The "everything" bagels are on the bottom shelf. AFP/Getty Images hide caption
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David Gussin of Queens says he invented the "everything" bagel sometime around 1980, when, in a stroke of inspiration, he married poppy seeds with sesame seeds, salt, onion and more.
The longtime New Yorker remembers gliding into the Howard Beach bakery on hockey skates for his first day of work. He was fresh from a practice with the Canarsie Cougars. He makes no claim to excellence as a player. "I stunk," he says. But as a baker, he was visionary.
"I was cleaning out the oven," Gussin recalls. "I was sweeping out the seeds. Instead of throwing them out, I swept them out into a bin. The next day, I said to Charlie, 'Hey, Charlie, instead of throwing them away, put this on a bagel and call it the "everything."'
"We thought we were being cute," Gussin says.
Customers went crazy for the new product. "The 'everything?' I'll try some of that!" Gussin recalls patron after patron saying.
After a New Yorker article last week established Gussin's role in history, someone challenged the creation story. Seth Godin wrote on his blog, "Unfortunately, I worked in a bagel factory in 1977. . . . I was busy baking bagels. Including the 'everything' bagel."
Gussin has a simple response: "That bagel wasn't around the day before I created it."
Has he patched things over with his foe?
"The last thing I want is a brouhaha over the 'everything' bagel," Gussin says. "It brings smiles to people's faces. It doesn't deserve controversy. It's a nice thing."
FAQs
An everything bagel is a type of bagel baked with a mix of toppings. The exact ingredients vary, but recipes often include garlic flakes, onion flakes, poppy seeds, sesame seeds and kosher salt. The bagels are made with regular dough and the name is independent of additional fillings such as cream cheese.
What is the flavor of the everything bagel? ›
The standard combination of toppings on an everything bagel is as follows: sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried onion, garlic, and salt. Some may add in black sesame and cracked pepper, too. The result is a supremely flavorful bite, a complex nutty flavor, and an exquisite extra crunch (and usually a ton of crumbs.)
Who invented everything but the bagel seasoning? ›
The Invention of Everything Bagel Seasoning
However, the most widely accepted origin story credits a New Yorker named David Gussin for this flavorful innovation.
Where did the everything bagel originate? ›
According to the New Yorker this week, the everything bagel was created 30 years ago, when then teenager David Gussin was sweeping up burnt seed scraps at a Queens, New York, bagel shop. He saved them in a bin, and voilà—another flukelike creation story.
What is the everything bagel analogy? ›
The bagel represents the notion that there's nothing but a pointless void to see when you look at life. The hole in the center of the bagel is a metaphor for her feelings of nothingness and the general sense of emptiness in the face of basic existence. It's an existential crisis manifested into a baked good.
What is the everything bagel theory? ›
The Everything Bagel becomes more than a recurring image as the film progresses; it represents the idea that everything is connected and that every action has a ripple effect that can be felt throughout the universe.
Is everything bagel healthy? ›
"Most bagels are made with refined white flour, which doesn't offer too many benefits nutritionally. Look for bagels that contain at least some whole grains like pumpernickel, whole wheat, oat or multigrain," says Philadelphia-based Melissa Altman-Traub, M.S., RDN.
What's the difference between a bagel and an everything bagel? ›
An everything bagel is made with spices such as poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper. Underneath an everything bagel's seasoning is a plain bagel, so the food gets the majority of its flavoring from the spice mix.
Why are everything bagels so good? ›
The flavor/seasoning of everything bagels is very unique and difficult to describe, but imagine a symphony of flavors coming from the nuttiness of the seeds with hints of garlic and onion, the spiciness of pepper then bursts of salt. It's truly an experience.
What is an everything bagel personality? ›
As an everything bagel, you were born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth. You manage not to annoy anyone with your inborn good fortune by being an agreeable person, always ready to share your good fortune and help others along the way.
Are Starbucks bagels vegan? Yes! All three varieties of Starbucks bagels—plain, cinnamon raisin, and everything—are vegan-friendly (although the cinnamon raisin does contain sugar).
Who ate the first bagel? ›
Researchers believe the bagel was actually created from pretzel dough sometime around the 1200s. As Germans migrated to Poland, they brought pretzels with them. The Jewish Poles quickly adopted this new bread, put a hole in the middle and dubbed it obwarzanek.
Is there an onion in everything bagel? ›
The most talked-about seasoning these days is the Everything Bagel Seasoning! It's a combination of mixed seeds, dried garlic, onions and flaky salt. It's really the perfect seasoning blend bringing a crunchy savoury taste to anything its sprinkled on.
Does Dunkin' have an everything bagel? ›
Try our Plain and Everything Stuffed Bagel Minis filled with cream cheese, served warm.
What is on an everything bagel Einstein? ›
Everything Bagel
Don't settle for just anything when you can have everything. Fresh-baked bagel topped with our Everything Bagel Seasoning: sesame seeds, poppy seeds, onion, garlic and salt.
What do bagels symbolize? ›
Because of their shape-‑with no beginning and no end‑‑bagels symbolize the eternal cycle of life. In the old days, they were supposed to be a protection against demons and evil spirits, warding off the evil eye and bringing good luck.
What does bagel mean in slang? ›
Bagel, a slang term among South African Jews for an overly materialistic and excessively groomed young man.
What was the meaning of Everything Everywhere All at Once? ›
The Movie Is A Celebration Of The Freedom A Meaningless Life Brings. Though never expressly stated, Everything Everywhere All At Once suggests that what makes life meaningful is the recognition that, because life has no inherent meaning, all things and moments are equally meaningful.
What is the everything bagel personality? ›
As an everything bagel, you were born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth. You manage not to annoy anyone with your inborn good fortune by being an agreeable person, always ready to share your good fortune and help others along the way.
