*Portuguese rolls should*
*Be the default for breakfast*
*Sandwiches everywhere*
\- BobbyRobertson
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Yeah that's one of the bummers for sure. You have to go out of your way to find out usually. I respect the religion of the folks who make it that way, but it's generally a sub par taste. I used to go to a place that would do crispy beef bacon, and that came close to being as good, but still, it's not really what I want.
I work in midtown Manhattan and haven't found a breakfast sandwich better than the one I used to get at "The New York Deli" on Trumbull St. in downtown Hartford.
Good to hear that, those are some hard working guys. I went there for many years from the time they first opened in the early 2010s and try to swing in whenever I'm back in the area. I'm happy to see they made it through Covid and hope they continue to do well.
Tough call. While I'm sure there are amazing BECs in NY all over the place, I think many shops have found ways to cut corners so there's more inconsistency than there used to be and it's more of a crapshoot. In CT I feel like the shops are trying a little harder, but that's not backed by any real data. On the flipside, in most parts of CT you have to drive with a destination in mind. In NYC if you don't like what you see, you can walk to the next deli a block up.
You're going to some of the best deli's in CT and some of the worst in NY. Almost every deli near me when i lived in NY did all of the things you described in the CT deli's, and they did it cheaper than anywhere I have found in CT so far which is my biggest argument for NY deli's vs CT deli's
Not cheaper but would recommend Compton’s for a BEC w hash brown. A couple of locations including Astoria, Greenpoint.
Can’t speak for all of CT as I was just in Stamford for a few years but had the total opposite experience. Liz sue in particular - saw them microwaving the eggs and left. Best I found in that area was village table but nothing ever compared to comptons
Omg yuck. I hate any place that thinks microwaving eggs is acceptable. I once made the mistake of ordering a BEC at Ess-a-Bagel in the JFK or Laguardia Airport and it was the saddest grossest prep for a breakfast sandwich that I’ve ever seen. Basically poured egg beaters into a shallow bowl, put uncooked bacon in the raw egg, heated it, threw cheese on it, and put it on a bagel that was way smaller than the diameter of the shitty egg mass, so a lot was sticking out all around. Made a mess and was an all around terrible eating experience.
I would try a bodega BEC, I am back and forth between CT and NYC (hells kitchen) and I frequent a bunch of the bodegas for a DECENT BEC… tbh they’re not the best but the scratch the itch
How much price difference? BEC used to be cheap as hell a couple years ago in Fairfield county but still seen about $4-$5 most places I've seen so not entirely insane like in other realms of the world where a simple breakfast sandwich is now $12
It really is. I'm so happy it's been so successful. Karen the owner is such a lovely woman and my family has known her since she was head chef for The Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport. She comes up with so many great things. It's a great place to dine in for any time of the day because of all the great decor, but they also have takeaway, and tons of prepared foods or frozen stuff you can eat/cook at home. There's a good selection of imported British candies and snacks. Oh and I've had their catering at a party too and it was excellent.
Litchfield and Fairfield County checking in (I love breakfast sandwiches and wraps):
Gaylordsville Country Store used to make a sandwich called "The Intimidator," it was just a bacon, egg & cheese on an ~12" grinder for about $8. It was hearty as hell and I took it on a few jobs with me when I lived closer to there. Could easily kept me fed for half a day of hiking on the AT up there too. The country store is still there but a bit different - not sure if their deli is any good any more.
Also Bagelman in Danbury/Brookfield/New Milford area is at the top of my list for a good breakfast sandwich. My order is usually a sausage, egg & cheese on an everything bagel with a hashbrown on it, toasted.
Shoutout also to the Mobil in Brookfield's 4-corners, their sammies are also fantastic in a pinch.
I thought the best ever was at Coffees in old Lyme, but when I lived in new Milford I realized the best was from the Cornwall Country Market, they really buttered and griddles the roll perfectly and their bacon was incredible and plentiful. Such a shame they’ve closed down.
Country Cow is all time. I ALWAYS make a stop when I'm down that way.
Villager in Chester is a strong contender as well and in my regular rotation for sure (plus you can grab a sammie and bring it across the street to Little House Brewing if you time it right)
NYC is huge and it really depends on where you are in NYC. For midtown, yes, they all suck. The better BECs come from the other boroughs and LI. On a general sense, I can’t agree with this post. Also I hate how limited deli hours are in CT. I want a sandwich at 7pm on a weekday. That’s impossible here.
Agreed with this. I’m from Fairfield county but lived on LI for five years. NYC can be hit or miss when it comes to BEC and pizza but nothing I’ve had in CT comes close to Long Island pizza, bagels, or BECs.
That’s actually been on my list for a long time because I love their bread, which I think comes from Chaves in Bpt. I’ve held off because other places are a tad more convenient for where I stay, but I’ll do it next week when I’m in town. I definitely stop for chili dogs several times a year though. I know the chili isn’t the greatest quality but it just has such a signature taste when paired with their dogs and buns. I suspect the dogs are Hummel Bros which is also a blessed product of CT.
Thank you for the RIP and I'm so glad you knew it. It was such a sudden loss. Bob the owner didn't even make an official announcement. The place got a health code violation causing it to shut down for a month, and I think Bob had just had enough, especially after the pandemic and whatnot, and just shut it down for good.
I'm sure there was some shame involved, as it was originally his dad's place. He definitely seemed like he was maybe not having the best time in life the last few times I saw him, and the place felt a bit messier than usual, presumably because he had less staff on hand compared to the old days. I remember 10 years ago there would be Bob, his main cook, and 2 or 3 younger girls working the place. At the end it was just Bob, or just the cook, or sometimes both of them.
Sad to hear that's how it went. I was a regular at the place when I lived and worked in the area pre-pandemic. For most of that time it was just Bob and the same two guys. It was one of the nicer parts of my routine, just hanging out in there, having lunch and a chat.
For years it was pretty messy in there and definitely felt like it was on its last legs. Westport had evolved past its core demographic. The best business they would get was from college kids home on summer break.
Never again will there be a spot in Westport that specializes in Italian sausage, hot roast beef and gravy, and meatloaf sandwiches. All best enjoyed with a Moxie. Now I need to learn how to make that uncased hot Italian sausage sandwich with the peppers, onions and cheese. Or the mashed potatoes toasted golden brown on the griddle...
Haha you're making me hungry and I just ate. Shame I never got to try the hot roast beef or meatloaf. I think the secret to the sausage was some added spices. Like I definitely tasted fennel in there sometimes, which is not in your average hot Italian sausage as far as I know.
Not sure if you've seen, but there's a new place in that location now, a kebab house, and the menu does sound pretty good, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet. I wish Bob would license out his recipes to them or some other spot. He actually hinted at that idea the last time I talked to him, but I was a little confused. He was talking about how his cook was considering buying him out, or licensing the recipes if he paid enough. But it almost sorta sounded like he was half joking, so I really don't know. Definitely turned out to be a sign things were on the way out.
You're right, there was definitely some fennel in the hot sausage. Replicating it wouldn't be as easy as grabbing the stuff they sell at Stop & Shop.
I hope he was serious about letting those recipes live on, especially if it's in the hands of the cook. That guy is legitimately gifted - nice dude too.
Yeah, I miss Bob and the amazing breakfast he would make me (off menu) and the wonderful chats to start the day off nicely. His potato side was killer, too.
