_baking_a_loaf_of_bread

Now don't get me started on flavored cream cheese on bagels with berries and crap baked inside them.

Hey BBinNC- the wife baked me a bagel with a hot dog baked in. Yummy.

Yeah, there's some of the best damn gluten here in NYC, believe that.

[5] Well you know I'm trying that.

[6] The best water, more's the pernt.