What makes the bagels in New York City different than the average American bagel found in anyother city or town? (Portland: ski resort, 2015)

[Rancho Cucamonga Dentist]

Ever since i was a child, i'v constantly been hearing how New York is home to the best bagels on Earth. But can they really be that different than the bagels i myself pick up from The Ralph's Club bakery? I really gotta make a trip out to the East Coast and try out for myself

Feel free to also comment below places i "must" try out as a bagel noob.

[roseba]

The theory about our bagels has to do with the water, which is considered amongst the best tasting in the country.

I had bagels on my way to a ski resort in Portland. The bagels were awful and didn't even look like bagels. I'd take Lender's frozen bagels over those.

H&H was reknowned for their bagels but alas, went out of business. (For charges unrelated to the quality, but just being criminal...)

Perhaps one of these places ship like H&H did. The 10 Best Bagel Shops In NYC: Gothamist

[Henna]

The process of making a NY bagel involves boiling. I'm pretty sure many other bagels don't include boiling in the process at all. I'm guessing that's the difference.

Chew On This: The Science Of Great NYC Bagels (It's Not The Water) : The Salt : NPR

[roseba]

Originally Posted by Henna

The process of making a NY bagel involves boiling. I'm pretty sure many other bagels don't include boiling in the process at all. I'm guessing that's the difference.

Chew On This: The Science Of Great NYC Bagels (It's Not The Water) : The Salt : NPR

I would argue, there is no such thing as a bagel if it is NOT boiled.

[stormgal]

No, it *is* the water. It's also the reason NYC Pizza tastes great.

[westindianguy]

bagels are thick and nasty and make me feel sick

[vision33r]

It's gotta have that chewiness inside and crispy outside. It should not taste airy inside like a bread, Lender's bagels taste like bread dough.

The other thing is the sourdough taste has to be right not taste like white bread.

[Principle Lewis]

It’s in the water.

[Rancho Cucamonga Dentist]

Thanks for the reply everyone! (: exactly the answers i was looking for.

Is there any particular borough that has a higher concentration of "bagel culture"? And do people usually buy them from food carts or inside businesses with leased building space?

I'm going to assume that Manhattan is the "inventor" of the bagel craze with all pedestrians rushing to work during rushhour, therefore bagels are easier to grab and go, possibly even walk while you eatting without making a mess or holding too much food.

[ughhnyc]

The water mineralization profile of NYC can be replicated anywhere in country, much the same way that Brewers replicate British Burton water for their beers.

Whether or not a bagel maker knows how to, or takes the time to create the proper water profile for their bagels is up to them. But it's not difficult.