Bagel facts & stats

Question 1

Montreal-style bagels from bakeries like Fairmount are baked in what kind of oven?

Accepted Answer

A wood-fired oven. They are also hand-rolled.

Question 2

What is done to bagel dough right before it is baked?

Accepted Answer

It's boiled briefly in water. Boiling seals the dough, giving bagels their shiny crust and dense, compact interior.

Question 3

Who introduced the bagel to the United States?

Accepted Answer

European Jewish immigrants, late 19th century. The bagel went on to become strongly associated with New York City.

Question 4

Kraków's obwarzanek, a boiled ring-shaped bread related to the bagel, first appears in royal accounts from what year?

Accepted Answer

1394. The entry records a purchase for Queen Jadwiga's court.

Question 5

In what year did the EU grant Kraków's obwarzanek Protected Geographical Indication status?

Accepted Answer

2010. That puts it in the same protected-food category as many famous regional specialties.

Question 6

Under its EU protection, where can authentic obwarzanek krakowski be made?

Accepted Answer

Kraków city and Kraków and Wieliczka counties. Bakers outside that area can't sell their rings under the protected name.

The basics