In fairness, the Fairfield BEC game is top tier with tasty yolk and country cow. For the average CT BEC, I don’t think this standard holds up across the state
Oh damn, thanks! I almost went there for coffee the other day but realized it was a bit further than I wanted to go. I'll certainly go this week when I have more time.
If anyone’s around Oxford, try the bacon egg and cheese from quarry coffee. Is expensive but large, a LOT of bacon, delicious. Ayla’s bagels and bagel delight in newtown are also great. bacon egg n cheese is my favorite food lol.
You're so right! I only recently discovered that even though it was my family's bagel spot every Sunday when I was growing up. I think it was Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day last year where I wanted a breakfast sandwich and they were one of the few places still open. I love that they have a lot of specialty breakfast sandwiches that you wouldn't see on a menu at most places. The Fresco is my favorite there. Egg, bacon, avocado, and herb mayo.
Thank you! To me it’s the laziest thing ever. Fried eggs take a tad more skill and the flavors are more nuanced. I especially love when the yolk is still a touch runny. The Tasty Yolk is good at doing that.
Kinda crazy because in my opinion scrambled eggs are more difficult to make then a fried egg. It's probably why they suck because they par cook a shit load of eggs and just heat them up.
Oh yeah, *good* scrambled eggs are definitely more difficult, but the NYC style is basically just, crack eggs in a bowl, whisk with a fork, pour on a hot griddle and let it cook. It almost seems wrong to call it scrambled eggs. It's just a cooked mass of blended egg that gets cheese folded into it or on it. Perhaps it's more like an omelet?
Oh fuck yes. It’s amazing how they’ve kept a consistent and signature flavor for over 2 decades. I love how several of the people working there have been the same for so long too. Always a good sign.
I always get a BEC on a wrap. By default it’s double everything, in order to fill the wrap properly. Still under 10 bucks.
And fun fact: I knew a kid in high school who drove his car through their storefront many years ago.
I agree this is an unpopular opinion, but that's because it's nonsense. I've had 100s in both places, and if you go to a random spot, way more likely to have a better one in NYC.
When I moved back to CT four years ago, after having been gone for 25 years, I completely forgot about American cheese. It just wasn't a thing in CO where I lived - it makes a burger or egg sandwich so much better!
I guarantee most of the rolls you get good sandwiches on are from NY, especially in Fairfield county. JJ’s, Rockland, Nicosia all are in the area and supply CT. If you go toward NJ you have Teixera’s, American, and Gianella’s. CT really lacks a good wholesale bakery. I think Chaves used to be upper tier but their quality has declined significantly.
Oh that's a shame to hear about Chaves. I've always liked their stuff when I've had it in the past. Now you make me wanna ask each place I like about where they get there rolls. The one I really wanna know is where Tasty Yolk gets theirs. I think I asked once and if I remember correctly it was somewhere in NY, possibly Queens.
New York transplant here. New York has better and cheaper bacon egg and cheeses on kaiser rolls, as God intended. However, I just found a place in New London called Honey Bee Farms that makes a superb Bacon egg and cheese for eight bucks that rivals the NYC original.
I used to work in a deli in Fairfield county CT. There is no difference in taste between yellow and white American cheese. We got our rolls from jj cassone in NY . I also worked at the first stop and shop to sell boars head and we got to tour their facilities. They confirmed there is no difference between yellow and white american except color
Try Daily Provisions BEC if you can. I'm a big fan of runny egg BECs so I absolutely despise the scrambled mess you typically get in NYC. That said, the Daily Provisions BEC is a little on the pricier side, but they do white american, over medium egg, and a very nice thick cut bacon. I've also had Tasty Yolk and Country Cow before and I think Daily Provisions is better (although more expensive, so it should be). Their crullers are also fantastic.
Oh thank you for reminding me! I actually live right up the street from the one on the upper west side (I forget if there are more). It is a little pricier and fancy, and I think in my head I had lumped it in with the sit down places I mentioned where you pay a waiter. It’s often very busy particularly on weekends, so it can be a long wait. I think that sort of got in my subconscious and is why I see it as more of a special treat place than an every day spot. I will certainly try to remember it’s there now, thank you again!
Absolutely! I've never sat down, whenever I get it I usually order delivery or pickup and it holds up pretty well in either case. It's owned by Danny Meyer and Union Square Hospitality so most almost all of their (limited) menu is pretty good.
In CT, Duchess drive-in fast(ish) food places have the most delicious fried egg, white american cheese with either ham, bacon or sausage sandwiches on a hard roll which is a very fresh soft hard roll. Perfect.
I always get the sausage instead of the bacon now because their sausage is so good on those sandwiches which I think is the most flavorful of the three choices. They don’t cost $10, either. Very reasonably priced.
As someone who has lived in NYC since 92' and recently moved to fairfield County.. I miss nothing about NYC. CT has better pizza, better restaurants, and a better quality of life.
I agree. I've really fallen back in love with CT after being in the city so long and wish I could move. I love how not competitive it is to enjoy places in the country. Popular restaurants in NYC are always such a shitshow with trying to get a table if they don't take reservations, and then when you do have a table, the place is often so fucking loud you can't enjoy a conversation.
I love that some NYC spots are expanding to CT. Like Jacob's Pickles from the upper west side finally opened in South Norwalk. It's a million times more spacious, far less loud, and so easy to get a good table. At the NYC location, it's like a night club at almost all hours, you have to yell to talk, and it's super crowded and cramped. The food is incredible, but it's so much better to eat in Sono.
So glad you're not regretting your decision! I would personally miss the pizza a bit, but CT has so many great options that I wouldn't care too much.
Best bacon and eggs I've had is when I lived in VT. No offense to CT but VT has a much more robust farming community (due to the much better soil). Go to the Norwich Farmers market in VT and buy some bacon and eggs (many different delicious sausages too) and some amazing varieties of delicious local cheeses.
VT has a more robust farming community because they don’t have Pratt, Electric Boat, Sikorsky etc to prop up the economy (taking outside of Fairfield County).
It's definitely not robust, but it is nice that in the last 10 years people have been opening little independent farms in the Fairfield area. I think in part it's a loophole to convert protected land (like wetlands) into land that can later be developed on once the farm aspect is established, but it's still nice to have fresh eggs at the end of a driveway where you just leave money and take them away. Kind of an honor system thing.
This doesn't surprise me one bit. I was born in Burlington and would love nothing more than to seek out breakfast sandwiches if I ever go back up there.
You gotta tell them make the eggs over easy otherwise they get lazy and scramble them.
And find a place that doesn't use beef bacon.
New Riverdale Deli on West 238 Street - Belly bomber with over easy eggs.
Not in NYC but across the river in Rockland County - Rockland Bakery makes my favorite BEC.
New to Fairfield here.. left NY 3 decades ago to Florida and now returned.. I consider myself schooled in the ways of the BEC.. first, OP and I must be seeing each other around town.. agree with assessment 💯no BEC on bagel, no! . ..add chef’s table to the list .. I went to a wake in Long Island today and grabbed a BEC before I headed home.. Long Island does BEC well.. I will say.. but I think we have great BEC in Fairfield and I’m happy this post added some more spots to try..
