Hello New York!

Anyone from New York will tell you that THEY know what a real bagel looks like. A shiny crust, a slightly tangy taste, a chewy texture, and always boiled, never steamed - these are all of the qualities of a classic New York bagel according to New Yorkers themselves. 

A bagel that meets these criteria is hard to come by in any grocery store or bagel shop in the south... But what if I told you that you could get your own taste of New York in Gainesville, Florida?

That's right, Luke's New York Bagels - a family-run business managed by former University of Florida student Luke Vescovi - has been serving classic New York bagels for almost a year, minutes away from UF's campus. What sets them apart from any other bagel shop in Florida is that Luke's New York Bagels bakes their bagels with New York water - made through their custom water maker that replicates the mineral levels found in the water of New York. 

Vescovi's 30-year-old recipe has proven to be successful as the shop sells around 1,200-1,300 bagels every day. The bagel shop is open on Tuesday through Sunday, 7AM-1PM, but they usually sell out by 11AM. With Luke's New York Bagels' wide variety of bagel and cream cheese flavors, customers are guaranteed to be satisfied. 

One thing that's for sure is that Luke's New York Bagels doesn't shy away from being creative when it comes to bagel-making. Their first menu item that I ordered was their Orange & Blue Bagel with Orange Funfetti Cream Cheese, in honor of my first week back on college campus. Although it isn't a classic New York Bagel, the size, flavor, and texture of the colored plain bagel itself resembles one you may find on the streets of Brooklyn or Manhattan. The cream cheese, on the other hand, is quite the opposite of something a real New Yorker would order for breakfast. Luke's New York Bagels' take on funfetti is not just playful, but tasty as well. With its blue sprinkles and sweet flavors, this cream cheese could almost be considered a frosting. No matter what it is, I would like to have it served on all of my future birthday cakes from here on out.

During my next visit to Luke's New York Bagels, I ordered their Asiago Bagel with Strawberry Cream Cheese. This berry and cheese flavor pairing is a favorite of mine, but it has also been up for contention upon my followers on Instagram (@bagelsbagelsbagelsbagels). Nevertheless, this order was the true test to see if Luke's New York Bagels could live up to my standards. The asiago packed a punch and exceeded my expectations. The strawberry cream cheese, however, missed the mark. The shmear lacked brightness and a fruity flavor which could have been improved by adding more fresh chunks of strawberry to the mix. This bagel seemed to be just one note in terms of flavor rather than a balance of sweet and savory that I had hoped for. 

Even though I was a bit disappointed with my last visit to Luke's New York Bagels, I came a few weeks later to try one of their customer-favorites: their French Toast Bagel. I ordered mine with Plain Cream Cheese, and it came with a side of maple syrup. I mean, the picture below speaks for itself. Unwrapping the aluminum foil on this bagel felt like unwrapping a Christmas present as I opened it up to this glowing, beautiful masterpiece. First, the crisp exterior lightly dusted with powdered sugar was superb. Second, the cream cheese had the perfect, creamy consisty and slightly tangy flavor that balanced with the sweetness. Third, the side of maple syrup masterfully tied everything together to make one, exquisite breakfast meal. To be really nit-picky, I would have enjoyed it more if the maple syrup was warm, but overall this bagel deserved a standing ovation. 

On my latest visit to Luke's New York Bagels, I opted for their seasonal menu item - a Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bagel - with their Maple Walnut Cream Cheese. Just when I thought they couldn't do any better than their French Toast Bagel, Luke's New York Bagels surprised me with their rich flavors - both the bagel and the cream cheese. Before I even opened my takeout bag, the smell of maple wafted out, causing me to salivate even before taking my first bite. Just thinking about it is causing me to salivate now! Furthermore, the chocolate chips in the bagel combined with the crunch of the walnut in the cream cheese made for the perfect bite. 

Throughout all of my visits to Luke's New York Bagels, it was clear to see that the bagel shop took their craft seriously. From boiling their bagels in their New York water to exploring different bagel and cream cheese flavors each week, Luke's New York Bagels is going above and beyond to make and sell a taste of New York for the Gainesville community. Despite opening in the middle of global pandemic, the shop is flourishing and selling out each week. Overall, I'm excited to see this bagel shop expand over the coming years, and I hope to be first in line when they do.