Union Street Bakery

I had made plans to go to the Market with our Artist In Resident T. Foley for her last croissant in Rochester, but I had to bail at the last minute to meet the furnace repair man; Apparently, 30 years is pushing it for a gas furnace. I got to work around 11 and as I walked up the stairs I was greeted by the warm and comforting smells of breakfast. A welcome change from my cold house this morning.

When I got to my office door I saw the plastic bag hanging from the handle. BREAKFAST WAS WAITING FOR ME! I quickly made my way to my desk and opened up the bag and styrofoam container and was greeted by a hearty looking egg sandwich. I dove in while it was still holding on to the heat of the grill and it was fantastic! The fried egg and American cheese were melded together, the plentiful bacon was thick, salty and flavorful, and the roll was...an honest to goodness roll. Firm but supple, supportive but not unyielding. We should all have this in our lives. A few more frantic bites and it was gone.

I walked over to the studio and found Teresa (the aforementioned T.) to thank her for bringing back the sandwich after I cancelled on her. Our plan was to go to Flour City Bread Company to get her last croissant in town, but that's not where the sandwich came from. "Eh, they didn't have a sign and I didn't feel like asking so I went down to Union Street." She asked about the breakfast sandwich options which turned out to be either ham or bacon. "What's good today?"
"They're both good!"
"Chef's choice then!"
The guy behind the counter chose bacon and, as I mentioned, it was good.

I swear I tried the sandwich at Union Street early on in this venture and was sorely disappointed that the bread was a smushy hard roll so I've avoided it since, even though people have been suggesting I go there. I just assumed you were all nuts. My apologies. So, either my memory is confused or they decided to step up their egg sandwich game. Either way, I'd happily revisit this sandwich.

Thanks again, Teresa!

Union Street Bakery
4 Public Market, Rochester, 14609
Sandwich cost: $4.50 (we think)
Sandwich rating: That is a top-notch breakfast sandwich

Scott's II

I was just coming off of a stomach bug and had been eating nothing but soup and crackers for three days and needed something more substantial in me, especially if this was going to be the start of my holiday shopping. The Public Market seemed like as good a place as any to get a tree and have breakfast.

I have no idea where Scott's I is but I do know that by the Railroad Street entrance to the Market, between Cherry's European and The Empanada Stop, is my favorite food shack: Scott's II. Behind the plywood and plexi winter walls sit the stools, steel counters, and no-frills open kitchen of the stand. We ordered two sandwiches (all you have to say), coffee and juice, and took a seat.

They've changed their rolls since the last time I've been there and was pleasantly surprised to not get a hard roll but instead a dense, chewy semi-rectangular roll for the fried egg and white American cheese to soak into (given this being my first day back on the eating horse I opted out of any meat.) That's a good sandwich, better than I remember, actually: lightly greasy, the egg neither hard nor soft, substantial bread that was grilled but not dripping with butter or margarine (though if it were grilled a bit longer it would be just about perfect).

Scott's II, Rochester Public Market
Sandwich cost: 3.00
Rating: A solid breakfast sandwich