In much the same way as other iconic foods, the history of the bagel is shrouded in myth and mystery. Some food historians believe its history spans back as far as 600 years ago. However, the reason for its distinctive ring shape still causes much speculation. In the modern day, the bagel is now one of America's most beloved foods, and is the highest selling baked product in North America today. Furthermore, since 1995, bagel sales have increased by 500%. It seems that America's love affair with the bagel is growing all the time, and it looks set to remain one of the staples of American diets for a very long time to come. And ask almost anyone you meet and they will agree, NY Bagel is the best bagel around.
It is no wonder then that fast-food chains such as the NY Bagel Cafe and Deli franchise have seen huge growth over the past ten years. The franchise currently operates around 30 stores in the US, with a further fifty outlets currently under development and scheduled to open in the coming year. So where did it all start for the iconic bagel? One of the less contested facts is its European Jewish origins. The word bagel comes from the Yiddish word beygal, meaning ring or bracelet. One of the most openly circulated suppositions is that it is modeled on a stirrup to commemorate the victory of Poland's King John Sobieski 111 over the Ottoman Empire in 1683. The fact that the German word beugal, meaning stirrup, is so close to its modern incarnation helps add fuel to these claims. However, historians since then have refuted these claims, suggesting that in fact the ring shape may date back earlier than this time.
Another floated myth regarding its shape claims that it is derived from the pretzel, another popular Jewish food that was certainly being produced in Poland in the 14th century. Others hint at practical reasons. Due to the comparatively primitive baking methods employed at the time, while baking the bread the center often didn't cook as quickly as the rest of the dough. Therefore, the simple solution for the Jewish bakers of the time was to remove the middle to ensure for a more even baking process. Fortunately, given the state-of-the-art facilities at each and every NY Bagel, ensuring a well-baked, consistently-satisfying bagel should be taken as a given. Indeed, for NY Bagel, the secrets for fast food success depend as much on the ingredients and the cooking expertise as they do on marketing and innovation.
So, whichever story you choose to believe regarding the 'birth of the bagel,' the internet is rich with resources, speculation and myths about the history of this most versatile of foods. One thing is for sure though - in modern times it has quite rightly earned itself the title of King of Baked Products. Why not treat yourself to a breakfast today?
It is no wonder then that fast-food chains such as the NY Bagel Cafe and Deli franchise have seen huge growth over the past ten years. The franchise currently operates around 30 stores in the US, with a further fifty outlets currently under development and scheduled to open in the coming year. So where did it all start for the iconic bagel? One of the less contested facts is its European Jewish origins. The word bagel comes from the Yiddish word beygal, meaning ring or bracelet. One of the most openly circulated suppositions is that it is modeled on a stirrup to commemorate the victory of Poland's King John Sobieski 111 over the Ottoman Empire in 1683. The fact that the German word beugal, meaning stirrup, is so close to its modern incarnation helps add fuel to these claims. However, historians since then have refuted these claims, suggesting that in fact the ring shape may date back earlier than this time.
Another floated myth regarding its shape claims that it is derived from the pretzel, another popular Jewish food that was certainly being produced in Poland in the 14th century. Others hint at practical reasons. Due to the comparatively primitive baking methods employed at the time, while baking the bread the center often didn't cook as quickly as the rest of the dough. Therefore, the simple solution for the Jewish bakers of the time was to remove the middle to ensure for a more even baking process. Fortunately, given the state-of-the-art facilities at each and every NY Bagel, ensuring a well-baked, consistently-satisfying bagel should be taken as a given. Indeed, for NY Bagel, the secrets for fast food success depend as much on the ingredients and the cooking expertise as they do on marketing and innovation.
So, whichever story you choose to believe regarding the 'birth of the bagel,' the internet is rich with resources, speculation and myths about the history of this most versatile of foods. One thing is for sure though - in modern times it has quite rightly earned itself the title of King of Baked Products. Why not treat yourself to a breakfast today?