Hey Bagel Kickstarter, Baked Good Benefits, Spicy Scallion Schmear, & more
Hey Bagel Kickstarter, Baked Good Benefits, Spicy Scallion Schmear, & more
Another week, another round of Seattle-area bagel news.
Welcome to It’s A Shanda, one Northeastern Jew’s quest to find a decent bagel in Seattle (and beyond). Along with free bagel reviews every Sunday, we also offer bonus posts (like this one) each week. If you’re already subscribed, I hope you’ll consider upgrading to a paid subscription! Thank you for reading.
We’ve seen a few Seattle bagel places turn to Kickstarter recently to help get them on the way to a brick-and-mortar location. Andrew Rubinstein’s Hey Bagel has entered the fundraising fray, hoping to raise $50,000 as they prepare to open their first shop in U Village later this year.
As of the time of this writing, they’re just a hair shy of 50% of the way there. Helping boost those contributions are the rewards, which include tote bags, free monthly bagels, a Miir insulated coffee traveler, and a latte art class or coffee cupping class courtesy of Anchorhead Coffee.
“So grateful to all the contributors so far,” Rubinstein told It’s a Shanda. “This campaign will help us get our fancy oven and mixer!”
For more info and to see all the details and potential rewards, check out the Kickstarter here.
Several Seattle bagel purveyors are taking part in Seattle Bakes Back!: A Bake Sale for Reproductive Rights. Ben’s Bread Co. and Saint Bread are hosting the event on Sunday, June 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Jensen Marina “for a day filled with delicious treats, community building, and dough raising for the Northwest Abortion Access Fund.”
Rachel’s Bagels & Burritos, Salmonberry Goods, and Zylberschtein’s are on the list of those offering baked goods for a good cause.
The event is ticketed so check out the Eventbrite page for details.
More news, links, and bagel thoughts below for paid subscribers…
I enjoy taking walks in residential neighborhoods. I think it’s because they often feel like quiet enclaves where I can be alone with my thoughts (or the thoughts of the podcasters I’m listening to) while building the mental map of Seattle in my head. I also feel like you learn a lot about the neighborhood’s architectural and infrastructural history as you walk it, which intrigues me (and yes, I own “Seattle Stairway Walks”).
Recently I’ve been walking the vast neighborhood between the Arboretum and Central District. Is that Stevens? Madison Valley? Capitol Hill? A little bit of all of them? Anyway, one day, I just so happened to find myself on the unassuming corner where Mt. Bagel is located.
Fate’s message was clear.
For the first time, I opted for the spicy scallion schmear. I gotta say, I’m a big fan. It lives up to its name and I recommend trying it if you’re a heatseeker like me.
Also, I was reminded of how good these bagels are. It had been a while. I won’t wait so long next time.
Sixth Borough Bagels in Olympia is getting close to opening their shop but they’re not there just yet.
“Things are really moving now! We haven't quite landed on an opening date, but all equipment is up and running, staff is being trained, and bagels are imminent,” reads their Instagram post from Tuesday.
Seattle Magazine recently published a piece called “Seattle’s New Bagel Boom,” about exactly what you think it’s about. Writer Naomi Tomky spoke with Rachel’s co-founder Paul Osher, Backyard Bagel’s Aaron Emas, and Hey Bagel’s Andrew Rubenstein.
Tacoma’s Howdy Bagel got a nice write-up in Food & Wine in a piece called “Where to Eat in Tacoma, From Bagels to Barbecue and Bánh Mi.”
“When you first arrive you might be greeted with a line down the block. Don’t you dare walk away. The bagels here are worth every moment,” writes Chris Staudinger. “Each handmade bagel is a work of art, whether plain, sesame, rosemary, or sea salt. The pastrami and egg sandwich with diced pepperoncini is a particular favorite as well as the Kimchi Cowgirl, a bagel of your choice slathered with kimchi cream cheese and then topped with pickled radish, greens, and chili oil. One goes to Howdy Bagel for the food then stays for the welcoming and inclusive ambiance. Howdy Bagel slings a delicious breakfast in a safe space for the LGBTQIA community.”
Thanks for actually reading this far. If you enjoyed my bagel review and want to read more of them, make sure you’re subscribed to It’s A Shanda. Know someone in the Greater Seattle Area (or beyond) who would appreciate way-too-detailed reviews of local bagels? Please forward the link their way.