The bacon, egg and cheese sandwich is a bodega staple, prized for its simplicity. However the beloved breakfast merchandise is getting expensive, as the price of eggs climbs.
The United Bodegas of America is reducing the value by reducing a nook: utilizing liquid egg substitute to make the traditional sandwiches. The concept, which originated at La Bonita Deli & Grocery within the Bronx, will drop their customary value for a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich from $6 to $4.99.
“Bodegas have figured it out,” stated Fernando Mateo, the UBA spokesman. “We don’t’ need rocket scientists. We don’t need people not knowing when the bird flu is going to be over and when egg prices are going to come down. We’re going to do what we have to do, in order to fulfill our commitment to the communities we serve.”
So how does the liquid egg substitute work? A cook dinner confirmed NBC New York what it appears like, pouring what quantities to 1 egg from a carton (not an egg carton, thoughts you, however one thing resembling a carton of juice or milk) onto the griddle. The carton it comes from comprises about 18 eggs.
Mateo causes that so long as that quart of liquid egg prices lower than a dozen shelled eggs, bodegas will have the ability to preserve their sandwich price under $5.
“When we can save them a dollar on a sandwich, that’s a lot. That’s a dollar they could use to buy other things,” stated Mateo.
Nonetheless, because the yellowish liquid sizzled on the griddle behind the bodega counter on Wednesday, some Bronx residents strolling by alongside 183rd Road had been skeptical. Would the style and texture of their egg and cheese sandwich be compromised?
“That’s like cheating the community. Nobody wants liquid eggs,” stated Quaison Richardson. “If I’m going to pay for an egg sandwich, I want the egg. I want you to crack the egg, not get it out of a container.”
“That’s nonsense, using the egg beaters,” stated Shavar McFadden, who has taken to purchasing single eggs on the counter and solely shopping for them when he wants them.
The price of eggs has greater than doubled in comparison with final 12 months and will leap one other 41% in 2025, based on the U.S. Division of Agriculture. The USDA has rolled out a $1 billion plan to fight rising egg costs.
Again within the Bronx, the UBA says bodegas are proactively developing with cost-saving options for his or her clients. And if the value of liquid egg containers climbs?
“Well, we will cross that bridge when we get there,” says Mateo. “Right now, let’s celebrate what we have.”
What they’ve, are cheaper bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches for individuals who can’t abdomen paying greater costs.
