To think about bagels on the weekend is kind of a strange thought. Bagels are usually the "On the go" breakfast for me. When you work a 9-5 job during the work week, picking up a bagel in the morning and stuffing it in your face on the subway is actually very common.
But, it is Saturday so we do need a Food war. New Yorkers love their bagels. There are a handful of deli's and bagel shops in the city. Meanwhile, a lot of people don't even know our neighbor up North is also known for this breakfast delicacy.
The two most prominent styles of the bagel in North America are indeed the Montreal and New York style bagel. It is only fair to see why they are up against each other in this week's Food war.
New Yorkers are serious when it comes to their bagels. Everyone has their preference and New York is ready to cater to it. The New York styled bagel is pretty epic. It contains salt and malt and is boiled in water before baking in an oven. The taste? Very recognizable. They are usually puffy in size with a moist center, but a crunchy edge.
You can find bagels almost anywhere. Some great places are Pick a Bagel, H&H Bagels and Ess-a-Bagel. These are very popular tourist attractions with lots of great selections.
Montreal-style bagels kind of happened by accident. Upon my visit last year, my Lonely Planet guide recommended this bagel shop for being a famous attraction. In contrast to the New York-style bagel, the Montreal bagel is smaller, sweeter and denser, with a larger hole. They are hand-made and baked in a wood-fire oven. It contains malt, egg and no salt and are boiled in honey-sweetened water before baked in the oven.
Kind of an awesome process, right? I took a short video of bagel making at Fairmount Bagel, a well known spot in Montreal.
If you are even in Montreal, you should pay a visit to Fairmount Bagel. Since 1919, they have been hand making bagels and are still family owned.
Unfortunately, the Montreal bagel is almost unknown in the northeastern U.S., since the New York bagel is so prominent.
Although I was pleased with the taste of the Montreal bagel, it just wasn't the right bagel for me. It is a good bagel to have once in a while, but for me, I love my New York bagels. (Especially with strawberry cream cheese)
Who makes the better bagel, Montreal or New York? What do you like on your bagel?
I'm new to bagels, only ever had four in my life and they were plain. Can't say I ever plan on going to Canada though, a bagel is a bagel to me.
Montreal bagels sound much better! I should try it next time.
Wow. You just blew my mind. I had no idea the bagel making process was so complex. It makes sense, I guess, considering people are incredibly complex about their bagel preferences. I myself go through bagel "phases," though I've never ventured into the world of sweetened bagels...I think I'll def consider it next time I get bored with my on-the-go breakfast of the moment!
About Me: Editor of Trip Crazed: A blog devoted to all your unique travel stories! I live, love, and breathe anything and everything related to travel. Traveling and Writing are my two passions in life. I want to see everything this world has to offer. My goal is to go backpacking sometime around 2010 so I can share my insight of the world with the world! Until then, I'll be Trip Crazed =)
Comments (5)
I'm new to bagels, only ever had four in my life and they were plain. Can't say I ever plan on going to Canada though, a bagel is a bagel to me.
Montreal bagels sound much better! I should try it next time.
Wow. You just blew my mind. I had no idea the bagel making process was so complex. It makes sense, I guess, considering people are incredibly complex about their bagel preferences. I myself go through bagel "phases," though I've never ventured into the world of sweetened bagels...I think I'll def consider it next time I get bored with my on-the-go breakfast of the moment!
montreal bagel ;)
Montreal bagels all the way...