Who Really Fathered the Everything Bagel? (2024)

By

Erin Zimmer

Who Really Fathered the Everything Bagel? (1)

Erin Zimmer Strenio is a writer, editor, and brand designer who was the national editor at Serious Eats from 2008-2013.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated August 10, 2018

Who Really Fathered the Everything Bagel? (2)

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. But was Gussin really first? According to Seth Godin, an author on marketing tactics and theories, he was already making them in 1977, not "around 1980," as Gussin claimed in the piece.

Godin said in an email just now that Gussin's seed-sweeping story is "crazy." He clarified, "you add the seeds when the bagels are on the wet burlap...the burnt seeds in the oven get pretty incinerated and you wouldn't want to use em." Godin thought back to his creation moment—he just sprinkled and tossed the seeds on top. "Lo and behold, it was good." But since Godin's bagel shop was in Buffalo, not the Bronx, it's been overlooked by the bagel elite.

Godin hasn't contacted the New Yorker. "What are the chances they'd correct it?" He did recount another tragic bagel story, however, when he was cleaning a four-foot-tall stand mixer and the blade grabbed his hand, almost pulling him in. "But that's another story." Sore finger and ego?

If Godin actually did invent the everything bagel, the concept will join "permission marketing" and "the meatball sundae" on Godin's idea-making resume.

Who Really Fathered the Everything Bagel? (2024)

FAQs

Who came up with the everything bagel? ›

David Gussin claims he invented it sometime around 1980: while sweeping up leftover bagel toppings from the oven, Gussin saved them in a bin and convinced the store owner to make bagels with them. He concurs that others might have previously invented the concept but insists that he coined the name "everything bagel".

Can poppy seeds fail a drug test? ›

Poppy seeds don't have nearly enough opiates to intoxicate you. But because drug tests are exquisitely sensitive, consuming certain poppy seed food products can lead to positive urine drug test results for opiates – specifically for morphine, codeine or both.

Is everything bagel seasoning healthy to eat every day? ›

Everything Seasoning Is Healthy

Despite its sodium content, everything seasoning is a healthy addition to any meal. It contains seeds and dehydrated vegetables, both of which are rich in hardy fibers, healthy fats, and an array of vitamins and minerals.

Can poppy seeds contain codeine? ›

Depending on the methods of harvesting and geographical origin of the plant, unwashed poppy seeds may have higher amounts of Schedule II opium alkaloids such as morphine, codeine, and thebaine on their seed coats when compared to washed poppy seeds.

What is the symbolism of the everything bagel? ›

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.

Who is the villain in everything bagel? ›

Jobu Tupaki. Alpha Joy Wang, also known as Jobu Tupaki, is the main antagonist of the 2022 science fiction movie Everything Everywhere All at Once, while her main universe counterpart is the deuteragonist. She is a leader of a group of multiversal conquerors and cultists that worship her.

Why are poppy seeds banned? ›

The seeds of the opium poppy plant are usually cleaned and processed before being sold as a culinary ingredient, yet they may still contain a slight opiate residue which can show up as positive in a drug test.

What happens if you eat too many poppy seeds? ›

Foods containing up to about 50 grams of poppy seed can be eaten safely. Poppy seed is possibly safe when used in larger amounts as medicine, short-term. But eating very large amounts of poppy seed is possibly unsafe as it might block the bowels. Some people might also be allergic to poppy seed.

What drugs are in poppy seeds? ›

Poppy seed pods contain morphine and codeine, which are opioid medicines. The seeds are coated with small amounts of these opioids, which remain in the liquid when the seeds are removed. The amount of opioids in the seeds can vary depending on the growing and harvesting conditions of the plant.

Can I eat everything bagel everyday? ›

You can enjoy practically any bagel in moderation, though whole-grain bagels provide more satiating fiber and protein. That said, bagels can be high in sodium, so make sure you're mindful of the other sources of sodium in your diet when you eat them. Be mindful of portion sizes, since bagels can be large.

Can I eat expired everything but the bagel seasoning? ›

Good news: Cooking with expired seasonings won't make you sick — but it will leave your food tasting bland.

What is the healthiest bagel? ›

The healthiest bagel is one made with whole grains. For a healthy bagel option, look for whole wheat or rye bagels. Sourdough bagels are also a healthy option, since sourdough bread varieties are more nutritious than white bread options.

What is laudanum called today? ›

Also known as laudanum and formulated for oral administration, opium tincture is made of air-dried poppy (Papaver somniferum) latex and contains alkaloids such as morphine and codeine.

What foods should you avoid before a urine drug test? ›

Patient must abstain from avocados, bananas, tomatoes, plums, eggplant, hickory nuts, walnuts, pineapple, coffee and mollusks. and during collection: aspirin, corticotropins, MAO inhibitors, phenacetin, catecholamines, reserpine and nicotine. Restrict caffeine, nicotine and alcohol 24 hours prior to collection.

How much codeine is in poppies? ›

Poppy seeds from different origins contain a wide variation of morphine (2-251 micro g/g) and codeine (0.4-57.1 micro g/g) content.

Why do they call it an everything bagel? ›

Because they are topped with everything you would ordinarily find seperately on savory bagels. Large crystal salt, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onion flakes, and dried minced garlic, are almost always part of the mix, but some people add other things such as caraway seed, dill seed, or other ingredients.

Who invented the bagel and why? ›

There is some evidence that the bagel may have been derived from pretzels made in Germany brought by immigrants to Poland. In the 16th and first half of the 17th centuries, the bajgiel became a staple of Polish cuisine.

Where did the bagel girl come from? ›

"Bagel Girl" originated in Korea and refers to a sexy woman with a very youthful face.

Who started the rainbow bagel? ›

The Rainbow Bagel, created by Scot Rossillo of The Bagel Store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was the first viral bagel of the social media era. There have been plenty of bagel innovations throughout history - but none as viral as the Rainbow Bagel.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Allyn Kozey

Last Updated:

Views: 6316

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Allyn Kozey

Birthday: 1993-12-21

Address: Suite 454 40343 Larson Union, Port Melia, TX 16164

Phone: +2456904400762

Job: Investor Administrator

Hobby: Sketching, Puzzles, Pet, Mountaineering, Skydiving, Dowsing, Sports

Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.