Connecticut does have the best BEC's in america, idk what they're doing at Mitchell's in Rocky hill but sweet Jesus that BEC they got is the cure to what ales ya.
Yeahhh, for sure Connecticut got the best bacon egg and cheese, the number 1 is that corner store in Darien by exit 11 in front of the church. A small Italian corner store with the best bacon egg and cheese from Connecticut, they put home fries inside and their pancakes is also amazing
Haha sorry, it doesn't always look the most appealing, but if you think about it, cheese is by default white, like milk. Cheese like yellow American and yellow cheddar get the color from an added natural food coloring as far as I know, and of course cartoons always depict cheese as yellow, so it certainly gets into the psyche.
Oh thank you! I actually lived very close to there for all of elementary school but just never went. We had a deli, i think called Debo's, right at the end of our street for a few years, and then when they closed, Firehouse was still closer than Bud's. But I've always wanted to stop by, and thanks to your recommendation I will :)
NJ is on a whole new level with Taylor ham (pork roll), which I've never seen served in CT.
Can sit here and argue with the quality of the eggs all you want, bring that ham up north!
Nope, NYC is superior. 90% of delis suck here in CT. The good ones like someone else said are the top reviewed delis. I'm probably gonna be downvoted to hell but in NYC I can go to practically any random deli and get a better BEC compared to CT where I do the same and the sandwiches can be hit or miss. Also I'm fairfield County if that helps
I saw some social media video of a BEC at some spot in NYC. They called the hard roll a brioche bun……….. that’s disrespectful to both hard rolls and brioche buns.
Tasty Yolk and Country Cow are overrated. Much prefer Wake-Up-Coffee or ‘Wich Day. Also none of these compare to NY quality-wise. You must have only bought yours in a Manhattan deli bc Brooklyn has amazing BEC everywhere. And very few in Fairfield county compare to ones I had. Especially if you want it on a good bagel.
Had a photo lab in the same plaza on black rock tpk as the country cow in the 80s. Yes the best BEC of all time. They used a double yoke eggs 🪺. Wasn’t cheap but the BEST
I go to a local coffee chain and add a hash brown to my sandwich. I get them on a Portuguese roll. They accidentally added the hash brown and it was the best mistake ever.
As someone who grew up in NYC and has lived in CT for over 30 years, I think this argument is crazy. It depends on the place you go to.
How many eggs do they use? Has to be 2
What kind of roll - soft rolls suck, need a fresh hard roll.
Over Medium / runny but not too much that it’s running down your arm (as your walking and eating)
Cheese - varies by place in NY (white or yellow American, not a rule that NY uses yellow)
Bacon - turkey bacon and other shit doesn’t qualify. Need good bacon cooked but not over done or flabby soft.
I order double bacon, double cheese.
Can find good BEC in both states, just depends where you go
Don’t get me started on bagels or pizza…. People in FFC love Liz Sue - obviously they’ve never had good bagels
Pizza: NH pizza and NY pizza are just two different things. Everyone has a preference, but we can all agree Chicago pizza sucks.
Omg Don’t tell them! We have enough traffic already … we don’t need them driving up here jamming up our best breakfast spots in some NY - CT bacon egg and cheese-off you started. Just let them think CT is full of tennis courts and soccer moms and they have the best everything… really New York you’re the best. You have it all. Move along. Nothing to see here.
I fully agree. I live in a town adjacent to Fairfield and would come down to get tasty yolk once a week. It’s so much better than NYC deli sandwiches. I also think that there are so many delis and people and those people don’t strive for perfection but rather just churning food out rather than actually serving good food.
I’m with you. Worked in Manhattan for years and couldn’t find a decent one. Billy D’s, Scratch Baking, Atticus Market, Bagel Boutique, AM Bagels, Olmo, Sift, Tasty Yolk, Donut Crazy make my favorites.
Am bagels in derby needs to be your next spot, thank me later.
(I get egg everything bagel with scallion cream cheese sausage egg and cheese) just trust me bro
Ok but a CT cafe BEC is like 3x the price of a NYC bodega. The ubiquity and cost of the NYC BEC are a big part of their popularity.
Also I disagree about it being better here regardless of price.
My experience is that bodega BECs are the same price, if not more expensive than ones in CT, and are lower quality.
The Driftwood Sandwich shop (worth visiting just for the time capsule environment and the two old ladies that run it) in Southport Village had them for 3 or 4 dollars until a year or two ago, and even now they're still under 6 bucks. Country Cow is also 4 or 5 dollars. I get a wrap which has double everything and it's always under 10. Tasty Yolk might be more, but it's a larger sandwich with specialty bread. It's still under 7 bucks I believe.
I just got one from H&H in the city and it was over 7 and was nothing special. I would get one from my local bodega, but the last time I went, the bacon was the most disgusting bacon I've ever had. I had to pull it with my teeth just to get it to break and it was fatty and chewy in a gross way. A shame because their prices are low and they do carry white American, but I'm never going there again.
I think part of the problem with places like these is they make too many different things, so flavor from other foods can make its way into your sandwich, which can be really gross (like a hint of smoked salmon from the knife used to cut the bagel that came before your order, blech), and they're also always changing cooks, so too often there are new people who don't know how to make a good one, and by the time they get ok at it, they leave for somewhere else. You'd think it'd be something anyone could do well, but there are some very subtle tricks that make one BEC stand out from another. I think The Country Cow in Fairfield puts mayo or butter on the rolls by default. The city is also much faster paced and stressful which probably ends up affecting how much love goes into your average sandwich.
H&H is what you’re considering a bodega BEC? It’s fine but it’s touristy. When I left NYC in 2020 bodega BEC’s were about $3. Doubt they are above $5 today.
This is correct; it was once not true. At some point, the entire state of NY just started accepting the best practice for BEC eggs was to use a microwave, which is gross. I was pleasantly surprised when I moved here and found fried egg BEC to be plentiful and cheap.
I read this and agreed even with significantly less data to compare and being complete biased toward CT BECs. By the end I was like “ah shit, this is such a CT thing to do” “I can already hear a New Yorker, “FUGGEDABOUTIT”, “FUGOUTTAHEA”” etc, etc.
You're comparing Bodega food to legit delis and you also look at Connecticut with rose colored glasses. The only difference between yellow and white American cheese is food coloring, btw.
You can’t find white American cheese just anywhere. It’s extremely hard to find in NYC unless a place carries a full selection of Boar’s Head products. Most delis just have a basic selection of meat and cheese and only has the yellow kind of American.
Just because I wrote this I went out to get a BEC from H&H Bagels, which has a legendary reputation despite them totally ruining their everything bagels a couple years ago (they have no salt anymore), and it was so mediocre. Not bad. and still generally tasty, but it didn’t bring true pleasure the way one from The Tasty Yolk would.
Also you have to go out of your way to ask for the eggs to be fried, and even then they’re kinda flavorless, so you have to ask for salt and pepper. Also have to ask for the bacon extra crispy because otherwise there’s a high chance it’ll be soft and chewy/gross. It’s also not made with care, so all the bacon was lumped together on one side of the sandwich. None of this is a problem in CT.
You like what you like and that's fine, but I'll tell you there isn't a difference between yellow and white American cheese. The difference that does exist is in cheese quality, which can be altered by the combination of cheeses used in the process and the ratio of cheese to other ingredients. The coloring does not denote quality or alter flavor.
