We all know the regulars. Those that walk into a bar or restaurant and are greeted like Norm from "Cheers." But then there are the regular orders by the regulars, which in turn becomes "You want your regular?"
I don't frequent my pal Peter Shelsky's smoked fish emporium and delicatessen all that often - maybe once or twice a month - but I've been going there long enough that I have a regular off-menu order that the counter staff knows is my go-to.
The particulars: a scooped sesame bagel, toasted, smeared with plain cream cheese, filled with smoked sable, a paper thin slice or two of belly lox, slices of ripe tomato and onion. The beauty above is a variation on the theme, served on a toasted bialy. (Fantastic, and yet I'm sure I'll go back to the sesame bagel standby next time around.)
I get the sense that Peter is disappointed that I don't mix it up and try The Tribute bagel sandwich, made with whitefish salad, horseradish cream cheese, and wasabi tobiko, or order an El Vicente, which stacks sturgeon on top of plain cream cheese with fresh jalapeno peppers and sour pickle on a bagel or bialy - but he knows that I adore my "regular." Now, he just needs to name it after me and officially get it up on the sandwich menu!
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