Lauren Drewes Daniels
Audio By Carbonatix
Bagel makers from around the world piled into New York’s Citi Field this weekend for BagelFest. The equivalent of a Paul Hollywood handshake under the big white tent in England, this baking competition separates the real ones from dough posers.
New York icons such as Utopia Bagels, Ess-a-Bagel and Town Bagel were in attendance, along with Si Si Bagels from Madrid and Tali’s Bagels from Honolulu. In all, there were than two dozen bagel shops at the competition.
Attendees at the sold-out event used a token system to cast votes for the best in show, while “Breadhead” experts conducted blind tastings. Awards included best bagel, several subcategories, schmear of the year, most creative, best showmanship and best bialy.
The Bagel Orbit
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Starship Bagel launched in Lewisville (1108 W. Main St.) in 2021, the brainchild of owner Oren Salomon, who employs a 24-hour fermentation process to render a proper bagel “chew.” Salomon, who is from North Dallas but developed a taste for bagels while traveling to New York City, has opened a second shop in North Dallas (6859 Arapaho Road) and a walk-up outpost downtown, next to The Eye sculpture.
Each shop is open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, or until they sell out, which they often do. The menu includes about 10 varieties of bagels and schmears each; bagels go for $3 each or $5 with a schmear.
There are also sandwiches and lox. The Millennial Falcon is Guy Fieri’s favorite (the Food Network stopped by in May of this year for an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives). It’s a bagel and schmear (dealer’s choice) with smashed avocado, tomato, red onion, sprouts and crushed red pepper.
BagelFest Best
Starshop literally cleaned house at the competition on Sunday. Not only did the shop win best bagel, but also the sub-category of best New York style bagel and runner-up for schmear of the year with their garam masala schmear.
Starship was also runner-up for most creative bagel and won the best showmanship category.
Last year, we informally pooled a group of Dallasites who are transplants and could be considered bagel aficionados. We asked them where they go to get a proper bagel chock full of microbubbles and tenderness. The overall pick was also Starship Bagels.
In January 2025, Starship was a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Outstanding Bakery award.
