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I am pleased that it has become easier to take out a paid subscription here in England, which has enabled me to become paid subscriber 241 at least. So few it surprises me. You are worth every penny of £4 a month. For it I get a different take on a place I am glad is there but I have no desire to visit. You entertain, inform and make me laugh out loud at times, and I share your love of a good DIY graph. For the record, are any fish and chip shops in New York? And what about Pubs and micro-breweries? Another good issue. Keep up the good work Anne!

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Yay welcome subscriber #241 and thank you Robert AKA Kevin!

Yes there are fish and chip shops in NYC. In fact there was a mini-chain in my part of Brooklyn, the Chip Shop that did quite well for a few decades. They also served fried Snickers bars and french fry sandwiches which they claimed are British things. Is that true?

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Anne, Here we call them ‘Chip Butties’ and they have real chips in them. French Fries are a fast food thing and deep frying Mars Bars in batter can be traced back to Scotland (as to where is a long running dispute) and it’s the same with fish n’chips. The East End of London -v- Liverpool. My favourite chips I have once a fortnight in the local Tesco supermarket, where I sit, write and watch the world go by... I wish I could send you a pic... Then there is what go with the chips: Brown or Tomato sauce; Gravy or Curry sauce, then there Worcestershire Sauce and I’ve kept the best until last - Hendos/Henderson Relish fro Sheffield. Enough enough. ❤️Robert🐰 A P.S. A ‘Butty’ can be made with two slices of bread, a bap or a roll.

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Oh man you are making me so hungry.

And now that you remind me, it was fried Mars Bars for sure, not Snickers bars!

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CHIP BUTTIES!!! DEEP FRIED MARS BARS!!! FRENCH FRY SANDWICHES!!!! I knew this country would rue the day that we split from the British Empire!!! So appropriate to recognize that HUGE MISTAKE today, the 4th of July!!

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There are sad sacks all over the British Isles eating beans on toast -- I imagine they are wondering why there are not shoppes the world over peddling the same. I'll take melting pot food anytime. We are approaching my favorite time of year, State Fair season! Inconceivable what sort of nonsense gets shilled at a State Fair in Scotland. There are new foods every year at the MN State Fair -- I can safely say there will not be a booth selling black pudding on a stick.

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“Most of the new folks, I should note, come by way of recommendations from other Substack newsletters.” I know that I was intrigued by a recommendation from New York Magazine. I sincerely hope that my sophomoric comments aren't driving subscribers away!! That could be the reason, certainly. ***BTW, Anne, I figured my subscription was due for renewal so I upgraded to a “Founding Member” couple weeks back…make sure that the folks at Substack aren’t “scooping” the filthy lucre that is rightfully yours.

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Oh wow, JRB. I totally missed that! Substack should let me know when someone upgrades. Thank you for your generosity! (And for your wonderful comments every week, of course.)

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I missed this comment, yesterday...FRENCH FRY SANDWICHES!!!! I knew we would rue the day that we split from the British Empire!!!

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It’s a British and Irish thing. Although it’s deep fried in batter Mars bars I’m familiar with. Never had the pleasure of the Snickers one!😂and without chip sandwiches, as we call them round our way, I would be quite small as they were a go to snack in my youth. We had bread with just about everything!! Except the Sunday roast dinner. That would be sacrilegious, of course.😂

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Jul 3, 2023·edited Jul 3, 2023Liked by Anne Kadet

After thirty years of proud open-mindedness, scooping bagels revealed my inner fundamentalist. It’s the only time I’ve used the word heresy. I’ve started a bagel purist movement, and we’re gently lobbying senators.

Jokes aside, I can relate to building macros around a habit food. Burgers in my case. The beef owns part of me.

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Don't know if noticed the link in the Q&A, Dennard, but I think the NY Post had the right take on the scooping question. The headline: "Bagel Scoopers Are Ruining NYC."

https://nypost.com/2016/01/03/bagel-scoopers-are-ruining-nyc/

I also love the idea of building a diet around a habit food. When I learned of Mr. Silver's strategy I considered my version, which would be one meal a day composed entirely of desserts. But I don't think that would work the same way it would work for bagels or hamburgers. Desserts aren't really food at all.

Now I want a hamburger.

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I like that angle on dessert. One could say that food is for your body, dessert is for your sanity. When the sci-fi bodybuilding cake comes through, I get the feeling I'll lose a lot of money.

