Growing up in NY-NJ Metro area during the 1960’s-70’s, a common breakfast item was the “Buttered Hard Roll”. How can I describe it aside from it being crusty on the outside, with a smattering of poppy seeds and light and airy on the inside. . . except for the thick layer of butter (usually sweet butter). The roll was then gently wrapped in waxed-paper so as not to crush it. Typically, at a diner, you would order a “Hard roll and coffee regular.” Regular coffee in NJ was with milk and one spoonful of sugar. The flavors worked and thousands were sold each and every day. Maybe tens of thousands.
What they used to look like, but not these days.
I have long since changed to drnking my coffee black and it seems that the rolls aren’t crunchy, they are wrapped in plastic and it is very unlikely that they are spread with actual butter, (see refernces in the article).
Ann Althouse had a column that plays off a NYT article that you will appreciate if you are from that area and older than 40.
You can read Ann’s column here and take a walk down memory lane.
Ann’s column includes a link to Ode to the Buttered Hard Roll.
What they look like today…not nearly as nice.
I remember them, yum.
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I haven’t had a decent buttered roll since I moved to Fl. over twenty years ago, except when I go up to visit my family. There is nothing like a New York buttered roll.☺☺☺
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