This web log is devoted to eating and describing the bacon, egg and cheese on a roll (BECR) sandwiches in New York City. It is a humble food— an American food—and why not devote one’s efforts to that which one is interested. Whether or not you are interested in the BECR as well is arguable, and it may depend less on the content of the food than the quality of my writing, of which I can’t say is anything but amateur, would-be or dilettantish. It's my hope that my prose will improve over time, that it won't sound weighty or overwrought. Regardless, you might be interested in this quest—Quixotic as it might be.
I may give up these efforts, and so be it. As I type, I’m only writing to myself with an eye to what might be. Though this apology exhibits a good deal of self-awareness, I expect the regular posts to be rather straightforward and genuine, although it remains to be seen. The efforts may seem low-tech in the beginning stages, but as with anything, progress and advancements may also reveal themselves in the form of maps, photos, links and such. As for now, much of this will likely be a reading type of blog—as opposed to a blog you'd skim or click through. I don’t actually know if there are such types of blogs but that's what appears in my imagination of what I perceive blogs to be.
This will be my first genuine attempt at blogging, and so will also be a process of self- and tech-discovery. I have also never reviewed food in any capacity other than the thumbs up/down at the dinner table and in my mind. Will I be nuanced? Accurate? Cogent? I’ll try, and I suppose with continued effort, one hopes I’ll improve. What will become of anything is hard to say. But back to the BECR.
Although the average, everyday BECR contains 500 calories and 25 grams of fat, it is one of my favorite breakfast meals. I find that the salty strips of bacon laid upon a fresh, fried egg, topped with sharp cheese and some sweet slices of tomato, sandwiched between a sliced, crusty kaiser roll is a highly enjoyable gastronomic experience. I'm sure you do, too, regardless of any subsequent dietary guilt.
You will find that I typically order a BEC with cheddar cheese or Swiss cheese with some slices of tomato. I do not particularly enjoy American cheese, although I will eat it in preference to no cheese at all if the deli or restaurant establishment doesn’t serve it any other way. I don’t generally request butter on my kaiser roll, nor do I request it be toasted, but I find it tasty if it’s served that way. (Part of the common sense of ordering a BECR is that one shouldn't be too particular about the order—this isn't high dining, needless to say.) I also don’t put ketchup on the sandwich, either, as slices of tomato provide both the acidity and sweetness that I find balances the BECR best.
You will also find that the first few posts are memories of recent visits to delis. I've had the idea of this blog in my head for some weeks now, and I've been taking notes as to practice how I might want this to look. I've finally decided that it's best to just write. Eventually postings will be published shortly after the BECR was eaten. For what it's worth, you will also get a glimpse into my life. More importantly, you will find some of the hidden establishments that serve a great bacon, egg and cheese on a roll. Enjoy!
