The "Mosaic Man"
Chapter 4 — Lunch Bagels: The Heavyweight Delicatessen
A direct homage to East Village guerrilla artist Jim Power, this towering heavyweight is what happens when the traditional New York deli collides with the modern bagel shop. It is a masterclass in structural integrity and flavor balance, stacking the smoky depth of house-smoked turkey and sweet Virginia ham against the unapologetic bite of sharp provolone and spicy brown mustard. Recreating it demands the militant, rapid-fire discipline of a Saturday morning counter worker: drain the tomatoes, ribbon the meats, wrap it tight, and cut it clean.
Before you start
Salt and drain the tomatoes.
Line a small plate with a paper towel, lay the thick tomato slices flat, and sprinkle them lightly with kosher salt to draw out excess moisture and concentrate their umami for at least five minutes.
Halve and optionally scoop the bagel.
Use a sharp serrated knife to slice the bagel perfectly along its equator, lightly scooping out a shallow trench of dough from the top half with your thumbs to create a structural pocket for the produce.
Ingredients
- everything or sesame bagel1 large
- Virginia ham3 oz
- smoked turkey breast3 oz
- sharp provolone cheese slices2 large
- beefsteak tomato slices2 large
- kosher salt1/4 tsp
- iceberg lettuce1/2 cup
- spicy brown deli mustard1 1/2 tbsp
Method
- 01
Build the mustard foundation.
Spread the spicy brown mustard generously and edge-to-edge across the cut side of the bottom bagel half.
- 02
Ribbon the meats.
Do not lay the meat flat; fold the slices of Virginia ham onto the bottom half in looping ribbons to create volume and air pockets, then repeat this exact process with the smoked turkey directly on top.
- 03
Crown with cheese and produce.
Drape the slices of provolone over the turkey, lay the salted and drained tomato slices flat against the cheese, mound the shredded lettuce on top, and press the top half of the bagel firmly down.
- 04
Wrap and slice.
Wrap the entire sandwich tightly in deli foil or parchment paper and use a serrated knife to cut straight down through the center of the package to prevent a structural blowout.
Notes
A note on scooping.
While purists frequently balk at scooping the doughy interior of a bagel, the trench it creates is a highly functional safeguard against ingredients sliding out the sides of a towering, meat-heavy deli build.