Food find: Essex Bagels
Two words: boiled bagels. If you’re a New Yorker then you know what I’m talking about. My brother regularly sends or brings me H&H Bagels from New York but I’ve found a close substitute here in the metro: Essex Bagels.
These huge, authentic NY bagels (the size of a child’s head) are dense, chewy, and doughy with a shiny, smooth coating. Boiling the bagels prior to baking ensures they have such trademark interior and crust. If you haven’t had one of these, then you must run and get one. It is that good.
Note: Essex uses bagel dough from BB’s. So if you can’t drive all the way to Cumming, this Johns Creek/Alpharetta option is much closer.
Insider tip:
Bagels are $0.95 each and Specialty Bagels are $1.25.
Bakers Dozen is $11.40
They have a nice dining area with tables and booths including free wifi. Breakfast (served all day) and lunch are available.
The scoop:
Essex Bagels & Deli
11030 Medlock Bridge Rd Ste 160
Johns Creek, GA 30097
(770) 476-8214
Technorati Tags: boiled bagels, NY bagels, Johns Creek, Alpharetta
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13 responses so far ↓
1 Alexandra // Oct 24, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Wow… I probably sound like a 14year old girl by saying this, but I love your blog. It’s the funniest, & actually interesting, Atl blog I’ve ever read. I just have to applaud you with a wow
2 BuHi // Oct 26, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I didn’t think you could make a bagel without boiling it… I made them at home once and the recipe called for boiling, which I dutifully did. Do places like Goldberg’s, etc. not boil? (I’m a Southerner - I really don’t know)
I seem to remember a bagel place at Ansley years ago (Royal Bagel?) where I saw big vats in the kitchen for boiling - don’t know if it’s still there…
3 Chloe // Oct 27, 2009 at 11:15 am
@Buhi: most mass-produced and commercial bagels are steamed instead of boiled. Goldberg’s boil theirs. Royal Bagel closed years ago.
4 BB’s Bagels and Diner // Oct 30, 2009 at 12:31 am
[…] Everyone that comes in is like family. Incidentally, a couple of weeks ago, I discovered Essex bagels which is closer to my house. Rumor has it that they get their dough from BB’s. Well, […]
5 hopelessfoodie // Oct 31, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Thanks for the heads up Chloe. Stopped by Essex today to pick up a half-dozen. These bagels are massive! I’m munching right now on an Everything bagel with their bacon-horseradish cream cheese-SO good. I sampled the rugelach as well. They were OK, but I prefer Goldberg’s. Essex is about a 5-10 min drive from my apt, so I suspect I’ll be back often.
6 Marian // Nov 12, 2009 at 8:03 am
Lets put this rumor to rest once and for all. Essex does NOT get their dough from BBs. Our dough is mixed on the premises, hand rolled boiled and baked.
7 Marian // Nov 12, 2009 at 9:11 am
I just want to add: Thanks to everyone for the positive comments. We are happy to be in the Johns Creek area and are proud of the bagels and great food we serve.
8 Chloe // Nov 12, 2009 at 9:13 am
Marian — hmmm, “he said, she said”??? You said they don’t, but he (Eddie) said they do. Eddie said he is very good friends with the owner of Essex and that they roll the dough for you. The recipe for Essex isn’t exactly the same as BB’s. Both bagels are hand rolled and boiled, however. Regardless, both BB’s and Essex bagels, to me, are GREAT bagels.
9 Chloe // Nov 12, 2009 at 9:14 am
hopelessfoodie — have you tried BB’s?
10 Marian // Nov 12, 2009 at 9:34 am
Cloe:
Thanks for the positive comments. My husband and I are the owners of Essex and can assure you that our bagels are completly made on our premises from start to finish. Eddie is a friend and although we help each other out at times, BBs and Essex each make their own bagels - including mixing and rolling the dough.
11 Chloe // Nov 13, 2009 at 12:46 am
Marian — I love both BB’s and Essex. Essex is closer to me. I love your dining space and eat breakfast there quite often
I have yet to write a review about your breakfast (specifically the awesome corned beef) but it’s on my short list.
12 hopeless foodie // Nov 14, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Haven’t been to BBs yet-but I’m planning to stop by next Saturday morning.
13 dan greenburg // Jan 5, 2010 at 9:57 am
TO WHOM IT CONCERN, I DON’T KNOWWHO IS TELLING THESE LIES, BUT I USED TO WORK FOR BB’S AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT BB’S HAND ROLLER, ROLLS THE BAGELS AT ESSEX, AND WITH OUT THE HELP OF BB’S THEIR BAGELS WOULD BE HORRIBLE , LIKE EVERY OTHER BAGEL OR PIZZA, THAT IS MADE IN THE SOUTH.
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