MONEY CAN BUY HAPPINESS
And it only cost two dollars
Happiness lives in the little moments. There are monumental events in our lives which bring us great joy, but true delight resides in the day-to-day occurrences which make us smile. Be it the birds chirping, a baby’s laugh, or randomly hearing your favorite song in the store — it’s the simple things that light up the day. For me, joy comes on a roll.
About a month after I moved to Brooklyn, a friend of mine was in town for a visit. I met with her and her friends for dinner and drinks. Someone asked me what I liked most about New York thus far.
“Oh,” I replied instantly. “I love that I can get an egg and cheese at any time of the day.”
“Really,” one curmudgeonly young woman questioned. “If getting an egg sandwich is your favorite thing about New York, I think you need to reassess your priorities in life.”
Uhhh… no.
My affinity for eggs is no secret. I once landed a job because I talked nonstop about eggs for 20 minutes. I’ve angrily swerved through the streets of San Francisco while screaming at my buddy about how ordering eggs over-hard is a waste of time and a waste of an egg. If I live in a city where one of my favorite things is available to me all day, everyday, I think my priorities are just fine.
Pizza is often touted as the official food of New York, but I’d make the case for the egg and cheese. From every corner bodega, to gourmet sandwich shops, to Michelin-starred restaurants, everyone serves an egg sando. And it makes sense: it’s a simple, cost-effective, known commodity which is hard to screw up. I’ve had plenty of bad pizza. I haven’t had a terrible egg and cheese.
Therein lies the beauty of the egg sandwich. It requires three ingredients — a soft, toasted roll; hot, seasoned eggs; and melty cheese — and is near-impossible to ruin. Often starting at two dollars and easily customizable — add bacon or sausage, avocado or tomato, order scrambled or sunny eggs — it’s affordable, transportable, and delicious any time of day. As a drunken, late-night meal, a quick breakfast on the go, or a midday snack, the egg and cheese shines in a cluttered mob of admirable street foods. Pizza, hot dogs, and gyros all hold their own in the pantheon of New York staples. But, at $2 a pop, happiness can be yours — anytime, any place. Hot, melty, and on a roll.
