Fischler on Tonelli Becoming an Islander Quick Quiz: Name the very last place you'd expect to find the Islanders' official orange and blue colors. Okay -- while you're thinking -- here's the answer: ON A BAGEL, where else? I kid you not. Donald Rosner [https://twitter.com/donaldrosner?s=21&t=IRIFf8wmlEpx9YxSM0Kyjg], 42, not only created the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/ilya-sorokin-new-york-islanders-training-camp-nhl-media] technicolor bagel, he's made a business of it. And, if you don't believe me, check out Blue Line Deli & Bagel [https://twitter.com/bluelinedeli719?s=21&t=IRIFf8wmlEpx9YxSM0Kyjg]s (BLD&B) on 719 West Jericho Turnpike in Huntington. you'll find everything from a "Burkie" -- as in Brendan Burke -- to a "Stanwich," (pastrami with sauerkraut on club). That, by the way, is The Maven's own creation. Now a robust three years old, BLD&B doubles as both an eatery and NHL schmoozery because Rosner loves hockey talk -- preferably about the Isles, but other teams can be included -- as much as making a buck out of a puck. "I love focusing on the game I love so much," Rosner asserts, "and that includes even talking to Rangers fans. I figure that it doesn't matter which team you like, just come in and let's talk hockey." Rosner's establishment is an outgrowth of his family's Manhattan-based business, Bagel Boss. He worked there for eight years when, suddenly, a brainstorm hit him in the palate; why not a Nassau County bagel bastion with an aromatically strong Islanders theme? When Donald's mother tipped him off that a deli had closed in Huntington, his donut-shaped dream turned to reality. He chased down the establishment, bought it, and his dream was realized, Ergo: BLD&B. Rosner: "I knew that it was my destiny to do this. Once I moved in, I fixed up the place and hung up every NHL team logo. Then, I gave it a total Islanders touch. I knew we would do alright whether we drew hockey fans or not because we had good food, a clean place, and great people who could just come in and talk hockey." [gallery ids="5348,5349,5350,5351"] The venerable culinary theme -- give 'em and let 'em eat -- reverberates throughout Don's place as well as UBS Center where a BLD&B branch has made an Isles home game even more delicious. UBS notables such as MSG Networks' Shannon Hogan, Butch Goring and Brendan Burke have become regular customers. But it was Brendan -- the tv play by play voice of the Islanders -- who inspired "named" deli sandwiches. "One day, Brendan showed up with his wife," Rosner remembers, "and she wanted a sandwich. I wrote down 'Burkie,' and decided to make it a 'special.' After we posted that fact, a bunch of people wanted one, and that started a chain of new sandwiches. "It led me to honor our heroes with sandwiches in their names. We started with (Isles co-owner) Jon Ledecky and writer Brian Compton. After that came 'The White Whale' -- for our favorite goalie, Ilya Sorokin." Rosner's personal Islanders mania is rooted in a never-to-be-forgotten playoff series with Toronto that featured one of the most dramatic moments in franchise history. "It was when Shawn Bates scored on a penalty shot," Rosner smiles in reflection. "The Old Barn erupted, and I wound up having chills up and down my spine for, like, ten minutes. At that moment, I got really hooked." Donald's favorite players include Pat LaFontaine, Bob Nystrom, Mike Bossy, Pierre Turgeon, and Rick DiPietro, among others. "As for the present club," he adds, "it's hard to pick just one, but Casey Cizikas, Matt Martin, and, now, Bo Horvat rank among them." For epicures who really care about cooking, Donald is ready to reveal how the multi-color Islanders' bagel actually is baked. "We make two different doughs -- one blue and one orange. Then, they are rolled together to form beautiful hand-made bagels. And, by the way, we also put people's names on our bagels. Just between us, I even did one like that for Barry Trotz!" Actually, Rosner's bagel menu almost stretches from here to Mineola. See if any of these suit your palate: Plain, Whole Wheat With Everything; Sesame, Cinnamon-Raisin, Egg, Everything, Pumpernickel; Islanders, Salt, Garlic, Onion, Bialy, Rainbow, and Oat Bran. And if you're wondering how The Master Of The Round Things defines his edible dream-come-true, he concludes: "I've always wanted to be involved in hockey in some way. Blue Line Deli And Bagels is as close as I ever will be able to get to it." Then, a pause and a grin: "This is one 'dream' that I can eat and sell every day!"
