Bagel Express (Purveyor of Happiness)
Thursday, December 24, 2009
The perfect breakfast sandwich, Bagel Express
I was going to take a little holiday respite from blogging while I was home on the East coast but Holy Christmas, this was just too good to keep to myself. Not an hour back in Jerz, straight off the red-eye, and I was walking blurry-eyed into one of my favorite places in the world: a NJ bagel shop.
This bagel shop in particular (Bagel Express) is relatively new to the hood, my dad tells me, but it has quickly risen the ranks to Favorite status, and fufills all the Jersey Bagel Shop requisites:
- Everyone knows everyone’s name. The regulars all come in busting chops and the bagel guys dish out the banter alongside the shmear.
- At least two cops come in while you wait for your bagel to toast.
- Every other person on line looks and sounds like they stepped right out of The Sopranos.
Bagel Express, Mahwah, NJ
Ambiance aside, what moved me to impulse-post were the mind-blowingly delicious bagels we devoured this morning. A bite of that perfectly boiled and baked, chewy on the inside/crunchy on the outside piece of heaven was like Mother Jersey hugging me to her bosom and welcoming me home.
I know people usually equate bagels with NY, but dare I say (I do, I dare), while the bagel may have gained its fame in NY, it has been perfected in NJ. In Mahwah, NJ to be exact.
At Bagel Express, the texture is sublime. The flavor is nice and salty. The execution is perfect.
I am a purist and got my piping hot bagel with a brick of cream cheese slabbed on and some fresh tomato. Hua and Dad got the classic breakfast sandwich with sausage, egg, and cheese. Hua got a second road sandwich. Told you, these really are that good.
For my Bay Area readers I have a burning question: Why doesn’t SF know about bagels?? They know about every other thing delicious…what’s with the bagel void? Hmmmm?
Ok, signing out. Blissful carb coma has hit.
MERRY CHRISTMAS Everyone!
75 Franklin Turnpike
Mahwah, NJ 07430
201-512-0470
Welcome to Lick My Spoon, a place for all things delicious. 
I’m also from New Jersey, living in the Bay Area and NOT “home” for Christmas this year. Totally jealous. Please also try to get a slice while you’re there. And why our bagels out here fail so hard is beyond me. I think it’s best to just put it from your mind or weeping will ensue.
hahah aww, don’t worry girl, i went again a few days after I posted this and had another one for you. and yeah…got some pizza in too! mmmm
It seems to be the question that every east coaster asks when they land in the bay area. Where are the good bagels? Perhaps one day.
Merry Christmas!
the road bagel didn’t quite make it on the road. it’s really freaking good! i am a super fan of everything bagels and this was probably one of the best i’ve ever had. get there in the morning to see how they make the bagels. it’s amazing the care they take for each one. *special order* huge 16 inch bagel – takes one hour to bake and is perfect for the office to share.
Being an expatriot from Jersey I have to say that while I LOVE great bagels the first thing I do when I get to Jersey is have a piece of pizza.
I’m a regular at this bagel shop. I’m telling you it’s the best bagel store in Jersey. Extraordinary bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and deli sandwiches! Bagels just arent this good anywhere else
don’t be fooled casual bagel connesseurs, this man’s name is not actually travis
Ah! That’s my dad’s store. I’m kind of biased and think the food is delicious. I’m glad you enjoyed it as well. Awesome blog
Fred is the man! Â He told us how he has been making bagels for over 15 years. He has perfected the bagel! Â The cranberry bagel (which is only available during the holidays) is delicious
Thanks, Susan! wow, can I tell you how jealous i am that you have FULL ACCESS to such deliciousness?!! your dad is awesome
Stephanie! Just wanted to let you know I received my apron! I love it!! I posted it:Â http://tinyurl.com/y8m3dde Thank you again – hope you are having a lovely, lovely holiday…and I hear brussel sprouts are pretty good!
yay! so glad you got it and love it! love that pic of you in it
happy new year!
