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Ess-a-Bagel And The Origin Of 2foodtrippers

Every couple has an origin story. Ours involves an Oscar party, a walk home and a conversation about bagels at Ess-a-Bagel in NYC.

Everything Bagels at Ess-a-Bagel in New York City
Everything Bagels at Ess-a-Bagel in New York City | Image: ©2foodtrippers

We met at an Oscars party in Philadelphia in March of 2006. Neither of us was expecting anything out of the party other than a pleasant evening. However, Mindi won the $60 pool, buoyed by her selection of Crash to win best picture. And Daryl won Mindi’s heart when he walked her home after the party.

That walk was filled with typical get-to-know-you conversation, including the best food in NYC and our favorite New York pizzerias and bagel shops. Mindi shared fond memories of the Pick a Bagel near her former upper east side apartment, while Daryl raved about the original Ess-a-Bagel on First Avenue as his favorite. He had frequented the shop when his brother Lou lived around the corner in a basement apartment at the Gramercy Row building on 22nd Street and continued to eat there whenever he was in the city for business or pleasure.

Daryl ended the walk with a kiss that was allegedly intended for the cheek but somehow ended up on the mouth. We had our first date five nights later at a cozy BYOB called Little Fish and were engaged in Central Park that November after a memorable dinner at (now closed) Veritas.

Fast Forward To The Future

The 2foodtrippers are going strong, both as a couple and as a writing/traveling/eating team. However, a lot has changed around us.

The couple who hosted the infamous Oscars party is no longer married. Little Fish, where we had our first date, has relocated to a different location. Veritas, where we had our engagement dinner, is closed.

And now, the original Ess-a Bagel shop closed after 39 years due to the landlord’s desire for higher rent.

Original Ess-a-Bagel Shop on First Avenue in New York City
Original Ess-a-Bagel Shop on First Avenue in New York City | Image: ©2foodtrippers

End Of An Era

Our love for bagels has continued since we met in 2006. We’ve eaten bagels in Philadelphia. We’ve eaten bagels in Montreal. We’ve eaten bagels at different shops in New York. But our favorite bagels have been at the Ess-a-Bagel on First Avenue.

These bagels have everything that makes New York bagels great. Airy insides can be nice in a baguette, but in a bagel they’re not good. Essa’s bagel insides are perfectly dense with a slightly crunchy, thick crust. You can taste all 39 years of bagel production in the big doughy morsels that provide a perfect platform for the shop’s house-made cream cheeses and varieties of smoked fish.

The news that the original Ess-a-Bagel location is closing made us feel sentimental and hungry for one last bagel. As luck would have it, we were headed up to New York City for the MLK holiday weekend. Of course, a visit to Ess-a-Bagel would be in order.

Inside Ess-a-Bagel in New York City
Inside Ess-a-Bagel – Note the Name on the Water Bottle. | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Last Meal At The Original Ess-a-Bagel

For our last meal at Ess-a-Bagel, we waited in an especially long line on the rainy Sunday after the impending closure was announced. The crowd was pragmatic about the situation, and the intricately spiraling line moved at a typical New York pace.

Ess-a-Bagel Menu in New York City
Ess-a-Bagel Menu (2015) | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Although we discussed what to order while in line, we each ordered our tried and true favorites – an everything bagel with nova and cream cheese for Daryl and an everything bagel with house-made whitefish salad and a tomato slice for Mindi.

Bagel with Nova and Cream Cheese at Ess-a-Bagel in New York City
Bagel with Nova and Cream Cheese – Daryl’s Favorite | Image: ©2foodtrippers

As we sat in the small, quirky shop with its stained ceiling tiles and out-of-place chandeliers, we reminisced about the past and how things around us continue to change. Change is inevitable in life, but it can be difficult to accept.

Bagel with Whitefish Salad at Ess-a-Bagel in New York City
Bagel with Whitefish Salad – Mindi’s Favorite | Image: ©2foodtrippers

The closure of a bagel shop isn’t the end of the world. Ess-a-Bagel will likely reopen in a nearby location. There are other great bagel shops like Murray’s where we can easily satisfy our bagel cravings.

Yet, still, we can’t help but be melancholy about changes around us that are out of our control.

Daryl Enjoying One Last Bagel at the Original Ess-a-Bagel in New York City
Daryl Enjoying One Last Bagel at the Original Ess-a-Bagel | Image: ©2foodtrippers

Then again, there are lots of positive changes and new New York City restaurants for us to explore. Plus, we couldn’t be happier as a couple. We’ll roll with the changes so long as we can get a half-dozen bagels for the road.

The original Ess-a-Bagel relocated across the street. It’s now located at 324 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10010, United States.

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About The Authors

About The Authors

Daryl & Mindi Hirsch

Saveur Magazine’s BEST TRAVEL BLOG award winners Daryl and Mindi Hirsch share their culinary travel experiences and recipes on the 2foodtrippers website. Since launching the site in 2012, they’ve traveled to over 40 countries in their quest to bring readers their unique taste of the world.

Disclosures

Article Updates
We update our articles regularly. Some updates are major while others are minor link changes and spelling corrections. Let us know if you see anything that needs to be updated in this article.

Funding
We self-funded our meal at Ess-a-Bagel.

Original Publication Date: January 18, 2015

Mardesia

Monday 6th of April 2015

Thanks for sharing your love story. I've only had the privilege of visiting New York once, but I think I need to come back just for the food alone. Those look amazing!

Tiana

Sunday 8th of March 2015

These bagels look fantastic, sad they are closing. Love the photos too,made my mouth water!

lorrie

Saturday 28th of February 2015

Such a wonderful story thank so much for sharing I love the how people met stories

Anna

Saturday 28th of February 2015

it's always a shame when places close down and it seems like nowadays a lot of places don't stay open for very long :(

Carol

Friday 30th of January 2015

And people thought the Oscars were only for stars. How romantic.

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