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Life is short -- eat dessert first

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“…his feed of bagel news and reviews filled me with envy and confusion.”

His FEED, FILLED you?!! Great sentence for a story about eating bagels!! The photo has me drooling…

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Right? Every time I see this photo I want to run out and order the same bagel!

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“Scooping is digging out the dough on the inside of the bagel to reduce the carb and calorie intake…” OMG!!! That’s anathema! That’s like scooping the innards of a hot dog!! Scoopers should be walled up at the nearest cathedral or abbey like an Anchorite!!

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"Have a whole wheat bagel. That's basically a salad." 🙌

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I am going to take him at his word!

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I would! 🤣

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“Have a whole wheat bagel. That's basically a salad.” In a Bagel-World, whole wheat is a vegetable!

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"And blueberry bagels in general. I just don't understand the blueberry bagel. It's the most popular bagel in the country. A blueberry bagel. Can you believe that?"

😂😂😂😂😂

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Mr. Silverman is an odd combo of extremely diplomatic and open-minded and then there are these hard stops where he draws the line and that's that.

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Jul 3, 2023Liked by Anne Kadet

Bagelterian !😂👏

The darker side of humanity being exposed by blueberry bagel eaters had me laughing out loud. And the generosity shown to Marcus has kept the smiling! Excellent work, as always!👏👏

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Thank you Kevin! We got a few more nice donations today. I think we are getting very close to having enough for that e-bike. That would be so crazy!!!

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Jul 3, 2023Liked by Anne Kadet

Amazing. The guy seemed so genuine and displayed such tenacity in circumstances where anyone could easily be forgiven for crumbling. The response by so many to give him a chance to better himself is a heartwarming tale in itself. Your bubbly enthusiasm for life, which flows from your work, brings out the best in people Anne! Terrific to see. ✍️

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I love founders’ origin stories! Fantastic that Sam is a hype man for his favorite food item. Centering your life or business on your favorite thing seems obvious yet not everyone does it. I’m inspired!

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I'm with you, Courtney founders' stories are great. Especially the ones who really do make something out of nothing. So many people have great ideas, so few actually make them happen, and they are indeed super inspiring.

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Yes, I think that's part of it! So rare to know people who had the courage or grit to act!

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“She helped me find better substitutes for things that I was already eating, like a high-fiber tortilla instead of white flour one. Or Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.” OMG that’s EXACTLY how my wife does it!! I, on the other side of the Universe, have a self-serving theory that flies in the face of the popular advice for NOT eating processed meats like hot dogs (another NYC favorite), fried bologna sandwiches and barbecue chip-chopped ham: my theory is that the nitrates in processed meats prevent Alzheimer’s Disease…my dad ate hot dogs and bologna his entire life and though his arteries were probably clogged at the end, he lived to 84 and was clear as a bell when writing old-man-on-the-porch letters to the local paper. I’m known as the “Hot Dog King” and nearly 70 and all of you on this newsletter see how clear and logical my writing is!!! Wha???!!!!

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WHAT????

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My theory!! Processed meats protect against Alzheimer's!! I would say take that advice with a grain of salt, but processed meats are salty enough!!

“Before I got married I had six theories about raising children; now, I have six children and no theories.”

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Interesting to learn where your story ideas come from. Also, very happy to learn eating a whole wheat bagel is the equivalent of eating a salad. I need his nutritionist’s contact info.

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Yep it's official! The only difference is the whole wheat bagel has a hole in the middle and the salad does not!

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“Then there’s the cases where one story leads to another.” That’s EXACTLY what happens to me when I read the newsletter…one story, or even a sentence, leads to a memory or a tangential thought that is mostly only interesting to me…***Anne, please be honest…if my “too-many” comments are driving folks away, let me know…maybe you should do a spreadsheet of my comments??? You know, to confirm things before you go broke??!! https://youtu.be/BN1WwnEDWAM

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JRB if I created a spreadsheet of your comments my computer would explode.

