I love what you do here Robin, but sometimes I have to /rolleyes at you...why must you try so hard?
So, not only can you not get a Bagel in Louisville, you now can't even get one in New York anymore? Where can you get one, then? It's truly a shame they quit making them correctly in NYC once you moved away, eh
I know you lived there for a bit...but I've been to NYC 9 times in the past 2.5 years...basically on foodie expeditions, and I can promise you there are plenty of worthwhile bagels to be had. In fact, they're pretty much ALL good. They're bagels. Are some better than others...? Sure, just like anything else.
What makes a damn bagel so special? It's boiled/baked bread, smothered with butter, "an inch of cream cheese" , lox, smoked sturgeon/herring...whatever your fancy......like pizza, but different. It's bread. Some do it better/different, but are any of them really that bad, or below your "taste"? Just this past trip I had EssABagel, Lox at Barney Greengrass & Russ & Daughters, and a few "generic" bagels from various cafes & street carts....I enjoyed them all.
Likewise, I like your greasy .99 corner slice at 2 Bros...and I've had Difara, Lombardis, Paulie Gees, Artichoke, Grimaldis, Best Pizza, Robertas, Motorino, Keste, Co., Don Antonio, John's, Joe's on Carmine, Bleeker St Pizza, Adrienne's, Patsy's, Tottono's, Lucali....and too many others to name. I'd guess you probably remember a neighborhood joint from your time time there in the 90s that would put ALL these legendary places to "shame"...just like your bagels.
Again, sometimes it just seems like you try too hard.
Otherwise, keep up the good work.