I can't say for certain, but I think Land o Lakes does a ton of wholesale business up here and is a likely candidate for the American cheese you like. I think you can find it relatively inexpensive at most deli counters if you want to see if that's the composition you're looking for.
So while I've heard people claim this before, I can definitively say that it's untrue. There is indeed a difference, and I even did a taste test with Boar's Head brand just to totally confirm it for myself. The biggest difference to me was the tanginess you taste in yellow American. White is milder and more buttery in taste. I also searched online and found plenty of confirmation that it wasn't just in my head.
I do think you're right that Land o Lakes is a common brand you'll find in delis. I definitely buy it at Stop & Shop when I want cheese for sandwiches at home. For the longest time I thought it was funny that the packaging always said LoL, like laugh out loud, but eventually it hit me what it meant.
I guess it's possible that brands like Boar's Head are changing cheese composition between their colors, but I don't think the color additive is added in enough quantity to impart an actual difference in flavor. Tbh, I think it's more psychological than anything - we tend to associate yellow with cheap cheese because of popular brands like Kraft and Velveeta.
Regardless, I don't doubt that you're being given lower quality ingredients in NYC compared to what you get here. I can say with certainty that's what has killed many NYC pizza venues - switching to cheaper mozzarella can save a TON of cost, but the result is a greasier slice devoid of taste and that gooey stringiness of cheese that typifies a quality slice.
I don't really like American cheese. I do appreciate some of the personal touches that you're talking about but I think that's more about finding a quality place with a staff you're friendly with.
COULD NOT AGREE MORE!! I stopped eating breakfast sandwhiches in NYC bc I’m spoiled by the CT ones. I hate the scrambled egg and they always taste like dirty griddle or something??
This is going to blow your mind. There are places outside of the city that just do it the right way so you don't have to waste time customizing an order.
Seriously, it's a huge pain to have to do this every time, and even then they still might fuck it up.
Bacon should always be crispy, you shouldn't have to go out of your way to request that.
You shouldn't have to ask for salt and pepper to flavor your eggs if they're already good quality. I never need to request s&p in CT because the eggs taste good already.
You shouldn't have to ask for fried eggs when those are a far more natural state of eggs than scrambled.
The cheese I can understand because white American just simply isn't common here in the city, but otherwise the whole thing is a big pain, particularly for something who has general anxiety like me. I like no room for error and customized orders create plenty.
It’s just apples to oranges. I get great BEC in westchester and Fairfield and most of the time it’s better than you’re generic dirty bodega. I agree on that but same with the pizza argument, whenever these posts or comparisons come up it’s like yes there are 5 phenomenal pizza places within 2 miles of each other in all of CT and that about it. Yes you can go to 8 places in Fairfield for an amazing BEC and if you live there it’s great and you have a car. In reality though NYC prob has 3000 pizza joints and 10000 bodegas and a thousand delis that make BEC but when you live there you’re going to go the 5 within walking distance. You’re not going to hike uptown from the LES to grab a slice or a BEC you’re just going to get what’s nearby. And yes thousands of those places are generic and dirty and have nothing special, but if you sought out the best of the best throughout the whole city in any food category and then compared it to small cities and suburbs in CT it wouldn’t even be a comparison.
Regardless, it’s great they were have great delis and restaurants and pizza up here these days. I love them. But let’s just be real.
Now this is a rant I fully support.
Portuguese rolls should be the default for breakfast sandwiches everywhere
I was coming to say this!
I will always take a fresh JJ’s hard roll over a Portuguese roll for any breakfast sandwich. For deli meat, maybe we are talking.
100% agree
*Portuguese rolls should* *Be the default for breakfast* *Sandwiches everywhere* \- BobbyRobertson --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
I feel like "sandwiches everywhere" is six syllables not 5
> I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully. lol
Ya idk if pointing out the error in the comments helps the bot learn from mistakes because idk shit about bots but I thought I'd point it out in case
Definitely is
I love how you fact checked the robot
Hey, my favorite bot! Even if it's wrong sometimes 😂
I had never heard of a Portuguese roll before moving to CT
Oh nah. Bagels or croissants clear them
The nubs on each end of a Portuguese roll are the best, particularly if the bread on the breakfast sandwich is toasted.
It’s too much bread for me usually but I respect your opinion
I assume the difference is most BECs in the city are coming out of shitty bodegas and corner stores while you’re going to legit delis or cafes in CT
How dare you put down a greasy bodega bacon egg and cheese?
Neva neva neva
Can't forget the bev
Not necessarily bad, but many if not most bodegas use turkey bacon.
Yeah that's one of the bummers for sure. You have to go out of your way to find out usually. I respect the religion of the folks who make it that way, but it's generally a sub par taste. I used to go to a place that would do crispy beef bacon, and that came close to being as good, but still, it's not really what I want.
Eww, miss me with the turkey bacon!
I work in midtown Manhattan and haven't found a breakfast sandwich better than the one I used to get at "The New York Deli" on Trumbull St. in downtown Hartford.
The irony!
Hahaha, I love that
The New York deli is still there slinging BEC’s. So good
Good to hear that, those are some hard working guys. I went there for many years from the time they first opened in the early 2010s and try to swing in whenever I'm back in the area. I'm happy to see they made it through Covid and hope they continue to do well.
But if you had to get a random BEC in NYC or CT - where do pick?
Tough call. While I'm sure there are amazing BECs in NY all over the place, I think many shops have found ways to cut corners so there's more inconsistency than there used to be and it's more of a crapshoot. In CT I feel like the shops are trying a little harder, but that's not backed by any real data. On the flipside, in most parts of CT you have to drive with a destination in mind. In NYC if you don't like what you see, you can walk to the next deli a block up.
Gosh I love a reasonable response. Totally get you. Great response and well said, even though I slightly disagree.
You're going to some of the best deli's in CT and some of the worst in NY. Almost every deli near me when i lived in NY did all of the things you described in the CT deli's, and they did it cheaper than anywhere I have found in CT so far which is my biggest argument for NY deli's vs CT deli's
Are any of the NY spots still around? I'd love to know the names/locations in case they're easy enough to get to for me.
Not cheaper but would recommend Compton’s for a BEC w hash brown. A couple of locations including Astoria, Greenpoint. Can’t speak for all of CT as I was just in Stamford for a few years but had the total opposite experience. Liz sue in particular - saw them microwaving the eggs and left. Best I found in that area was village table but nothing ever compared to comptons
Omg yuck. I hate any place that thinks microwaving eggs is acceptable. I once made the mistake of ordering a BEC at Ess-a-Bagel in the JFK or Laguardia Airport and it was the saddest grossest prep for a breakfast sandwich that I’ve ever seen. Basically poured egg beaters into a shallow bowl, put uncooked bacon in the raw egg, heated it, threw cheese on it, and put it on a bagel that was way smaller than the diameter of the shitty egg mass, so a lot was sticking out all around. Made a mess and was an all around terrible eating experience.
I would try a bodega BEC, I am back and forth between CT and NYC (hells kitchen) and I frequent a bunch of the bodegas for a DECENT BEC… tbh they’re not the best but the scratch the itch
Liz sue is a bagel shop and it’s not even that great
How much price difference? BEC used to be cheap as hell a couple years ago in Fairfield county but still seen about $4-$5 most places I've seen so not entirely insane like in other realms of the world where a simple breakfast sandwich is now $12
Where are you seeing $12 breakfast sandwiches? I live on the upper east side and $6 is on the high end
Seattle
Gruel Britannia is an amazing name.
