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Thanks for the tip, Decca. I've never heard of the Bagel Store. I will check them out next time I'm in Williamsburg.

I didn't even know about La Bagel. I will check it out. Sounds promising. I agree with you about Ess A Bagel. Its bagels are too big and too sweet.

Bagel Hole in on 7th Ave. in Park Slope makes a nice version of the old-fashioned chewy dense bagel that must be eaten that day. Terrace Bagel in Windsor Terrace makes very good slightly larger slightly softer bagels and good bialies. I had some good bagels from a place on Coney Island Ave. in Midwood, as well. Kosar's seems to have changed recipes withing the past year or two. Their classic bialies are no more, in my humble opinion, although the onion board (pletzl) is still tops.

H&H always was second rate. The place near Columbia is great (Absolute). Columbia Hot Bagel used to be great too.

Anyone remember the great New Jersey bagel places of yesteryear? I remember one on Chancellor Ave. in Irvington, and another on West End Ave. in Jersey City. Both were great places, basically wholesalers with small service counters. My dad would take us late Saturday night to get the early edition of the Sunday paper and hot bagels. Wiggler's in Union, NJ was great also.

I'd love to hear about other great bagels which are no more...

While I love mashed potatoes, in my family it's heresy to serve it with poultry. Rice and gravy, baby!

But the *dressing* (cornbread) is probably my favorite...

Oh, and the mashed sweet potatoes get dosed with a brown sugar/butter/bourbon mixture before the mini-marshmallows go on top.

No question about it, the stuffing. Has to be homemade, with lots of onions. And slathered with homemade gravy (my mom's recipe).

Next, mashed potatoes, similarly slathered.

The turkey is only important for 2 reasons: (1) without the turkey, there wouldn't be pan drippings to serve as the base for the gravy. and (2) you need the turkey for the sandwiches for the the rest of the Thanksgiving weekend.

Pies are good, especially apple with real vanilla ice cream. But so are brownie sundaes - got to get some chocolate in there somewhere...

Happy eating, everyone!

Chris

I'm sorry to buck your line, but I think what happens in Vegas when the result wasn't anticipated (like a rainout) is officially a "no bet" so your money is returned. Anyway, I have to vote for the post Thanksgiving massive, ridiculous Turkey sandwich. It goes something like this:

A sturdy bread to hold up to the food. either a Jewish rye or a rustic ciabatta type thing. Turkey on bottom, followed by a spoonful of gravy. Thin layers of potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, a spoon or two of gravy. Cranberries next, perhaps some yam too. A spoon gravy. Top it with a nice piece of turkey skin, put the 2nd slice of bread on, and give it a nice squeeze. My preference is to microwave it, but it can be enjoyed cold. Find a glass of whatever wine was left over from yesterday, and enjoy.

maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaash!

Pie is a first for me (or fresh home baked bread from scratch); turkey and gravy is a close second.

Much as I love pie, I've got to go with stuffing, simply on the basis of lasting power and versatility. I'll be eating it for days--warmed up with gravy, mixed into fried mashed potato cakes with turkey but, mostly, just in cold chunks straight from the fridge, maybe dipped in a little leftover cranberry sauce.

All about the stuffing for me. Has to be the "doctored" Pepperidge Farm kind. No to Stove Top.

Actually, I'm big on the Turkey too, but I prefer it as leftovers for a Turkey Sandwich on nice hearty wheat bread the next day.

My Turkey Sandwich formula:

1) Lightly toast the bread.

2) Smear real mayonnaise on the interior sides of the top and bottom slices.

3) Liberally salt and pepper the sides with the mayo. Use more pepper than you think it needs.

4) Generously heap on the turkey, fresh tomato slices, and fresh Romaine lettuce.

6) Eat.

Megnut is absolutely correct. In-N-Out fries are amazing, especially when eaten out of the same box as the burgers. In your car. That glorious aroma spreads throughout the whole interior, and lingers long into the next day. Too bad they don't make a car deodorant in that scent!

The gnocco fritto are fabulous at Gnocco on 10th and B. You should absolutely try them.

The only kind of donut I crave is the cider donut.

Thank god I work by Union Square where, in the fall, they can be had on any Greenmarket day, trucked down from my home turf of Upstate NY.

They're dense, cakey and coated in sugar and cinnamon.

I buy a bag of them, and a quart of cider, then I let the donuts sit out for 24 hours so they get a little bit stale.

Finally, I cut them in half (like a bagel) and toast them (in a toaster oven) so that the sugar gets a little caramelized. Then I pull them out while still warm and dunk them in some cider, and then I stuff them in my mouth as if I haven't eaten in a week.

Pure autumnal bliss.