Steph I have to admit after hearing you and Hua talk about this place on Christmas eve I was dreaming about these bagels alllll night. When we came back to your parents on Saturday it was the first thing I mentioned to T. We HAVE to go get those bagels on Sunday!! Well we did, and they were fantastic!! Perfect end to the holiday weekend! Hope you had a safe return.
mmmm yeah, those bagels will keep a girl up at night
so glad you went!!!
Hua’s got it right, the only better than a breakfast sandwich is two bagel sandwiches.The epitome of the perfect breakfast sandwich includes fried eggs, cheese, tasty salted pork product (boccalone!) and yes the warm goodness of a freshly baked oxymoronic, chewy/crispy, bagel! however, you SFers have the sourdough thing down pat, so everytime i land on the west coast i head straight for a bread bowl of clam chowder!!!
hahahaaa yes.
I have tried bagels from this shop during my first visit to the US. And I must say that their bagels are very very good! It really goes well with my espresso during breakfast, as I have read in http://www.oncoffeemakers.com coffee and bagel goes well together. Thanks for posting this!!
I was told by an unreliable source that bagels are better in NJ/NY because of the water. Could the water be the key to bagel perfection? Is NJ water superior to SF water? Any thoughts on this food superstition?
Are you that stupid. The water? Are you serious. The water is fine in both places. You must be dumb to think that. go drink some water
Jon, please refrain from insulting my readers.
Hannah, I actuallly have also heard the urban myth that the secret to amazing NY bagels and pizza is in the water. It’s a cute idea, but…not sure how much truth is in it.
why dont you go drink some more water then
i vaguely remember an episode on this very topic on the food network i think it was…? can anyone verify?
I miss New York bagels so much! I used to eat one every morning slathered in butter…
Yes and yes!! mmm when my high school metabolism could take it…i would sometimes have two!
OMG, there’s nothing that hits the spot like a NJ/NY bagel — now to get my hands on one of those cranberry bagels!!
I don’t if I should laugh or cry every time I hear Americains talk about their bagels. With all due respect, if you want a bagel the way it was made in Eastern Europe you have to come to Montreal. Our two authentic bagel outlets still use the original recipe. If you are realy into bagels you must take a bite into these hand rolled rings boiled in sweet water and cooked in a wood oven. Nothing close to all the cakee imitations I’ve had south of the border.
Here are their websites
http://www.stviateurbagel.com/main/
http://www.fairmountbagel.com/eng/index.htm
Sorry if I offended anyone but I one bite and you’ll pardon me.
Come taste la difference in Montreal
ok ok, i will have to check this out next time i visit montreal! but…make no bones about it…there is nothing cakey about my beloved nj bagels.
Goldbergs is the best bagel place in NJ
Interesting, where is it?
its in a peaceful city called camden
that wasn’t actually me before, goldberg’s and camden both suck so don’t go to either, just go to bagel express twice as much…
ringwood, nj
Oh the blessings of a carb coma! Wonderful post, especially the BRICK OF CREAM CHEESE! Yuuum!
a-men!
I’m not even kidding, I went to Bagel Express the morning I came home for an egg and cheese on an everything bagel! UNBELIEVABLE! And then again on the morning after Christmas
haha that is awesome…
I swear Fred sprinkles crack into the Everything Bagel Topping
Oh…don’t forget a deliciously thick, salty slab of Jersey’s finest Taylor Ham!!! The Breakfast Sandwich will never be complete without it…
OMG yes! how could i forget?!! taylor ham egg and cheese, i love you.
That looks awesome, I love gravlox and cram cheese poppyseed bagels the best
Been a Joisey girl all my life (even those short years I lived in CA and NY) – For me, Goldberg’s is the place !! But based on this rec, I’ll give Bagel express a try !
I live a couple minutes away from Bagel Express! They do have pretty great bagels, but next time you’re in town you HAVE to try Bagel Boys on Route 59 in Suffern NY! They have the most PHENOMENAL bagels (and delicious cream cheese) I’ve ever had! It’s funny that I ended up at your blog, particularly this post, because my friends and I were JUST ranting about the lack of good bagels outside of the NY/NJ region.
On a more general note, love the blog, I’ll be coming back
yeah at bagels express its really delicious.
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