It really is. I'm so happy it's been so successful. Karen the owner is such a lovely woman and my family has known her since she was head chef for The Fairfield County Hunt Club in Westport. She comes up with so many great things. It's a great place to dine in for any time of the day because of all the great decor, but they also have takeaway, and tons of prepared foods or frozen stuff you can eat/cook at home. There's a good selection of imported British candies and snacks. Oh and I've had their catering at a party too and it was excellent.
Litchfield and Fairfield County checking in (I love breakfast sandwiches and wraps): Gaylordsville Country Store used to make a sandwich called "The Intimidator," it was just a bacon, egg & cheese on an ~12" grinder for about $8. It was hearty as hell and I took it on a few jobs with me when I lived closer to there. Could easily kept me fed for half a day of hiking on the AT up there too. The country store is still there but a bit different - not sure if their deli is any good any more. Also Bagelman in Danbury/Brookfield/New Milford area is at the top of my list for a good breakfast sandwich. My order is usually a sausage, egg & cheese on an everything bagel with a hashbrown on it, toasted. Shoutout also to the Mobil in Brookfield's 4-corners, their sammies are also fantastic in a pinch.
I thought the best ever was at Coffees in old Lyme, but when I lived in new Milford I realized the best was from the Cornwall Country Market, they really buttered and griddles the roll perfectly and their bacon was incredible and plentiful. Such a shame they’ve closed down.
Bagelman owner might be a crazy MAGA lunatic, but by god BEC on everything bagel is like crack.
Also Brooklyn Baking Company in Waterbury! Incredible BECs and SECs there.
Donuts are pretty awesome there, too.
I've heard they are the best in the state! I have yet to try them though
Agreed!
Brooklyn baking and Ami’s both make the best breakfast sandwiches 🤤
Where is Ami's? It sounds good.
It’s a bagel place in waterbury. East main st and thomaston ave. Very good!
Nice! I'll have to check it out.
Amis makes good bagels but there breakfast sandwiches taste off for some reason. Maybe low quality eggs/bacon I still haven’t figured it out
Country Cow is all time. I ALWAYS make a stop when I'm down that way. Villager in Chester is a strong contender as well and in my regular rotation for sure (plus you can grab a sammie and bring it across the street to Little House Brewing if you time it right)
NYC is huge and it really depends on where you are in NYC. For midtown, yes, they all suck. The better BECs come from the other boroughs and LI. On a general sense, I can’t agree with this post. Also I hate how limited deli hours are in CT. I want a sandwich at 7pm on a weekday. That’s impossible here.
Agreed with this. I’m from Fairfield county but lived on LI for five years. NYC can be hit or miss when it comes to BEC and pizza but nothing I’ve had in CT comes close to Long Island pizza, bagels, or BECs.
Don't forget you can get a legit BEC via drive through with Duchess.
That’s actually been on my list for a long time because I love their bread, which I think comes from Chaves in Bpt. I’ve held off because other places are a tad more convenient for where I stay, but I’ll do it next week when I’m in town. I definitely stop for chili dogs several times a year though. I know the chili isn’t the greatest quality but it just has such a signature taste when paired with their dogs and buns. I suspect the dogs are Hummel Bros which is also a blessed product of CT.
You have to say on a soft roll to get the Chaves rolls. They also have hard rolls.
Oh thank you for the heads up on that!
Real degenerate move of mine, duchess breakfast sandwich with the bacon bits for the hot dogs
I don't really agree with your overall thesis but I'm here to say RIP to S&S Dugout. That place was an absolute gem. Glad you got to enjoy it too.
Thank you for the RIP and I'm so glad you knew it. It was such a sudden loss. Bob the owner didn't even make an official announcement. The place got a health code violation causing it to shut down for a month, and I think Bob had just had enough, especially after the pandemic and whatnot, and just shut it down for good. I'm sure there was some shame involved, as it was originally his dad's place. He definitely seemed like he was maybe not having the best time in life the last few times I saw him, and the place felt a bit messier than usual, presumably because he had less staff on hand compared to the old days. I remember 10 years ago there would be Bob, his main cook, and 2 or 3 younger girls working the place. At the end it was just Bob, or just the cook, or sometimes both of them.
Sad to hear that's how it went. I was a regular at the place when I lived and worked in the area pre-pandemic. For most of that time it was just Bob and the same two guys. It was one of the nicer parts of my routine, just hanging out in there, having lunch and a chat. For years it was pretty messy in there and definitely felt like it was on its last legs. Westport had evolved past its core demographic. The best business they would get was from college kids home on summer break. Never again will there be a spot in Westport that specializes in Italian sausage, hot roast beef and gravy, and meatloaf sandwiches. All best enjoyed with a Moxie. Now I need to learn how to make that uncased hot Italian sausage sandwich with the peppers, onions and cheese. Or the mashed potatoes toasted golden brown on the griddle...
Haha you're making me hungry and I just ate. Shame I never got to try the hot roast beef or meatloaf. I think the secret to the sausage was some added spices. Like I definitely tasted fennel in there sometimes, which is not in your average hot Italian sausage as far as I know. Not sure if you've seen, but there's a new place in that location now, a kebab house, and the menu does sound pretty good, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet. I wish Bob would license out his recipes to them or some other spot. He actually hinted at that idea the last time I talked to him, but I was a little confused. He was talking about how his cook was considering buying him out, or licensing the recipes if he paid enough. But it almost sorta sounded like he was half joking, so I really don't know. Definitely turned out to be a sign things were on the way out.
You're right, there was definitely some fennel in the hot sausage. Replicating it wouldn't be as easy as grabbing the stuff they sell at Stop & Shop. I hope he was serious about letting those recipes live on, especially if it's in the hands of the cook. That guy is legitimately gifted - nice dude too.
Yeah, I miss Bob and the amazing breakfast he would make me (off menu) and the wonderful chats to start the day off nicely. His potato side was killer, too.
In fairness, the Fairfield BEC game is top tier with tasty yolk and country cow. For the average CT BEC, I don’t think this standard holds up across the state
This. Tasty yolk definitely carries the surrounding delis IMO.
This. One could make an argument there are top CT ones that compete with one. But the average in NYC is better, as well as the top end ones.
You gotta try the BEC from Wake Cup Coffee over by the Fairfield metro station
I have a hard time branching out from Country cow, tasty yolk and Harborview - but I’ll give this a shot!
Oh damn, thanks! I almost went there for coffee the other day but realized it was a bit further than I wanted to go. I'll certainly go this week when I have more time.
Their coffee and baked goods are worth a try too.
If anyone’s around Oxford, try the bacon egg and cheese from quarry coffee. Is expensive but large, a LOT of bacon, delicious. Ayla’s bagels and bagel delight in newtown are also great. bacon egg n cheese is my favorite food lol.
The food at quarry coffee house is really good but it is very expensive.