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I agree...I make too many inane comments...I should be walled-off at St. Patrick's Cathedral

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😂

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😂👍

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Jul 3, 2023·edited Jul 3, 2023Liked by Anne Kadet

Always a blast. There are so many arbitrary ways to break down the bagel scene but the very best breakdowns make me laugh in every paragraph. I am glad "the expert" likes the everything with scallion. For the record, he is right. In Re: popularity trends likes and comments...My schtick is to constantly wean Substacks -- survival of the fittest. My friend who writes SoNovelicious inspired me to always like the stuff you subscribe to as a placeholder for having read it thru. Makes sense to me as I wouldn't stay subscribed if I didn't like it anyhow! More importantly, there is the comment. If my comments were handed out like wishes and the Genie's bottle, you would always get one. I enjoy this every week. Most of all because of the authenticity that comes through. For me, when the 'Stack leaves the authenticity reservation and just becomes a tirade of self-promotion, I leave the game early. You somehow maintain that sweetspot.

Question for the crowd : Why don't more people demand the bialy? It solves the problem of the tumor-like blob of cream cheese in the middle.

One More Thing : As a long-time reader, after your story analysis chart, the thing is all of your stories, regardless of where they originate nudge my day toward just a little bit better. If you see someone on the street eating a blueberry bagel kindly ask them why :)

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Mr. Dolan! I can't believe this but your comment reminded me...I meant to ask Mr. Silverman about the bialy. I think the bialy is in many ways superior to the bagel, and also has the advantage of typically being of a more modest portion size in contrast to the NYC bagel, which is the size of a baby's head. You don't see them around much. Come to think of it I am not even sure what they ARE.

Thanks for your sweet remark about the ideas. As for the blueberry bagels, I will try asking why if I see someone, but the truth is you seldom see anyone eating them in public. I think they're typically eaten at home, in private as they are so very shameful and everyone knows it!

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I prefer bialys also. Kossar's Bagels & Bialys (having the word "Bialys" in their name is a good sign) on Grand Street is my go to place. They have also expanded just recently to Hudson Yards and the UES. They've been around for 85 years. Here's their website...

https://kossars.com/our-store-and-history/

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Oh that's great. I will check this out for sure!

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They are popular in Dade County FL -- what I affectionately call NYC 2.0 -- this can serve to boost random NYC people's BP :)

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"what I affectionately call NYC 2.0" Hilarious!!!

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Jul 3, 2023·edited Jul 3, 2023Liked by Anne Kadet

Great minds :) I also think the bialy is superior to the bagel. Only a handful of options here. For me texture is key in food and you get extra crunch in the bialy.

RE ideas: from the heart

RE: blueberry bagels -- these are a travesty. Privacy of home made me laugh. I would imagine it started with Lenders tubes in the freezer next to Salisbury steak dinners. The fruit hierarchy remains (1) fresh (2) frozen (3) baked inside (4) freeze-dried and machine shaped in breakfast cereal (5) infomercial dudes putting them in gelcaps -- Few good reasons for 3-5 except perhaps the apocalypse, 2 in a pinch and 1 the way nature intended it.

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Love the fruit ranking from fresh to fruit caps. Genius!

Before Lenders bought it up, there were Abel's Bagels. Do you remember? When I was five my mother took me to the Abel's Bagels factory. I can still see the bagels rolling off the line!

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YES YES YES -- My Mom was Polish American -- her zeitgeist was toast -- I remember her slicing those tube bagels (Abel's & Lenders) and they would get jammed in the toaster -- I was always happier when it was Al Cohen's rye bread toast -- I bet when the raisin fell out and started smoking was another problem -- I think the arrival of bagels as an option in middle America led directly to the expensive toaster and the toaster oven because they were too damn big for a regular toaster !!! -- I have had this discussion with many -- your posts, wherever the idea emerges from creates the greatest comment space on Substack!!!

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Your analysis of the blueberry bagel and other bagel-spin-offs is worthy of Einstein!

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I wonder what Einstein would think of a bagel chain named after him. A bagel is one of those things IMO that is great when it is right and can sink all the way to Wonder bread status if you botch it. Pop culture and fastfood culture seems to be able to usurp unique things. Like a croissant sandwich in a hospital vending machine. I think the emergence of the food truck mobile restaurant experience is the reaction to the selling of bagel bites. Even though I don't know the difference really maybe that is why Anne is perfect for this job, making sure the "good bagel" remains hand-rolled. I think food, despite all of our disagreements about immigration is that hopeful thing that allows us to discover each other -- at least it is a start. There are lots of examples I think.

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WOW!! That is a treatise! I, of all people, completely missed "Einstein Bagels" when I replied...too much smoke from grilling yesterday...that's my answer and I'm sticking to it!! Mark you truly are a genius...

