I hope you're all sitting down, dear readers, as what I am about to say will shock you, without a doubt. One can only wonder why it took me so long to realize the truth. And now that I know, I have no choice but to move away, for good.The catalyst for this was a small one: Thor and I went shopping, as we have done many times before. And, like many times before, Thor somehow started free associating dinner ideas, and soon had amassed a small basketful of items: eel, smoked salmon, fresh dill and spring onion, Philadelphia cream cheese. I was just staring at these items, and then, from nowhere, had a revelation. 'You know, there's just one thing missing,' I announced to Thor. 'Yes, of course you're right', he responded, and we then proceeded to have one of those conversations, where we both knew we were each talking about a totally different thing, but not wanting to admit what item that we were thinking of. He was thinking of snaps. I, as anyone else would do, was focusing on the smoked salmon and the cream cheese, and thinking, 'ummm...bagel....'
Only, there are no bagels in my town. It was like a lead weight dropped on my scalp. I have never seen bagels anywhere near where we live. We looked of course. At the supermarket. At the bakery. But we knew already that we wouldn't find any.
So, now, I'm obsessed, with moving house and with bagels. Though now that I think of it, towards the end of my bike ride into Copenhagen, I pass a not very hospitable hole-in-the-wall place, with barely a sign of life, called Bagel House. I've never before gone in there, but Bagel House, you had better be open tomorrow morning is all I have to say, because I'll be there.
* image credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bagel.jpg Oh, if only I could have taken a picture of a real bagel, but then this wouldn't be much of a post, now would it?
25 kommentarer:
were there bagels? I hope so. I have been obsessing over that stupid Panera. I eat there all the time. I have tried almost every type of panini on every type of bread. I eat the sourdough like it is my last meal ever. And don't get me started about the shortbread. I am drooling as I write this.
What in the world does eel taste like? Not to "ick" your "wow" but it sounds kind of gross.
oh I hope you were able to find bagels. I can't imagine not even having the option of bagels.
I enjoy bagels almost every morning. If you do not find some then I would as many others I am sure be willing to box up some and send them to you.
Mine this morning had cheddar cheese melted over it in the toaster oven.
It was a delight.
There are Bagel & Juice's spread out over town (Oslo) -- but not right where I live. On the other hand, the nearest super market does have bagels, so if you can't find any, I'll post some to you :)
Daphnewood, no bagels yet...this was pretty much of a 'right after the fact' post. But we'll see what the big city has to offer me tomorrow.
And you're not icking my wow, but maybe Thor's wow. It's a Danish thing. It tastes quite nice, actually. Very oily, meaty fish, with nice flavor. I'm sure I'll post about it (and other Danish food) soon, as I'm finally to the point where I think I know enough about what Danish food is to be able to post about it.
Vanessa, we'll see what happens tomorrow. I haven't found them yet, but had a lovely dinner and dessert which has eased my need for the time being.
Enigma, that does sound like a delight! The melted cheese on bagel has been a staple of my breakfast diet before...and it may be again, depending on my experience at Bagel House tomorrow. And thanks for your kind offer...but wouldn't they be awfully stale by the time they reached Denmark?
Scholiast, I wonder if perhaps I shouldn't move to Oslo to get bagels...or perhaps that is a bit extreme? Actually, my fondest request from Oslo would be some gjede ost...the really dark orangey-brown stuff...we can get it here, but it's unbelievably expensive compared to what it costs there.
No bagels, that is inhumane. ;) The question is can you get a good danish.
Google to the rescue!
http://www.bagelshoppen.dk/
Bagelshoppen - Se krak.dk
Studiestræde 11 th
DK-1455 København K
33 16 08 26
Oh Daphnewood! The sourdough bread at oanera is a God send. I am soo addicted to it.
Kimanada--I truly and honestly feel terrible that there are no bagels around you! What ab. frozen ones?
we don't have bagels here either. Nowhere. No, wait, Starbucks has them. Maybe you have Starbucks there?