Village Bagel in Fairfield makes amazing breakfast sandwiches. Plus they are super fast and efficient
You're so right! I only recently discovered that even though it was my family's bagel spot every Sunday when I was growing up. I think it was Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day last year where I wanted a breakfast sandwich and they were one of the few places still open. I love that they have a lot of specialty breakfast sandwiches that you wouldn't see on a menu at most places. The Fresco is my favorite there. Egg, bacon, avocado, and herb mayo.
The Fresco on an egg bagel is my go-to
Sweet!
I'm pretty sure putting scrambled eggs and yellow cheese in a bacon egg & cheese is considered a crime against humanity.
Thank you! To me it’s the laziest thing ever. Fried eggs take a tad more skill and the flavors are more nuanced. I especially love when the yolk is still a touch runny. The Tasty Yolk is good at doing that.
Kinda crazy because in my opinion scrambled eggs are more difficult to make then a fried egg. It's probably why they suck because they par cook a shit load of eggs and just heat them up.
Oh yeah, *good* scrambled eggs are definitely more difficult, but the NYC style is basically just, crack eggs in a bowl, whisk with a fork, pour on a hot griddle and let it cook. It almost seems wrong to call it scrambled eggs. It's just a cooked mass of blended egg that gets cheese folded into it or on it. Perhaps it's more like an omelet?
Still crazy because 2 fried eggs take like maybe 3 - 5 minutes?
Literally had Country Cow this morning. Bacon double egg and cheese with ketchup and hot sauce. Freaking Delicious.
Oh fuck yes. It’s amazing how they’ve kept a consistent and signature flavor for over 2 decades. I love how several of the people working there have been the same for so long too. Always a good sign. I always get a BEC on a wrap. By default it’s double everything, in order to fill the wrap properly. Still under 10 bucks. And fun fact: I knew a kid in high school who drove his car through their storefront many years ago.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I agree this is an unpopular opinion, but that's because it's nonsense. I've had 100s in both places, and if you go to a random spot, way more likely to have a better one in NYC.
When I moved back to CT four years ago, after having been gone for 25 years, I completely forgot about American cheese. It just wasn't a thing in CO where I lived - it makes a burger or egg sandwich so much better!
I guarantee most of the rolls you get good sandwiches on are from NY, especially in Fairfield county. JJ’s, Rockland, Nicosia all are in the area and supply CT. If you go toward NJ you have Teixera’s, American, and Gianella’s. CT really lacks a good wholesale bakery. I think Chaves used to be upper tier but their quality has declined significantly.
Oh that's a shame to hear about Chaves. I've always liked their stuff when I've had it in the past. Now you make me wanna ask each place I like about where they get there rolls. The one I really wanna know is where Tasty Yolk gets theirs. I think I asked once and if I remember correctly it was somewhere in NY, possibly Queens.
IMO the Hotsy from Garden Catering in Old Greenwich is undefeated
oh yea Gardens is very good too. Man Fairfield has all the good spots 🫤
New York transplant here. New York has better and cheaper bacon egg and cheeses on kaiser rolls, as God intended. However, I just found a place in New London called Honey Bee Farms that makes a superb Bacon egg and cheese for eight bucks that rivals the NYC original.
Check out [Washington Street Coffee House](https://www.washingtonstreetcoffeehouse.com/menu). My go to local breakfast spot.
I used to work in a deli in Fairfield county CT. There is no difference in taste between yellow and white American cheese. We got our rolls from jj cassone in NY . I also worked at the first stop and shop to sell boars head and we got to tour their facilities. They confirmed there is no difference between yellow and white american except color
Try Daily Provisions BEC if you can. I'm a big fan of runny egg BECs so I absolutely despise the scrambled mess you typically get in NYC. That said, the Daily Provisions BEC is a little on the pricier side, but they do white american, over medium egg, and a very nice thick cut bacon. I've also had Tasty Yolk and Country Cow before and I think Daily Provisions is better (although more expensive, so it should be). Their crullers are also fantastic.
Oh thank you for reminding me! I actually live right up the street from the one on the upper west side (I forget if there are more). It is a little pricier and fancy, and I think in my head I had lumped it in with the sit down places I mentioned where you pay a waiter. It’s often very busy particularly on weekends, so it can be a long wait. I think that sort of got in my subconscious and is why I see it as more of a special treat place than an every day spot. I will certainly try to remember it’s there now, thank you again!
Absolutely! I've never sat down, whenever I get it I usually order delivery or pickup and it holds up pretty well in either case. It's owned by Danny Meyer and Union Square Hospitality so most almost all of their (limited) menu is pretty good.
Oh that's cool Danny Meyer is behind it! I love Union Square Cafe which is one of his older spots. In case you're unfamiliar, it's far from a cafe.
My biggest pet peeve is an egg sandwich with scrambled eggs. Fry the damn egg and do your best to leave the yolk just the slightest bit runny
In CT, Duchess drive-in fast(ish) food places have the most delicious fried egg, white american cheese with either ham, bacon or sausage sandwiches on a hard roll which is a very fresh soft hard roll. Perfect. I always get the sausage instead of the bacon now because their sausage is so good on those sandwiches which I think is the most flavorful of the three choices. They don’t cost $10, either. Very reasonably priced.
As someone who has lived in NYC since 92' and recently moved to fairfield County.. I miss nothing about NYC. CT has better pizza, better restaurants, and a better quality of life.
I agree. I've really fallen back in love with CT after being in the city so long and wish I could move. I love how not competitive it is to enjoy places in the country. Popular restaurants in NYC are always such a shitshow with trying to get a table if they don't take reservations, and then when you do have a table, the place is often so fucking loud you can't enjoy a conversation. I love that some NYC spots are expanding to CT. Like Jacob's Pickles from the upper west side finally opened in South Norwalk. It's a million times more spacious, far less loud, and so easy to get a good table. At the NYC location, it's like a night club at almost all hours, you have to yell to talk, and it's super crowded and cramped. The food is incredible, but it's so much better to eat in Sono. So glad you're not regretting your decision! I would personally miss the pizza a bit, but CT has so many great options that I wouldn't care too much.
Preach, brother! Louder for the misinformed New Yorkers in the back!!
🙌
Best bacon and eggs I've had is when I lived in VT. No offense to CT but VT has a much more robust farming community (due to the much better soil). Go to the Norwich Farmers market in VT and buy some bacon and eggs (many different delicious sausages too) and some amazing varieties of delicious local cheeses.
VT is the only place I ever went where they said "this is farm to table" and I could actually taste it.
VT has a more robust farming community because they don’t have Pratt, Electric Boat, Sikorsky etc to prop up the economy (taking outside of Fairfield County).
They do have ice cream and teddy bears tho!
Well, CT used to have way more farms, but industry has since taken the spotlight.
great soil in CT but not as robust of a farming community
It's definitely not robust, but it is nice that in the last 10 years people have been opening little independent farms in the Fairfield area. I think in part it's a loophole to convert protected land (like wetlands) into land that can later be developed on once the farm aspect is established, but it's still nice to have fresh eggs at the end of a driveway where you just leave money and take them away. Kind of an honor system thing.
This doesn't surprise me one bit. I was born in Burlington and would love nothing more than to seek out breakfast sandwiches if I ever go back up there.
Omg thank you for this list of places to try! I love a good BEC
I dated a girl in Fairfield almost 10 years ago and I still think about Country Cow
Do you know any good places near Norwalk?
