The mere mention of New Jersey conjures up different thoughts: Bruce Springstein, Chris Christie, Tony Soprano and "The Real Housewives of New Jersey."
Well, on 14 Mile Road and Farmington in West Bloomfield, we're talking bagels.
For five weeks, "Jersey Bagel" at 33220 W. 14 Mile Road has been peddling New York style bagels and sandwiches including a cheese steak wrap and a pesto turkey panini. The owners, from Long Island have seven bagel shops in Jersey.
The manager, Sam Abdo, is the real deal -- a New Jersey native who came straight from Jersey to run the place. Before this, he managed a string of the bagel shops for the Long Island owners -- two women -- who also own the Farmington Hills shop.
For decades now, as far as I'm concerned, New York Bagel on Woodward in Ferndale and Orchard Lake in West Bloomfield, have been the gold standard for bagels around town.
These bagels are big, like the ones in New York. But they're worthy. They're crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside.
Tables and booths are available so you can eat in.
