Not too long ago, I popped into Boulevard Bread Company for a bialy, headed home, and paired it with some turkey salad for lunch. Truthfully, the bialy was somewhat bland and just lacking in texture. So, I wrote about it.
Then, I received many comments from readers including this question: How could I not get the onion bialy as a smoked salmon sandwich?
So … I went back, ordered it, and here we are.
This turned out to be a wise decision, as it truly was one of the better sandwiches I’ve eaten in Little Rock. The greatness lies in its simplicity, combining a few basic, quality ingredients in a fashion that allows each one to stand out, while simultaneously elevating the overall product.
The onion bialy was slathered with cream cheese, topped with a heavy hand of smoked salmon, and finished off with some capers, red onion and lettuce. This combination of ingredients is no stranger to the sandwich world, as it has been done time and time again, but the meticulous construction of Boulevard’s smoked salmon bialy is what separated it from so many I’ve eaten in the past. Burying the dots of salty capers within the cream cheese so they wouldn’t fall out during consumption was a brilliant move, as was griddle-toasting the inside of the bialy to create a wonderfully crispy texture. In the end, the subtle taste of the bialy proved to be an excellent platform for the more intensely-flavored ingredients, and I think that was the point made by readers.
This sandwich wasn’t overwhelming in size, but that’s one of the reasons it was so satisfyingly delicious and ideal for either breakfast, brunch or lunch. Pair it with a cup of Boulevard’s coffee, and you’ve got yourself a meal.