Bloomington's Bagels

Known for its inexpensive cost, convenient portability and ability to be eaten at a later time, the bagel has become a staple of college cuisine.\nWhether in a sandwich at lunch or a quick breakfast on the go, no one can underestimate the power of this Austrian-born ring of dough. Taking freshness, variety and cost into consideration, here are some the best places to gnosh on this doughy delight. \nBloomington Bagel Company\nAs one of the best known bagel-stops in town, Bloomington Bagel Company earns its reputation through a variety of tantalizing treats, with favorites ranging from Pumpkin to Chocolate Chip to Sun-dried tomato. \n"I enjoy the sesame seed with vegetarian cream cheese," sophomore Casey Turner said.\nWhat makes BBC stand apart from other places is their freshness. The dough inside each one was soft and yeasty instead of being a hassle to chew through like some other places. Their sandwich selection is modest, but satisfying, with classics such as Turkey and Roast Beef complimenting their menu. \nPrice: $0.65, $1.81 w/ cream cheese\nSugar 'n Spice\nLocated inside the Indiana Memorial Union, Sugar 'n Spice boasts a wide selection of baked goods, unfortunately bagels aren't top on their priority list. With only five types of bagels and four flavors of cream cheese, only the basics are available. The bagels were tough and chewy and the cream cheese was simply a tiny package of Philadelphia brand. Not a place to satisfy one's bagel cravings, but with its location in the vicinity of most morning classes, this place can make do. \nPrice: $0.80, $1.10 w/ cream cheese\nPanera Bread\nAs a more delicious alternative to the Jared Fogle/Subway diet, Panera offers delicious bagel sandwiches that won't guilt you into breaking out the Solo-Flex afterwards. When it comes to the sandwiches, Panera clearly embarrasses both BBC and Howie's with its creativity extending far beyond its competition.\n"My favorite type of bagel sandwich is a sun-dried tomato with turkey and provolone," junior Ann Graber said, as she indulged in her favorite sandwich for lunch.\nTheir Bacon Turkey Bravo and Asiago Roast beef with smoked cheddar, red onion and horseradish sauce, both make eating healthy as easy to do as sleeping through "The Finite Show." \nPrice: $0.69, $1.89 w/ cream cheese\nHowie's Bagel Company\nCreative flavors keep this bagel bakery in competition with other college cafes. One of the things that keeps Howie's exciting is their bagel specials, with flavors such as Cranberry-Orange, Cherry Chocolate Chip and Pumpernickel all making cameo appearances. Keep in mind, a French toast bagel makes an excellent start to any morning. Howie's also boasts a wide variety of cream cheeses which can spice up any bagel.\n"My personal favorite is the garlic herb shmear," junior Patrick Coad said.\nOverly stingy penny pinchers will also sleep well knowing that they are getting the most dough for the dollar at Howie's, and can put those extra cents towards graduate school.\nPrice: $0.60, $1.70 w/ cream cheese\nHistory of Bagels: The Hole Story\n1683 -- Legend has it that a baker from Vienna, Austria created the bagel to thank Jan Sobieski the King of Poland for saving the people of Austria from Turkish invaders. Since the king was a master \nhorseman, the baker shaped the dough into an uneven circle similar to a stirrup (called a "beugal"). \n1700s -- Bagels are given as maternity gifts to expecting mothers in Russia because the ring shape represents the circle of life.\n1872 -- Cream cheese is invented by American \ndairymen trying to duplicate soft French cheeses. \n1880s -- With thousands of immigrant Jews from Europe moving into the New York and Chicago areas, bagels began to gain popularity in the United States. \n1907 -- The International Bakers Union, the first union for just bagel bakers is formed, joining over 300 bakers together.\n1960s -- Daniel Thompson invents a machine \ncapable of producing 200 to 400 bagels an hour. The first of these machines was sold to Murray Lender who set up the first frozen bagel business from his garage. Today, Lender's bagels can be bought at nearly every supermarket. \n1993 -- Americans eat an average of one bagel every 2 weeks.\n2000 -- Einstein's, the largest bagel chain in the United States, files for bankruptcy.\n2001 -- Bagel sales reach $4.7 billion and are in 40 percent of American homes.