Thanks to my parents who spent large portions of their lives in New York City, (when they were young) my sisters and I were introduced (as toddlers) to cuisines and food items which did not appear in this part of the world until we were much older.

Everyday food goods like espresso coffee, bagels, (believe it or not) olive oil, real Italian pasta, deli meats and dark chocolate - anything, were difficult, if not impossible to come by when we first moved to South Dakota in the mid-60s.

In fact we would drive to Sioux City to go to a place called Dave's Delicatessen to satisfy my parents' cravings for bagels, lox, homemade chopped chicken liver and matzohs. We'd head to Omaha for Bertolli olive oil in huge cans (which would last my very Italian dad about a month),fresh ricotta cheese, deli meats (like Mortadella) which most people had never heard of and espresso coffee which they would order by the case from a little Italian grocery store.

So it is probably needless to say that I am a bagel aficionado. I have had great bagels, so-so bagels and everything in-between, but last year I discovered what I believe is undeniably one of the best bagels on the market. The Thomas Limited Edition Maple French Toast Bagel is a delight for your olfactory and gustatory senses! It is back in grocery stores now and if your grocer doesn't carry them, ask if they can get them for you.

These exquisite bakery-style bagels are satisfyingly chewy, full of flavor whether eaten right out of the package or toasted, smothered with butter, cream cheese, peanut butter or my favorite, apple butter. The ultimate usage of these lovely, bready buddies is to turn them into Maple French Toast bagel French Toast! Insanely delectable! Try it!  You'll love them, but hurry they won't be around long for inexplicable reasons! Maybe I should email the Thomas company to find out why. Hmm?


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