You know something ... I have never had a bagel !!! I guess I have been deprived ... they sound oh-so-yummy !! Must go looking in the local bakeries, see if they have any.
So, did that shop have any ??
Hope so, and that you enjoyed them.
Have a great day, take care, Meow
No bagels? Denmark is now at the bottom of the to be eaten list, because Chibithulhu greatly enjoys your human bagels.
Note this is not an act of mercy. Denmark gets to be the only island of stability as I ravage the rest of your planet, meaning your small unbagelled pumpkin-pieless little peninsula will be flooded with refugees and get to watch in abject fear as I do unspeakable things to neighboring landmasses.
Also, Chibithulhu likes Cream Cheese Danish for dessert.
Well, I'm a huge fan of cream cheese on almost everything, including bagels. But topping it with some eel...man, that sounds good to your average water dog.
I'd hate to see you flee the country over a baked good. I did a little research, (emphasi on little,) and found this recipe.
Yield: 12 Servings
2 c Warm water
2 pk Active dry yeast
3 tb Sugar
3 ts Salt
5 3/4 c Flour
3 qt Water
1 tb Sugar
Cornmeal to sprinkle baking sheet
1 Egg yolk
1 tb Water
Combine warm water, yeast and sugar. Let stand 5 minutes, stir in salt. Gradually mix in 4 cups of flour, beat at medium speed for 5 minutes. With spoon add 1 1/4 cups more flour to make a stiff dough. Turn out on a floured board and knead until smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky (about 15 minutes), adding more flour as needed. Dough should be firmer than for most yeast breads. Place in a greased bowl, cover, let rise until almost doubled (about 40 minutes). Knead dough lightly and divide into 12 equal pieces. To shape, knead each piece, forming it into a smooth ball. Holding ball with both hands, poke your thumbs through the center. With one thumb in hole, work around perimeter, shaping bagel like a doughnut 3 to 3 1/2 inches across. Place shaped bagels on lightly floured board, cover lightly and let stand in a warm place for 20 minutes. Bring the 3 quarts of water and 1 tbls sugar to boiling in large kettle. Adjust heat to keep it boiling gently. Lightly grease baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Gently lift one bagel at a time and drop into water, boil about 4 at a time, turning often, for 5 minutes. Lift out with slotted spatula, drain briefly on a towel and place on baking sheet. Brush with glaze made with 1 egg yolk and 1 tbls water. Bake 35 - 40 minutes, or until well browned and crusty. Cool on rack.
WHOLE WHEAT BAGELS: Follow basic recipe, omitting sugar. Use 3 T honey instead. In place of flour, use 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup wheat germ, and about 2 3/4 cup all purpose flour, blended together. Knead with white flour.
PUMPERNICKEL BAGELS: Follow basic recipe, omitting sugar. Use 3 T dark molasses in place of
sugar. In place of flour use 2 cups rye, 2 cups whole wheat, 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour blended together. Knead with white flour.
ONION BAGELS: Add 1/2 cup instant toasted onion to basic dough with the yeast , water and sugar in basic recipe.
SEEDED BAGELS: Sprinkle boiled bagels with sesame seed, poppy seed, or caraway seed after using egg wash and before baking.
Why not go home to California? I am sure your mom would see to it that you have the bagels you want!
Why not go home to California? I am sure your mom would see to it that you have the bagels you want!
I was on a holiday in the United States once and I bought some bagels. Some of them came back over the border with me, only to be forgotten for about 6 months. When I found them at the back of the breadbox, they looked and smelled exactly the same as they had when I had bought them. I was both amazed and disturbed at the same time.
I still love bagels, though. I just make sure that I always buy them in my own country instead. I hope your search goes well for you. :)
"Bagelman" on Istedgade is pretty good, Kimananda. Last summer I visited him 5-6 times a week. :-)
He also sells Oreos.
What I miss--desperately--are soft pretzels. I'm spending my Easter brak in Germany, just so I can eat soft pretzels.
