New York is known to have the best bagels around thanks to the use of their tap water. Unfortunately for New York, the American Chemical Society did a study that proved water type has very little to do with bagel quality.

What really makes a bagel stand out is how it was made. The most important processes are letting fresh dough ferment at 40 degrees overnight and boiling the bagel for at least 30 seconds, which locks the liquid inside and expands the interior. This is what gives bagels their delectably soft inside and chewy outside.

And this is exactly what we offer at the Bagel Bakery.

Don’t believe us? Just ask our customer who recently mailed a dozen of our bagels to her son in Germany. The process of making the bagels is key in creating the enjoyable experience we strive to provide.

“The first crack” may not mean what you think it means. It’s actually the first indication that roasting coffee is moving towards the correct roasting level. This is how we know when our coffee is reaching perfection.

We roast our coffee at the shop twice a week to give our customers the freshest experience possible. With our coffee beans coming straight from Guatemala, our coffee is bound to be a one-of-a-kind experience. We only purchase the highest graded level to ensure only the best.

So, if you’re looking for your morning pick-me-up to be an exciting, revitalizing experience, try a cup of our coffee and be sure to listen for the first crack.

The Bagel Bakery is not only a place where you can indulge in delectable bagels, but also a place of community. This business was created to give people a place to meet, socialize and enjoy each other’s company.

We are so fortunate to have such a strong community atmosphere in the restaurant. A former employee, Emily Christianson, came by recently to tell us all about her fiancé, her moving to Colorado and her new job. It’s so nice to remember the relationships that are built here at the Bagel Bakery.

I met Ed Petkus many years ago after he had been eating at the Bagel Bakery for about 10 years. He never failed to strike up a conversation and was always a reminder of why I do what I do.  A few years ago, a failing heart required him to move to an assisted living facility in California, but Ed is very fondly remembered at the Bagel Bakery.

Not only is our goal to continue to make the best bagels, sandwiches and coffee, but also to continue to cultivate a sense of community. I think that that may be our expertise.

A while back we introduced our delicious, new line of cookies and helped create a new definition for the word “manifesto.” We even wrote about the cookies here on these pages.

Our Manifesto Cookies have been such a hit, we’re writing about them again for those who missed it the first time.

This new line of cookies includes ingredients like cage-free eggs, hormone-free dairy, non-GMO flour, real butter and no additives. If sweet cookies are your favorite, try our chocolate chunk, salted caramel or peanut butter flavors. If fruity or savory is more your style, try the lemon blueberry or the oatmeal raisin.

So you can feel good about indulging in our cookies after trying one of our create-your-own salads. After all, everything is good in balance, right?

1. Bagels were created to honor a king – We aren’t the only ones who obsess over delectable bagels, kings did too! Bagel history dates all the way back to 1783 when they were created to honor King John III Sobieski of Poland. According to popular belief, they were honoring him after he protected Austria’s people from an attack by Turkish invaders!
2. Bagels are the only bread that is boiled before baked – Once the bagel dough is shaped into a circle, they are dipped into boiling water for three to five minutes on each side. After that, they are drained and baked for about 10 minutes.
3. The most popular bagel choice plain – Though you may have imagined it to be an “everything” bagel or maybe a blueberry bagel, the most popular of them all is actually plain. The close runner-up is a sesame bagel.
4. The word “bagel” has a meaning – The word “bagel” is derived from the German word “bougel,” meaning “bracelet.” So if you ever see a bagel that isn’t round, it isn’t technically a bagel. “Round with a hole” is a major part of the bagel’s identity.
5. Bagels have made it to space – In June 2008, astronaut Gregory Chamitoff blasted into space with 18 sesame bagels within his cargo. The bagels came from his cousin’s bakery in Montreal.

How does the Bagel Bakery brew such delicious coffee? At least once a year, the owner of the Bagel Bakery, Ken Rembert, travels to Guatemala to import Rembrandt Coffee that is roasted in the store.

Along the way, he gets to meet and interact with the farmers and their families. He donates money for water filters, eyeglasses, school programs and helps to provide computers to various programs there. He gets to see first-hand how the Bagel Bakery positively impacts so many lives in Guatemala.

Recently, the Bagel Bakery has had two roasters and a wholesaler show interest in carrying our green coffee. That’s three more customers for the Bagel Bakery and Rembrandt Coffee, helping to make Ken’s efforts in Guatemala successful.

So if you want to help expand this mission, all you have to do is drink our delicious coffee.

One of the coolest things about the Bagel Bakery is that we get to interact with the best customers every day and connect with them when they come into the shop.

Recently, a customer came in to tell us about her daughter who visits from Austin, Texas. Her mother mails her bagels from our shop on a regular basis to make her feel more at home. It’s amazing to see customers loving our bagels so much that they take them across the country.

Another customer who lives here but is from New Jersey just returned from New York City and said he had to admit that our bagels were better than any he had eaten in the big city. This may have something to do with the fact that we make, boil and bake our bagels on site to create authentic, fresh New York bagels.

Testimonials like these truly show that we are in the business of making bagels, and friends.

While we don’t have an image of a salad on our really cool sign out in front of the shop, we do have that alternative when you get tired of bagels and wraps. And it’s not just any salad – it’s a Create Your Own Salad.

You can choose large or small with a spring, Romaine or spinach base. But then the choosing becomes even more challenging, with 15 toppings, including a variety of protein and veggies and 10 different dressings.

Our Create Your Own Salad is terrific for a lighter-fare lunch. Why not have your next business meeting at the Bagel Bakery and introduce your colleague to the Create Your Own Salad program. You’ll be glad you did.

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Don’t forget – Valentine’s Day will be here before you know it. Think beyond the chocolate box and make this bagel treat for your special someone. Nothing says love like a bagel.

Ingredients:

• 1 Bagel Bakery bagel of your choice
• 2 tablespoons of strawberry cream cheese
• Fresh strawberries, sliced

First, carefully cut the hole of your bagel with a knife into a heart shape. Toast, if desired. Then, spread the cream cheese on both halves of the bagel. Top with fresh strawberry slices and serve.