Bagels have been around for centuries, originating in Eastern Europe where they were a staple food. The first bagels were super dense and crunchy on the outside, and were often topped with seeds or salt. These original bagels were a far cry from the soft and fluffy bagels we know and love today.
As Jewish immigrants came to the United States, they brought their bagel-making traditions with them. The first bagel bakeries in the US were in New York City, where bagel enthusiasts could get their fix of freshly baked, hand-rolled goodness. And the rest, as they say, is history.
