Today was my first full day working with the staff at B&B Empire in Brooklyn. The cafe is closed for renovations, and the windows are covered. People continuously stop by and ask whether or not we're going out of business. "We're just improving...we'll reopen in few weeks!" I respond.
This morning I spent time with Paul, B& B's head baker, as he taught me about how traditional Montreal bagels are made...with only a few of the best ingredients including King Arthur flour, fresh yeast, eggs, butter (not enough to worry about), and salt.
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Mixing the yeast and water
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They get shaped by hand and are left to rise.
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Bagels resting
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Wood ready to go into the oven
Then, they get dipped into a boiling honey bath just before getting put into the 750 degree wood burning oven.
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| Honey Bath
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The finished product - slightly sweet and crunchy exterior with a rich, soft interior
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My goal for B & B is to enable them to capitalize on their strengths: the delicious bagels and bialys, the gorgeous and massive wood-burning imported from Montreal, the handmade foods, a passionate and talented barista, and the fabulous location. It won't be long before the same love and passion for quality that make B&B's bagels and coffee distinctive is evident in the cafe's entire menu, interior, and service.
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