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if you fancy me a genius you are wading in a shallow pond. I love the 4th of July -- here's my fave Venn diagram of American Holidays. IGNORE the post, just look at the feature photo -- you will laugh -- https://markdolan.substack.com/holidays-ahead

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Jul 3, 2023Liked by Anne Kadet

I concur on everything you say. The stories and the humour they always contain brighten my day.

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I spent the last month in Eastern Washington State for my brother's wedding and I had a great time but I missed the bagels so much! I'll eat bagels from wherever but it's just not the same!

I love reading about bagels, thank you for this feature!

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A month without NYC bagels! The sacrifices we make for our families....

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I know! SUCH SACRIFICES!

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😂

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Jul 5, 2023Liked by Anne Kadet

Just because I want to comment today, I am thinking of having a bagel for lunch! But there are no bagel shops here in Conway AR! Somehow the prebaked and then frozen ones just don't sound that great.....ugghhh. Have a fabulous day!

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Wow Cindy a land without bagels! I cannot imagine! There are bunch of NYC bagel shops that ship these days. Don't know what shape they arrive in though...

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Curious to get his take on the bialy, which I like to think of as “bagel lite.”

Also: Dunkin bagels?? Not for the faint of heart.

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Haha I've never had a Dunkin bagel but based on my Dunkin experience with donuts it cannot be be good.

I will be sure to ask Mr. Silverman about bialys, which I love. I mean to ask this in the original interview but got so wound up I clean forgot!

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😂

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I completely agree with you on two points here:

1) a whole wheat bagel is basically a salad

2) blueberry bagels are just wrong (although, I'm totally fine with cinnamon raisin...am I a hypocrite?)

And congrats on all your success! It's so fun to see it all in charts and numbers.

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Jillian, I do think that the cinnamon raisin is just wrong. I also love them! For some reason, that was the bagel of choice at home when I was growing up. They are especially good toasted with peanut butter—which I think is essentially a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

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A good but sad investigation would be to visit the best bagel spots in NYC and ask them what a standard dozen is like that people order -- I fear the blueberry & cin-raisin and probably a few other sad surprises end up in the grab bag. Regression to the mean. Best=Everything Worst=Oat Bran ==> worst sad topping is when you are issued that little butter tublet and a plastic fork ; just skip breakfast instead ; sorry abt cin-raisin Anne -- disintegration in the toaster makes them not worth it -- Cin-Raisin was popular at home also w/ Mom -- moment you start questioning your parents :)

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I am visiting my daughter who lives in NYC in two weeks and now my tummy is rumbling just thinking about a cream cheese bagel. I am from Sydney, Australia and & I’m a fairly new subscriber. I am really enjoying your newsletter.

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Thanks Kim! I hope you have a lovely visit to NYC and eat LOTS of cream cheese bagels!!!

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Although: I HATE those f_ckin e-bikes. They are constantly almost running you down on either sidewalk or street or causing car accidents. I know I know: My inner 75-year-old man (I’m 40). Just sayin.

Michael Mohr

‘Sincere American Writing’

https://michaelmohr.substack.com/

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They activate my inner 75-year old too, Mr. Mohr. Especially when they are coming at me on the SIDEWALK!

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😂

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I’ve never heard of scooping before and the thought horrified me. If you’re going to bagel, go full bagel!

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I'm with you Rebecca. The shame of ordering a bagel scooped! Before you know it you're also request "lite" cream cheese.

My one bagel sin is ordering my bagels toasted. This, I'm told, makes me a heretic. But so good!

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Jul 4, 2023·edited Jul 5, 2023Liked by Anne Kadet

Anne, knowing your predilection to "punk" the counter staff with mispronunciation, do it the next time you order a bagel...maybe order a "bengal with cream cheese and stallions?" Or a "borgal," a "bangel"

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Oh man, just thinking about this makes me laugh and laugh. A perfect follow-up to skwon.

The best thing I'm sure the sort of person who works at a bagel shop will be far more inclined to correct me!!

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Food’s always a good topic Anne. Would love to see something on what kind of food is available at baseball grounds around NY.

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I agree Alan. Food is always fun. Now with your specific request are you talking about the food served at stadiums or the weird concessions that spring up around ball diamonds in public parks?

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Something on the food served at the stadiums would be good, there always seems to be a huge variety from the concourse TV pictures

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That would be fun Alan except I it costs something like $1.5 billion to get into a Yankee game these days. Will give this some thought!

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I prefer the Mets anyway 😉

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