Aside from its creamy deliciousness, as well as the fact that it is a bagel’s best friend, many people do not know much about cream cheese. In fact, cream cheese has a very long history, being first thought of as early as 1583 in England. The concept did not leave the country until 1651, when the French discovered the concept. Even more surprising is the fact that the first recorded recipe of cream cheese did not come until 1754 in England.

U.S. cities such as Philadelphia and New York City did not gain their reputation for producing outstanding examples of cream cheese until the 1820s. At that time, distribution of cream cheese was typically in very small quantities because of the fact that cream cheese was most commonly made on family farms. It was not until 1873 that cream cheese was first mass produced, thanks to William A. Lawrence, a New Yorker. Just four years later, in 1877, he created the first brand of the cheese spread, and officially developed that name for it. The brand consisted of a silhouette of a cow, next to the words, “Neufchatel & Cream.”

Today, for it to be considered “cream cheese” according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it has to include at least 33% milk fat, have a moisture content that is greater than 55%, and reach a pH range between 4.4 and 4.9.  This high fat content has not stopped cream cheese from being consumed by billions of people each day, who just cannot resist the creamy texture and deliciously incomparable taste. Cream cheese has exponentially developed over the years, to now include hundreds of different flavors, ranging from chocolate to jalapeño pepper.

Stop by the Bagel Bakery today to try our homemade, and skillfully crafted version of this great invention!

We love to spread cream cheese all over them, we love to share them and we love to enjoy them with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, but there is a lot we don’t know about them. Here are five facts about our beloved bagels that you probably didn’t know.

1. It has to be round to be considered a bagel

The word Bagel comes from the German word “bougel,” meaning “bracelet,” and by way of the Yiddish “beygl” which means “ring.” So, if it is not in the shape of a ring or bracelet, it is NOT a bagel.

2. There IS a such thing as a Buzzed Bagel

Have you ever found yourself in a rush and wishing that you can have an all-in-one breakfast that provides nutrition AND a morning boost? Well, thanks to molecular biologist Robert Bohannon, who invented the Buzzed Bagel, you can have your Bagel and your Coffee too!! The Buzzed Bagel is a bagel that actually contains the equivalent of two cups of coffee!

3. Bagels are the only bread that are boiled before baked

Unlike any other type of bread known to man, bagels are dipped in boiling water for approximately 3-5 minutes before going in the oven to get their golden exterior.

4. Bagels went to space!

Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff brought 18 sesame bagels from a bakery in Montreal, Canada with him on his journey to space in 2008! The chewy and delicious breads made it along the entire journey in the Space Shuttle and inspired great ideas for American astronauts to follow suit!

5. The hole in the middle is NOT just decoration

Although bagels are shaped to match their name, the hole in the middle serves a very important purpose. The hole increases the bagel’s surface area and allows for more crust formation and helps it cook faster. Additionally, bagel sellers used to place them on a wooden rod and sell them in city streets, so the hole was very helpful for that as well.

Now that your knowledge and appreciation of bagels was enhanced, stop by the Bagel Bakery and enjoy one of our homemade bagels!

Today, August 15^th, is National Relaxation Day! While it may not be so easy to celebrate this holiday the way you would like to since it is in the middle of the week, there are still options for you!

First and foremost, start your day off with the Bagel Bakery! Come on in, grab a bagel and a cup of freshly brewed coffee and take a moment to just…. RELAX! And then, while you’re at work or school, put yourself in the place where you are most relaxed, maybe the beach, or on a hike, or the Bagel Bakery!

During lunch, come back to see us! Grab your favorite sandwich, and maybe even a second cup of coffee, check your tweets and texts and store all of the stressful stuff in the back of your mind! There’s nothing better than eating your favorite food with a clear mind and good company (the Bagel Bakery staff!).

Finally, after your day is complete, you have the rest of the evening to just relax with your family and do whatever you want, even if that involves doing nothing at all!

Once again, Happy Relaxation Day from all of us at the Bagel Bakery! We can’t wait to celebrate with you.

School is right around the corner, which means more and more Gators are coming back to Gainesville from vacation, or study abroad or visiting home. What better way to welcome yourself back to The Swamp than by coming to the Bagel Bakery and ordering our Gator Club.

This Menu Item Spotlight is definitely a fan favorite, full of mouth-watering roasted turkey, deliciously fresh ham, lettuce, tomato and your favorite slice of cheese, all on your choice of bagel or focaccia bread.  For just under $8, you get a delicious meal, and the perfect opportunity to celebrate the beginning of another great school year.

Stop by the Bagel Bakery today, bring your closest friends and family and talk about what a great summer you had, and what a great school year lies ahead over a Gator Club!

School is just around the corner, and there is no better way to kiss the summer goodbye than with a home-cooked brunch for all of your family and friends! We here at the Bagel Bakery love entertaining guests with food and good company, so we’d love to be a part of the fun and give you some ides that will make your brunch one to remember and leave you doing minimal preparations!

First, for an easy appetizer to hold your guests over, serve coffee from the Bagel Bakery, paired with some of our delicious muffins! Your guests will go crazy for any of our chewy and sweet and delicious muffins!

For the actual meal, here are three recipe ideas that are sure to please everyone!

1. Bagel French Toast: Order one (or more) bags o’ bagels from the Bagel Bakery, cut them horizontally to make four slices out of one bagel, and use them in your favorite French toast recipe. Top with your favorite fruits, syrup and some whipped cream and the rest is history!!
2. Bagel Egg Sandwiches: Start off by scrambling some eggs, and frying some bacon and then put it to the side for a few minutes. Then, grab another bag o’ bagels from the Bagel Bakery, slice them in half and line the bottom half of about six bagels on a baking pan. Lightly coat each bagel with butter, and then pile them high with the scrambled eggs, bacon and your choice of cheese. Next, cover each bagel with its top half, and bake in the oven until the cheese is melted and the bagel is toasted. Finally, once they are out of the oven, separate them and serve to your guests! This is a sandwich that you’ll love to make because it is easy, fast and delicious!
3. Bagel Quiche: Time to use yet another Bag o’ Bagels from the Bagel Bakery. Slice only the very top of the bagel off horizontally, and then hollow out the insides. Fill the bagels with your favorite quiche recipe, bake them and then serve to your guests!

With these three quick and easy recipes, you will officially be deemed Brunch Royalty! We at the Bagel Bakery can’t wait to hear how it turns out!