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By W. Rose Paulani
What's soft on the inside, chewy on the outside and usually spread
with cream cheese? The answer is a Bagel! For those who are unfamiliar
with bagels, Webster's Dictionary defines a bagel as "a hard
bread roll made of yeast dough twisted into a doughnut like shape,
cooked in simmering water, then baked." The bagel is the only
bread product that is boiled before it is baked. That's what gives
the bagel its unique texture and the crust its characteristic shine.
They are traditionally eaten as a sandwich filled with cream cheese
and smoked salmon, yet can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.
Bagels first came to the town of Vienna, Austria, in 1683 when a
local Jewish baker wanted to thank the king of Poland for protecting
his countrymen from Turkish invaders. He made a special hard roll
in the shape of a riding stirrup-Bugel in German - commemorating
the king's favourite pastime and giving the bagel its distinct shape.
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As bagels gained popularity in Poland, they were officially sanctioned
as gifts for women in childbirth and mentioned in community registers.
Mothers used them as nutritious teething rings that their infants
could easily grasp - a practice still popular today.
Bagels eventually made their way to Russia, where they were called
bubliki and were sold on strings. Like other ring-shaped objects,
they were said to bring good luck and possess magical powers. It
is even said that songs were sung about bagels!
When the Eastern European Jewish immigrants arrived in North America
at the turn of the century, they brought the bagel with them. Many
settled in the New York area where the American bagel industry established
formal roots between 1910 and 1915 with the formation of Bagel Bakers
Local #338. This exclusive group of 300 craftsmen with "bagels
in their blood" limited its members to sons of its members.
At the time, it was probably easier to get into medical school than
to get an apprenticeship in one of the 36 union bagel shops in New
York City and New Jersey.
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The bagel is now widely spread throughout the United States, Canada,
some areas of the United Kingdom and a minority of other countries.
Rarely seen in Thailand, the bagel has now arrived on Phuket island
in a charming little caf? called "Bagels & Beyond"
in Chalong.
The owner and baker, Mark Kindermann bakes a variety of New York
style bagels fresh every morning. Being a native New Yorker, Mark
grew up on bagels and finds it difficult to go for very long without
them! When he decided to settle on Phuket, he found that no one
was selling bagels, so utilizing his past experience as a chef,
he and his wife opened the caf? serving homemade bagels with all
the trimmings, California style burritos, freshly expressed fruit
and vegetable juices and blended fruit smoothies. His wife Kirsten
is a yoga teacher, so they have combined their talents into one
business and have a yoga studio above the caf?.
Bagels & Beyond is seeing a steady rise in customers, after
having been open for only a short time. Regular customers sometimes
arrive before the doors are open to get their freshly baked bagels.
The hearty California style burritos are popular as well as their
refreshing juices and fruit smoothies, fulfilling their motto as
"Healthy, Hearty, Fresh Fast Food".
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