A taste of New York in North Ballarat

WHEN Andrew McPherson returned to Australia, having lived for years in the United States, he really missed enjoying a good bagel.

He couldn’t buy one in Ballarat, and really struggled to get a decent bagel in Melbourne, so he contacted Aussie Oggie Pasty Co’s Keiran King, and a business partnership was born.

In the last 12 months, Mr King and Mr McPherson saw a gap in the market and have developed their own authentic New York style bagel recipes, baking the products together.

Brick Lane Bagels is going from strength to strength, and having perfected the traditional handmade methods of cold proving, boiling and baking, Ballarat is hooked.

Mr King has been working with food for 30 years and baking professionally for three. He said customers travel from outside the city to buy the bagels, and he’s even discovered something new about where he lives.

“I didn’t realise there were that many Americans that lived in Ballarat because we’re getting a lot of New Yorkers calling in and buying them,” he said.

He said a lot of bakers try and make bagels, but they’re essentially just selling a bread roll with a hole, not the real deal.

“When we explain to customers how they’re made and then they try them, they go ‘wow’. They’re back the next week, the follow up is fantastic. We’re just getting busier and busier,” Mr King said.

A variety of bagels are baked every week, catering for those who favour savoury or have a sweet tooth.

“We went for the Traditional White, which is synonymous with having salmon and cream cheese through it,” Mr King said.

“The New York Style ‘Everything’ bagel, is turning into the number one now. It has sesame and poppyseed, onion, garlic and salt.”

Sweeter options include blueberry, cinnamon, and raspberry and white chocolate, following the muffin trend. Savoury bagels are very much at home on dip platters. A range of classic ‘schmears,’ or spreads, are available. They’re packed full of goodness, like salmon, dill, capers and cream cheese, and are ready to complement a bagel.

Brick Lane Bagels are available at Aussie Oggie Pasty Co on the corner of Simpson and Walker Streets, Ballarat North every Thursday and Friday.

Orders can be made online at bricklanebagels.net. Brick Lane Bagels wholesale to caterers.