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Writer's pictureCafe Brunch Budapest

Tasty Facts About Bagels That Will Help You Honor National Bagel Day

Updated: Mar 17, 2023

When many people walk into Cafe Brunch, there is one thing they are after: the perfect grilled bagel sandwich. 🥯 There's no stopping the deliciousness that bagels bring to a meal but next Saturday, Jan. 15, it doesn't matter how you like to eat your bagel as long as you eat one to celebrate National Bagel Day. And while you're chewing on that yummy round treat, take a moment to reflect on what makes this day so special with some facts about bagels that may help you win the next trivia night.🤯



  • It has to be round to be considered a bagel.

The word Bagel comes from the German word “bougel,” meaning “bracelet,” and by way of the Yiddish “beygl” which means “ring.” So, if it is not in the shape of a ring or bracelet, it is NOT a bagel.


  • Bagels could be named for 🏇riding gear.

When it comes to the origin of the bagel, the jury is out. But one of the most accepted stories is that of a Polish general named Jan Sobieski. When the good general saved Vienna from a Turkish invasion in 1683, the townspeople clung to his stirrups and he rode through town. As a tribute to his heroism, the king commissioned a baker to make a bread in the shape of his stirrup, called a breugel.


  • Bagels were a push present.🤰

Adding to the mystery of the bagel's history, is a printed mention that dates back to 1610, when the Community Regulations of Krakow, Poland declared bagels to be given as a gift to women who had just delivered a child.👶


  • The hole has a purpose.

Why do bagels have holes in them? Because they're grown-up Cheerios.🥣 Kidding! The hole in the middle of your bagel is no mistake. In fact, this bread was baked with a hole so vendors could slide them on to dowel rods, making it easy to transport them to wherever they would be selling their bagel that day.🚶‍♂️ Additionally, the hole increases the bagel’s surface area and allows for more crust formation and helps it cook faster.



  • Old-fashioned bagel baking was a four-man job.

Due to the bagel’s unique multi-step cooking process, bagel bakeries usually employed men to produce the goods assembly line-style: Two men rolled and shaped the dough, a “kettleman” boiled the bagels, and an “oven man” ensured they were baked to perfection.


  • Bagels are the only bread that are boiled before baked.

Unlike any other type of bread known to man, bagels are dipped in boiling water for approximately 3-5 minutes before going into the oven to get their golden exterior.


  • Bagels have made it to space.🚀

It's safe to say that the treats from Fairmount Bagels in Montreal are out of this world.🛸 In June 2008, Canadian-born astronaut Gregory Chamitoff boarded Discovery for a 14-day flight into space. Accompanying him? Eighteen bagels from Fairmount, a shop owned by his aunt.


  • Bagels are a healthy choice.

Carbs can get a bad rep, but the average bagel boasts no cholesterol and no fat, making it a smarter choice than a muffin or pastry for people who like something with a bready texture in the morning.☀️



Bagels are delicious! Awe inspiring! Instagram-worthy!📸 A scientific study at the University of Spoon found that when measuring the happiness created by a bagel (in metric sugar plums, of course), it was equivalent to being handed a basket of puppies!🐶


While learning about bagels is fun, there’s nothing better than actually biting into one. Now that your knowledge and appreciation of bagels has been enhanced, stop by at one of our restaurants and enjoy one of our (or all of our) delicious bagel sandwiches!🥯



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