As one of the most diverse cities in the United States (and the world!), New York City is particularly well known as the home of countless options of any type of cuisine you can think of, including its own NYC-style eats. While many picture a sizzling slice of pizza as the quintessential Big Apple meal, you’d be amiss to count out a classic NYC bagel. Food historians believe that bagels appeared in New York City when Eastern European Jewish immigrants arrived in the late 1800’s, eventually evolving into the New York bagel we know and love. There’s even true science behind what makes the New York bagel so irresistible: a beautiful combination of New York’s “soft” (read: low in minerals) tap water and the unique process of boiling the dough. The boiling step is often skipped in modern American bagels because it slows down the process and reduces ease of automation. This is not the case for the New York bagel, and we thank our ancestors daily.

Hungry yet? We’ve got you covered. Established by the historical roots of both bagel and bialy, Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys began serving the people of New York in 1936, making it the oldest remaining bialy bakery in the United States. After 85 years, their baked goods are still considered some of the best in the game. The proof? Take it from famed New York Times food critic Mimi Sheraton: “I knew Kossar’s to be the source of the very best bialys in the city, and as it turned out, the entire country.” Kossar’s has been featured additionally in the Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, USA Today, and Food Network, just to name a few.

Kossar’s trajectory has been anything but linear. In the midst of a lengthy worker strike and union disgruntlement, Kossar’s original location mysteriously exploded in 1958. By 1960, Kossar’s was able to reopen at its current location on Grand Street. In 2013, Evan Giniger, Dave Zablocki, and Marc Halprin teamed up to buy Kossar’s and undertook a beastly five-month renovation, for the duration of which the bakery was closed. According to a feature in New York Magazine, the new owners were cautious of maintaining the shop’s old-timey feel without crossing into kitschy or themed territory. They carefully selected elements to preserve, like the flooring and old-school equipment, while modernizing the rest of the space and majorly expanding the menu. A once-tiny bakery that stuck to the classics, Kossar’s is now a full-service establishment with sweet treats, sandwiches, and Jewish-American offerings like pizza bagels and pizza pretzels. 

So what’s the difference between a bagel and bialy? Contrary to the beliefs of many, a bialy is not a “spin off” of a bagel, but rather its own entity with its own culinary history. The major difference between a bagel and a bialy is that the bialy does not undergo the boiling process that bagels do, and has a center depression rather than a hole. Historically similar, bialys were brought to the United States by Polish Jewish immigrants who began baking their homeland delicacies in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. These immigrants came from Bialystock, with “bialy” coming from the phrase Bialystoker Kuchen – “little bread from Bialystock.”

Bagels are a quintessential office catering staple, and for good reason. Most guests are thrilled to see a platter of warm assorted baked goods with a variety of spreads and toppings. A catered bagel spread is easy to serve, easy to eat while standing or chatting, and easy to clean up afterward. Plus, with the endless varieties of bagel flavors and topping options, a bagel bar is sure to satisfy. 

Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys offers plenty of catering options for any size group, including vegetarian and individually packaged items. One of our favorites for the perfect crowd pleaser is the Ultimate Appetizing Tray, including Scottish salmon, house-cured pastrami Nova, Wild Lake Whitefish salad, Kippered Salmon salad, and an assortment of cream cheese, served with lettuce, sliced tomato, onions, capers, and assorted bagels and bialys. For the traditional breakfast crowd, the Breakfast Buffet comes with scrambled eggs, your choice of two types of breakfast meats, and home-fried potatoes; additionally, Kossar`s Continental Breakfast includes an assortment of bagels, bialys, muffins, and fruits with your choice of two spreads. For some catered events, diners want to select their own individual items. The Classic Sandwich Box allows you to choose from 11 of Kossar’s famous sandwiches, making the process of pleasing your entire group simple. Don’t skimp on the dessert; Kossar’s offers a Fruit Platter, a Pastry Platter, and a Sweets & Cookies platter to suit any party’s needs. 

Whatever delicious spread you decide on, CaterPlace is ready to bring the legendary Kossar’s Bagels & Bialys straight to your door. Order Kossar’s and earn 5% cash back, plus a $100 Amazon gift card when you place any first order. 

About CaterPlace

At CaterPlace, we recognize that food choices are everywhere and practically limitless. With that in mind, our core values have always had the customer as the top priority. Not only do we want to provide you with on-time, delicious food, but also reward your continued loyalty through our CaterCash program. CaterPlace offers up to 15% CaterCash back on any order, a sweet treat that keeps our customers coming back for more delicious eats. Visit CaterPlace.com and place your first order today!