Wegmans Ocean store, April 27, 2019. Back by popular demand.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger.net 2019
Yesterday at Wegmans, they were offering samples of their new chocolate chip bagels. I told the bakery supervisor that she will never see me buying one of these travesties of justice. “They are against my religion,” I told her.
I would rather eat cow on a Main Street in Bombay then munch one of these in public at Wegmans. What would my grandmother think?
This is a form of cultural assassination. Bagels were brought to this country by Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe after several centuries of baking authentic bagels–mostly in Poland. Where is the respect? Can you imagine matzoh ball soup at an Italian deli?
The original kinds of bagels from the “old country” were plain, onion, poppy, salt, and sesame. Later a few other kinds were added and have become “authentic” including “everything,” egg, garlic, and pumpernickel. But chocolate chip? Oy vey!
Not authentic: cinnamon raisin , whole wheat, rainbow, multigrain, pumpernickel , French toast, asiago, marco polo, and blueberry.
There are places in New Jersey that have succeeded in creating authentic “Jewish style” bagels such as the Hot Bagel Bakery in Oakhurst. Here’s our link to that unique eatery:
But Wegmans, which sells some Kosher foods, has really come off the rails with this one. When the rabbi comes to inspect, let’s hope he doesn’t spot the chocolate chip imposter. He would surely plotz (ie pass out.)
THE BARRY SISTERS: Jewish Music from Eastern Europe. They are singing in Yiddish known by Yiddish speakers as “Mamalushin,” i.e. the “mother tongue.”
This song is “Tum Balalaika”–a Yiddish folk song. Tum is “play” and balalaika is a Russian stringed instrument. You may recall it used for “Lara’s Theme” in Dr. Zhivago.
Russian Jews also played the instrument.
And here is ” Lara’s Theme” by the Balalaika Ensemble:
* “Feh” roughly translates into “Yuck.”
RRS: Funny but I just looked up oxymoron this morning. I guess “just” and “this morning” also work since it is now 6 pm.
I bet that no one, other than you, has ever before seen an oxymoron with bagel and chocolate, but maybe ever before also qualifies. You have succeeded in getting me distracted causing me to pay more attention . Another one?
However so what if someone creates an oxymoron? RRS you found an accidental oxymoron in my sentence, but that observation has no useful value. An oxymoron is itself a moronic concept, and, by the way, what is a useful idiot? Is that an oxymoron?
I may have to ban any comments that contain or reference oxymorons.
Thank you RRS
A chocolate chip bagel is an oxymoron.
It’s like those people who put pineapple on pizza. Its just wrong.
This comment is dated January 4, 2023. The Hot Bagelry in Oakhurst is still popular, but I have now switched to Bagel Talk in the West Grove Mall outside the gates of OG. Steve, the owner, has done a fine job of following the traditional methods of bagel baking, so my family likes his bagels very much. His product is not too fat, and I prefer that.
When I get a bagel and coffee in the morning there I usually get an everything (dark), scooped, toasted and with a schmeer of scallion cream cheese. And their coffee is good. Other choices for me are garlic, onion and sesame.
Steve also has very good salads such as egg or tuna, and they make a wide variety of platters. Come in early to say hello to Asbury and Neptune police officers and a wide variety of workers including Grovarian garbage collectors. And the store is well staffed with friendly helpers, some of whom are bilingual (Spanish and Grover English.).
Second choice is Bagel Exchange on Sunset Avenue in Ocean near the Rt 35 light. Also very good authentic bagels.
I have a friend who says, “The farther you get from Brooklyn, the less authentic the bagels become.”
Well, they do sell sushi at Clancy’s. I totally agree about the chocolate chips, though.