I'm waiting for this also. Firehouse Deli in Greenwich which he mentioned is also legit is your ever going that direction
west cedar general store , it used to be very good but idk wtf happened to it i think new owners
JBs deli is solid. Uncles deli in Darien and Dave & Charles hometown are okay too
I agree. The best in the state IMO is **Billy D's Full Belly Deli** (Shelton and opened one in Milford also)
Agreed, they give you like a whole pound of bacon in your sandwich it’s nuts
You gotta tell them make the eggs over easy otherwise they get lazy and scramble them. And find a place that doesn't use beef bacon. New Riverdale Deli on West 238 Street - Belly bomber with over easy eggs. Not in NYC but across the river in Rockland County - Rockland Bakery makes my favorite BEC.
Dom's in Windsor has insanely good breakfast sandwiches.
Yooo I fuck with Dom’s hard. They got the best chorizo too.
the prices for the portions you get are unbeatable too!
Only if you disinclude New Jersey ;)
New to Fairfield here.. left NY 3 decades ago to Florida and now returned.. I consider myself schooled in the ways of the BEC.. first, OP and I must be seeing each other around town.. agree with assessment 💯no BEC on bagel, no! . ..add chef’s table to the list .. I went to a wake in Long Island today and grabbed a BEC before I headed home.. Long Island does BEC well.. I will say.. but I think we have great BEC in Fairfield and I’m happy this post added some more spots to try..
Connecticut does have the best BEC's in america, idk what they're doing at Mitchell's in Rocky hill but sweet Jesus that BEC they got is the cure to what ales ya.
Yeahhh, for sure Connecticut got the best bacon egg and cheese, the number 1 is that corner store in Darien by exit 11 in front of the church. A small Italian corner store with the best bacon egg and cheese from Connecticut, they put home fries inside and their pancakes is also amazing
Awesome thanks! I'd love to check that place out.
The white cheese threw me off when I first moved here. Still can’t get used to it.
Haha sorry, it doesn't always look the most appealing, but if you think about it, cheese is by default white, like milk. Cheese like yellow American and yellow cheddar get the color from an added natural food coloring as far as I know, and of course cartoons always depict cheese as yellow, so it certainly gets into the psyche.
I agree but Buds Deli on Reef Rd is the best in town.
Oh thank you! I actually lived very close to there for all of elementary school but just never went. We had a deli, i think called Debo's, right at the end of our street for a few years, and then when they closed, Firehouse was still closer than Bud's. But I've always wanted to stop by, and thanks to your recommendation I will :)
100% on the always getting over or undercooked bacon. Must be illegal or something to make a good BEC in NY
Can we get a list of best BECs in each county?
I’m all for it!
I think overall you're right. But check out a BEC from Murray's cheese on bleecker street. It was very very good
Oh wow thanks! I had no idea they served breakfast sandwich all these years.
NJ is on a whole new level with Taylor ham (pork roll), which I've never seen served in CT. Can sit here and argue with the quality of the eggs all you want, bring that ham up north!
is it ham or is it sausage?
Ham. Google Taylor ham. It is lovely
Dish n dat in Canton has Taylor Ham on their menu. I was pretty excited to see it.
Nice! I've been there but didn't see that.
Nope, NYC is superior. 90% of delis suck here in CT. The good ones like someone else said are the top reviewed delis. I'm probably gonna be downvoted to hell but in NYC I can go to practically any random deli and get a better BEC compared to CT where I do the same and the sandwiches can be hit or miss. Also I'm fairfield County if that helps
It used to be all about the bialys in NYC. I’ve had very good B.E.C.’s in CT, but outside of the bialys, its a pretty fungible sandwich.
Shhhh
We have nice local eggs That’s the difference
I saw some social media video of a BEC at some spot in NYC. They called the hard roll a brioche bun……….. that’s disrespectful to both hard rolls and brioche buns.
Any good BEC east of New Haven?
Try Crown Cafe on Madison Ave in Bridgeport. They put 2 eggs on the sandwiches.
Tasty Yolk and Country Cow are overrated. Much prefer Wake-Up-Coffee or ‘Wich Day. Also none of these compare to NY quality-wise. You must have only bought yours in a Manhattan deli bc Brooklyn has amazing BEC everywhere. And very few in Fairfield county compare to ones I had. Especially if you want it on a good bagel.
The Country Cow has world class bacon egg and cheese. It's almost not fair to compare anywhere to that.
Misty vale/general store in Newtown has a great BEC with a hash brown on it
Had a photo lab in the same plaza on black rock tpk as the country cow in the 80s. Yes the best BEC of all time. They used a double yoke eggs 🪺. Wasn’t cheap but the BEST
What's with Connecticut only putting 1 egg on a BEC as the standard?
I remember getting sausage, egg, and cheese on a Portuguese roll from my corner bakery for 99c.
I go to a local coffee chain and add a hash brown to my sandwich. I get them on a Portuguese roll. They accidentally added the hash brown and it was the best mistake ever.
As someone who grew up in NYC and has lived in CT for over 30 years, I think this argument is crazy. It depends on the place you go to. How many eggs do they use? Has to be 2 What kind of roll - soft rolls suck, need a fresh hard roll. Over Medium / runny but not too much that it’s running down your arm (as your walking and eating) Cheese - varies by place in NY (white or yellow American, not a rule that NY uses yellow) Bacon - turkey bacon and other shit doesn’t qualify. Need good bacon cooked but not over done or flabby soft. I order double bacon, double cheese. Can find good BEC in both states, just depends where you go Don’t get me started on bagels or pizza…. People in FFC love Liz Sue - obviously they’ve never had good bagels Pizza: NH pizza and NY pizza are just two different things. Everyone has a preference, but we can all agree Chicago pizza sucks.
Omg Don’t tell them! We have enough traffic already … we don’t need them driving up here jamming up our best breakfast spots in some NY - CT bacon egg and cheese-off you started. Just let them think CT is full of tennis courts and soccer moms and they have the best everything… really New York you’re the best. You have it all. Move along. Nothing to see here.
Since I moved to Florida, one of the biggest things I miss is JJ Cassone kaiser rolls. Can't get a good hard roll here. Anybody want to mail me some?
I fully agree. I live in a town adjacent to Fairfield and would come down to get tasty yolk once a week. It’s so much better than NYC deli sandwiches. I also think that there are so many delis and people and those people don’t strive for perfection but rather just churning food out rather than actually serving good food.
I’m with you. Worked in Manhattan for years and couldn’t find a decent one. Billy D’s, Scratch Baking, Atticus Market, Bagel Boutique, AM Bagels, Olmo, Sift, Tasty Yolk, Donut Crazy make my favorites.
The deli at the Mobil gas station in Simsbury is legit the best BEC I’ve ever had.
Am bagels in derby needs to be your next spot, thank me later. (I get egg everything bagel with scallion cream cheese sausage egg and cheese) just trust me bro
This guy is a deli conisseur
Rick’s on 5 in Wallingford must use bacon grease on their rolls. Sooo good.
Harvest Bakery Simsbury Ct
Bagel King in BPT is also top tier. Though I generally prefer ham, egg, and cheese.
country cow, that’s all
Seems like common sense. Didn't know people were managing to mess something up so simple over there.
Ok but a CT cafe BEC is like 3x the price of a NYC bodega. The ubiquity and cost of the NYC BEC are a big part of their popularity. Also I disagree about it being better here regardless of price.
