She plans to dig into some of the current controversies in the bagel-making business with each of the chefs: To toast or not to toast? How much schmear is too much schmear? Honey or malt syrup in the boiling water? The event will be hosted by Liz Alpern, co-founder of the artisanal Jewish food company Gefilteria. “We really wanted to push back against the idea that there’s one great bagel,” said Rebecca Guber, the founding director of The Neighborhood, “and really just embrace the idea that there are many great bagels and they are different and wonderful.” Kamin will be joined by food historian and co-founder of The Wandering Chew Kat Romanow, who will bring with her samples from Montreal’s iconic bagel shops Fairmount Bagel and St-Viateur Bagel. Guests will enjoy samples of bagels and spreads from each bakery, while food experts from each city will explain the history and culture of their local bagels. “The event is really just to explore the different bagels and talk about them and think about why they’re different, what the difference is, what they symbolize in terms of the food culture of Montreal and New York and really to celebrate both cities,” Kamin said. The programming will allow them to talk with guests, and each other, in an informal but informational setting about their own processes and how they’ve developed the ultimate bagel recipe. It’s not a competition - bagelmakers inspired by both cities say they are excited to embrace their carb-loving cultures. Representing Montreal bagels - smaller than the New York standard and usually boiled with honey to achieve a sweeter chew - will be Noah Bernamoff from New York’s Black Seed Bagels chain, which bakes with “ techniques borrowed from Montreal.”Īlso present will be Melanie Frost, the chief operating officer of Manhattan’s Ess-a-Bagel Elyssa Heller, the founder of Edith’s in Williamsburg, and Peter Shelsky of Shelsky’s, the Brooklyn deli and appetizing store. Whether to settle the argument or just to explore the differences, MOFAD is teaming up next week with the Museum of Jewish Montreal and The Neighborhood, the Brooklyn-based Jewish cultural group, in what could be the most bagel-centric event of the summer: Montreal and New York bagel makers will face off at Gertie, a hip Jewish restaurant in Williamsburg, for “Down the Bagel Hole: A Celebration of Jewish Breadways.”įor a $40 ticket, guests will be able to sample and learn about bagels and schmears from both cities while they sip on house-made cocktails inspired by Dr.
So do Montrealers, who hail from perhaps the only other city with a comparable bagel culture, according to Sari Kamin from the Museum of Food and Drink in Manhattan. ( New York Jewish Week) - New Yorkers defend their favorite bagels and bagel shops the way some people defend their children.