I'm haunted by a bagel.
I've been a sucker for bagels for many years. Mostly, smoked salmon and cream cheese. I've had smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels in very many places.
About ten years ago, I met up with someone who thought it was meaningful to go shopping in Fortnum and Masons and Harrods. Him, "Look at that wonderful selection of fresh cheese". Me: "There's more variety in Tescos in Brixton."
We had a snack lunch in Harrods. Oh the horror! I ordered a cup of tea and was surprised that it came with lemon. Not that I'm averse to lemon tea but there was nothing that suggested that would be the default option. And a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel. Which was disappointing. And, really rather costly.
A couple of days later, I arrived early for a work appointment so selected a cafe to kill some time. Coffee and a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel. Better service, better product, and half the price.
I have spent much of my life in search of the perfect smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel. Finally I found it. Very early this year. I looked at it and my eyes got bigger and bigger.
A typical bagel is perhaps five inches in diameter; this was about 12 inches. A typical bagel is a little chewy, this was closer to crispy. The filling was somehow, better than any cream cheese and salmon bagel filling I have ever tasted.
Three months have passed and I still have memories of that bagel. I want another one. It cost forty shekels, and came with an excellent cup of latte.
For the rest of my life, whenever anyone mentions Dead Sea, I will remember the 12 inch smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel I ate on the shores of the Dead Sea.
