Top Astoria Bagel Shops. Some of the best, tasty, fresh-baked bagels and organic coffee shops have now opened all over Astoria. Ever since you were a kid, you just couldn't do without them... especially with peanut butter and jelly.

Now you love them for breakfast with egg whites and a touch of butter. You love their delicious diversity, sesame, poppy seed, cinnamon raisin, onion, whole wheat, spelt, everything or plain.
 
You absolutely love them at lunch, with turkey, cheese, tomato and a little honey mustard. You know how good they are. But as you savor every bite: how much do you really know about the bagel?

Bagel History

There's centuries of tradition and craftsmanship behind the bagel. The bagel originated in Krakow Poland way back in 1610. During the 16th Century, this tasty new kind of roll spread in popularity throughout Eastern Europe.
 
Bagels are for the most part, made much the same way as they were a few hundred years ago. If the formula is successful why mess with it? Bagels are a bread product that is shaped by hand into the shape of a ring. The hole in the middle was incidental, not some sharp Polish baker's marketing idea.

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The yeasted wheat dough is boiled in water for a brief period of time, then baked. Various ingredients can be introduced into the process depending on the recipe or the baker's inclination. Barely malt, eggs, butter, sugar, honey are among the options. Bagels were first introduced to American appetites by immigrant Polish Jews. Enterprising and talented, these New World Bakers opened up shop throughout New York City, and then Chicago, to sell their bagels.

Many bakeries throughout NYC, Italian or German owned, began to order bagels from the Polish shops so they could sell them to their customers. Until well into the 20th century the bagel was still considered to be primarily an ethnic food, popular mostly in Urban centers.
 
However, during the 1960's the first family of bagels, the Lenders, changed America's perception of this doughy treat. Bakers, Murray and Harry Lender, introduced automated production and distribution of frozen bagels to the marketplace. Breakfast would never be the same again. The father and son baker/entrepenuers are also credited with creating the time-saving convenience of pre-slicing their packaged bagels.

BAGEL-STYLES

In Astoria and Long Island City, we are used to enjoying a traditional New York-Style Bagel. The bagels you purchase on 30th Avenue or on Broadway, are boiled in water and baked in an oven. It comes out puffy with a moist crust.
 
The Montreal-Style Bagel tends to be smaller, a bit crunchier and rather sweet. The north of our border bagel, is boiled in water that has been sweetened with honey. It's then used by our Canadian friends.

Fast Fact: bagels not only transcend national borders, they are popular in outer space as well. When Canadian born astronaut Gregory Chamitoff was assigned to the 2008 space shuttle mission, he took a batch of sesame seed bagels to the International space station. Bagels are gaining popularity in some Asian markets like Japan.

Japanese variations on the traditional bagel flavors include green tea, chocolate and banana nut. Who knew? No matter how they are eaten around the world, don't neglect to give a thought to the bagel bakers. If you've ever watched shows like cake boss or master chef, or tried it yourself, you'll know just how difficult baking can be. Baking is an art, combining creativity, hard work and skill, with a little chemistry. Ingredients have to be measured out precisely and then blended and baked.

So, the next time you're enjoying that AM bagel and coffee, show some love to the guys and gals who got up way before dawn to get the baking party started. Astoria and LIC is a great ethnic mix of people who love their bagels toasted or not, with lox, mayo or cream cheese. Just where do our neighbors get their bagel fix?

Vitality and Health, Astoria 

At Vitality and Health, on Broadway and 46th Street, you can enjoy an all natural bagel sandwich with organic eggs. John and his team, have a great selection of bagels along with some of the richest and most flavorful coffee in Astoria.

Create, Astoria

In addition to their wonderful and unique lunch and dinner options, CREATE over on 30th Avenue and 36th Street, provides fresh-baked, good on-the-go choices. Besides muffins, high fiber samis and fresh made parfaits, CREATE gives you a great unbleached water bagel in varieties from egg, everything to whole wheat.

CREATE sells their awesome bagels individually or per dozen. You can create your very own bagel-icious sandwich, including organic peanut butter, low fat Philly cream cheese or Nutella.

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Bagel Nosh NYC, Astoria 

At Bagel Nosh NYC they pride themselves on offering old fashioned hand roll bagels. Located at 32-07 Broadway, Bagel Nosh NYC wants to be your neighborhood bagel store. If it's round and tasty, with a hole in the middle, they've got your favorite. And they also carry mini-bagels, bagel sticks, flat bagels and bags of bagel chips. The guys at the Nosh have some really tasty salads to spread on your bagel. You can not go wrong with the simple organic egg salad or the classic tuna salad. There's also chicken, vegetable tuna and baked salmon salads to choose from. Bagel Nosh NYC has a Mon-Fri breakfast special for $2.95, including your choice of two eggs on a bagel or cream cheese and bagel. Both include a small coffee. Bagel Nosh NYC has a great delivery team. From bagels to paninis to omelettes, the Nosh will get lunch or breakfast to your door in no time. Call them at (718) 777-0997.

Bagels On The Ave. Astoria

Bagels on the Ave, at 33-15 30th Avenue, has only been open a few months, but they've already made an impact on the surrounding neighborhood. The decor is modern, bright and it's super clean inside. A perfect setting for the great bagels and sandwiches being served here.
 
At Bagels On The Ave., they carry a line of some really intriguing spreads for your bagel. For breakfast or, really, anytime, you can enjoy spreads like walnut raisin, sun dried tomato, cucumber dill, cream cheese and jelly, scallion cream cheese, among others. Their egg and omelette platters are all served with potatoes and choice of bagel or toast. The kitchen here does overstuffed sandwiches the right way.

Bagels on the Ave. sandwich sensations include the The Kings Roast Beef Bagel Club (with crispy fried onions, sauted mushrooms, tomato and Russian dressing), and the Ruby Reuben (a pile of corned beef topped with Swiss cheese and sauerkraut.) All sandwiches come with french fries and are made with your choice of bagel. Guaranteed: you won't be hungry anymore after you polish one of these sandwiches off. And of course, you can get eggs, cheese, bacon or sausage on a bagel as well as a must-try loaded Western Omelet sandwich. Bagels on the Ave. phone number is (718) 721-0600. Try them once and you will return on a regular basis.