Enjoying a bagel and a schmear in Beijing

This is a story filled with holes. That's usually taboo in journalism, because it means questions are unanswered. But read on to understand.

You see, in many ways Beijing, where I now reside, is much like my previous home near New York City. But one thing I've sought since arriving is a good New York bagel. Actually, a bagel and a schmear.

Let me explain. For those who've never had one, a bagel is a plump round bread roll with - yes - a hole in the middle. Its consistency is similar to a hot, fresh pretzel. A schmear? Well, it can be either a noun or a verb, but basically it's a dollop of cream cheese spread over the doughy goodness that is a bagel sliced in half. So you can say, "I need to schmear the cream cheese over the bagel", or at a deli in Manhattan, it's "Gimme a bagel and a schmear."