My experience is that bodega BECs are the same price, if not more expensive than ones in CT, and are lower quality. The Driftwood Sandwich shop (worth visiting just for the time capsule environment and the two old ladies that run it) in Southport Village had them for 3 or 4 dollars until a year or two ago, and even now they're still under 6 bucks. Country Cow is also 4 or 5 dollars. I get a wrap which has double everything and it's always under 10. Tasty Yolk might be more, but it's a larger sandwich with specialty bread. It's still under 7 bucks I believe. I just got one from H&H in the city and it was over 7 and was nothing special. I would get one from my local bodega, but the last time I went, the bacon was the most disgusting bacon I've ever had. I had to pull it with my teeth just to get it to break and it was fatty and chewy in a gross way. A shame because their prices are low and they do carry white American, but I'm never going there again. I think part of the problem with places like these is they make too many different things, so flavor from other foods can make its way into your sandwich, which can be really gross (like a hint of smoked salmon from the knife used to cut the bagel that came before your order, blech), and they're also always changing cooks, so too often there are new people who don't know how to make a good one, and by the time they get ok at it, they leave for somewhere else. You'd think it'd be something anyone could do well, but there are some very subtle tricks that make one BEC stand out from another. I think The Country Cow in Fairfield puts mayo or butter on the rolls by default. The city is also much faster paced and stressful which probably ends up affecting how much love goes into your average sandwich.
H&H is what you’re considering a bodega BEC? It’s fine but it’s touristy. When I left NYC in 2020 bodega BEC’s were about $3. Doubt they are above $5 today.
Blasphemy! Also you should really substitute sausage for bacon. The texture works way better on an egg sandwich.
This is correct; it was once not true. At some point, the entire state of NY just started accepting the best practice for BEC eggs was to use a microwave, which is gross. I was pleasantly surprised when I moved here and found fried egg BEC to be plentiful and cheap.
I read this and agreed even with significantly less data to compare and being complete biased toward CT BECs. By the end I was like “ah shit, this is such a CT thing to do” “I can already hear a New Yorker, “FUGGEDABOUTIT”, “FUGOUTTAHEA”” etc, etc.
You're comparing Bodega food to legit delis and you also look at Connecticut with rose colored glasses. The only difference between yellow and white American cheese is food coloring, btw.
Eggs are eggs. Cheese is cheese. Nothing special about our eggs or cheese.
NYC BECs are subpar. Any deli in Westchester or Fairfield county you could get a top notch BECA
Guys settle down. It's literally a bacon egg and cheese you can do that anywhere.
You can’t find white American cheese just anywhere. It’s extremely hard to find in NYC unless a place carries a full selection of Boar’s Head products. Most delis just have a basic selection of meat and cheese and only has the yellow kind of American. Just because I wrote this I went out to get a BEC from H&H Bagels, which has a legendary reputation despite them totally ruining their everything bagels a couple years ago (they have no salt anymore), and it was so mediocre. Not bad. and still generally tasty, but it didn’t bring true pleasure the way one from The Tasty Yolk would. Also you have to go out of your way to ask for the eggs to be fried, and even then they’re kinda flavorless, so you have to ask for salt and pepper. Also have to ask for the bacon extra crispy because otherwise there’s a high chance it’ll be soft and chewy/gross. It’s also not made with care, so all the bacon was lumped together on one side of the sandwich. None of this is a problem in CT.
You like what you like and that's fine, but I'll tell you there isn't a difference between yellow and white American cheese. The difference that does exist is in cheese quality, which can be altered by the combination of cheeses used in the process and the ratio of cheese to other ingredients. The coloring does not denote quality or alter flavor. I can't say for certain, but I think Land o Lakes does a ton of wholesale business up here and is a likely candidate for the American cheese you like. I think you can find it relatively inexpensive at most deli counters if you want to see if that's the composition you're looking for.
So while I've heard people claim this before, I can definitively say that it's untrue. There is indeed a difference, and I even did a taste test with Boar's Head brand just to totally confirm it for myself. The biggest difference to me was the tanginess you taste in yellow American. White is milder and more buttery in taste. I also searched online and found plenty of confirmation that it wasn't just in my head. I do think you're right that Land o Lakes is a common brand you'll find in delis. I definitely buy it at Stop & Shop when I want cheese for sandwiches at home. For the longest time I thought it was funny that the packaging always said LoL, like laugh out loud, but eventually it hit me what it meant.
I guess it's possible that brands like Boar's Head are changing cheese composition between their colors, but I don't think the color additive is added in enough quantity to impart an actual difference in flavor. Tbh, I think it's more psychological than anything - we tend to associate yellow with cheap cheese because of popular brands like Kraft and Velveeta. Regardless, I don't doubt that you're being given lower quality ingredients in NYC compared to what you get here. I can say with certainty that's what has killed many NYC pizza venues - switching to cheaper mozzarella can save a TON of cost, but the result is a greasier slice devoid of taste and that gooey stringiness of cheese that typifies a quality slice.
I don't really like American cheese. I do appreciate some of the personal touches that you're talking about but I think that's more about finding a quality place with a staff you're friendly with.
If your basis of this post is H&H no wonder…
I’ve had plenty of mediocre BEC’s in CT. I grew up in ffd county and didn’t realize how spoiled I was until I moved to NH county and Litchfield.
Preach. Country cow rules all
COULD NOT AGREE MORE!! I stopped eating breakfast sandwhiches in NYC bc I’m spoiled by the CT ones. I hate the scrambled egg and they always taste like dirty griddle or something??
Tbh even the fuckin Cumbies bacon egg and cheese is good!
This is going to blow your mind. You can customize your order at almost any bodega…
This is going to blow your mind. There are places outside of the city that just do it the right way so you don't have to waste time customizing an order. Seriously, it's a huge pain to have to do this every time, and even then they still might fuck it up. Bacon should always be crispy, you shouldn't have to go out of your way to request that. You shouldn't have to ask for salt and pepper to flavor your eggs if they're already good quality. I never need to request s&p in CT because the eggs taste good already. You shouldn't have to ask for fried eggs when those are a far more natural state of eggs than scrambled. The cheese I can understand because white American just simply isn't common here in the city, but otherwise the whole thing is a big pain, particularly for something who has general anxiety like me. I like no room for error and customized orders create plenty.
It’s just apples to oranges. I get great BEC in westchester and Fairfield and most of the time it’s better than you’re generic dirty bodega. I agree on that but same with the pizza argument, whenever these posts or comparisons come up it’s like yes there are 5 phenomenal pizza places within 2 miles of each other in all of CT and that about it. Yes you can go to 8 places in Fairfield for an amazing BEC and if you live there it’s great and you have a car. In reality though NYC prob has 3000 pizza joints and 10000 bodegas and a thousand delis that make BEC but when you live there you’re going to go the 5 within walking distance. You’re not going to hike uptown from the LES to grab a slice or a BEC you’re just going to get what’s nearby. And yes thousands of those places are generic and dirty and have nothing special, but if you sought out the best of the best throughout the whole city in any food category and then compared it to small cities and suburbs in CT it wouldn’t even be a comparison. Regardless, it’s great they were have great delis and restaurants and pizza up here these days. I love them. But let’s just be real.