Jack, you can of course, but they are called 'Vienna bread' (wienerbrød)...which means that I will eventually have to go to Vienna just to see what they call it there.
Neil, that looks good...and it's really close to the main library where I am a lot. I'll have to check it out!
Etchen, I've got the stuff, and will post pics. As I was hoping, they do have it in Copenhagen, just not out in my little suburb. And what is Panera? Is that like Noah's bagels?
Chloe, no Starbuck's, for which I am very grateful...there are street corners in London where you can look around and see 3 separate Starbuck's one after the other...I don't like that kind of guerilla marketing.
Maddy, I'll check it out. And I've read that the Montreal bagel is a bit different...I'd love to try one!
Meow, do be warned...my stepdad had never had a bagel before he got together with my Mom, nor had he ever had lox (smoked salmon). And he didn't like either of them! But I think they are the best.
Sangroncito, I've got them! And Thor says you're thinking of Rød (red) Tuborg. I've never noticed it myself, but that's because I don't like beer. Give me a caipirinha anyday, I say!
Chibi, they do have bagels, just not in my suburb. So you may want to rething your strategy. Of course given Denmark's current refugee policy, it could be quite interesting!
Hank, I'm a purist...bagels are for cream cheese and lox. But it could be good with eel, too.
Fourlegged, that looks good. I'll try it, maybe after I am done with my project (which I finally started writing yesterday).
Blue, that sounds good! And Philly is one of those few things where the brand name really is better.
Leighann, what a wonderful offer! But after 2 weeks in the post (mail is slow from CA to DK), they would be stale!
Anonymous and A.nonny.mous, I sense a conspiracy here. But you're right...I always have a multitude of bagels when I'm at home.
Erin, no, that's just not right, bagels lasting that long. Yick! But you can get nice fresh, short-lasting bagels too, at least where I'm from in the SF Bay Area.
Kunstemæcker, thank you. I've never been an honorable before.
Helen, I'll be trying your recipe as well...I have since found bagels, but they are a little pricey!
Kelly, I'll be trying out the bagelman...I'm not usually near Istegade, but for a good bagel I'll make an exception. And, soft pretzels! Yum!!
I never had a bagel in my life? Should I put it on my "to eat" list? What's so special about bagels? Are they salty?
But having good bread is essencial to every home - when I move out somewhere, I'll go to some place next to a good bakery :)
Hey, Ms. Mood, I'm trying to think if I had much in the way of bagels when I was in Lisbon...I don't think I did. But, to be honest, I was so set in my breakfast ways while I was there (Queria um galão e uma tosta mista, se faz favor!) that I was too full to notice.
As for what makes bagels special, no they're not salty or sweet really, but since they're first boiled and then baked, they have a really special dense but yielding texture. I can't describe them. But you're right about bread...it is essential. Hmmm...now you've got me thinking about a just baked broa de milho...dripping with butter. I must go have a bagel now to take my mind off of that luxurious image!
Jack's Shack said: The question is can you get a good danish.
Hilarious - really struck me funny.
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Every Friday morning I go to my "Bagel Bunch" breakfast...only four of us but it's a ritual and of course that means I eat bagels every week at least once.
I couldn't find a decent bagel when I lived in Alabama so I know how you feel...hope you get one!
I am going to have Bagels, lox and cream cheese for dinner. Passover is just aroung the corner and I need my carbs.
Mary, a bagel brunch sounds like a great idea!
Jack (P. Toerson), hmmm, salt beef and pickle variety (I assume you are referring to the filling rather than the bagel itself being salt-beef and pickle flavor?)
Jack ('s Shack), yum! Sort of reminds me of my late lunch yesterday. And of my dinner. And of breakfast this morning (without the lox, as I used the last of it yesterday).
But do you honestly need carbs for Passover? I would just eat thousands of matzos. I know, a bit strange, but slap on some butter, and they're really good!
Sangroncito, glad I (or rather Thor) could help refresh your memory. Can you get it in SF?
But do you honestly need carbs for Passover?
No, but it is kind of a tradition.
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