FOOD

On the Menu: New Yorker brings bagels by the dozen to Bloomington

Carol Kugler
The Herald-Times

Ed Schwartzman and his wife, Jaimie, are bringing New York bagels to Bloomington in their latest venture, Gables Bagels, a ghost kitchen that's operating out of their other food establishment, BuffaLouie's.

Schwartzman, who grew up in Bayside Queens, had been searching for the perfect bagel for the past two years and had to go back to New York City to find it.

"I'm a New Yorker. I'm Jewish. Who better?" he answered when asked why he's now selling bagels by the dozen, with cream cheese.

Everything, rainbow and sesame New York City bagels are some of the varieties being baked and sold by Gables Bagels, a ghost kitchen in Bloomington.

While Schwartzman is just getting Gables Bagels started, he's been overwhelmed with the number of people who have already reached out to him requesting bagels. Currently the bagels are baked 6:30-9 a.m. in the ovens at BuffaLouie's, before the restaurant opens.

All the bagels are made-to-order and at this point, people have to request at least a dozen bagels from Schwartzman via texting his phone. While most of the requests have been from individuals, Schwartzman plans to target businesses, offices, fraternities and sororities, hoping to provide dozens of bagels to larger groups.

"We want to be the bagel vendor of volume," he said. "We don't have bins of bagels for people to pick from."

Schwartzman said the bagel sales are beginning a little earlier than he had planned after it was mentioned on social media. But it's something he's willing to share since he has fond memories from his youth of his father bringing home a bag of piping hot bagels, from Slims Bagels, with cream cheese for the family. It was a Sunday tradition in his house, with his father calling out that bagels were there when he returned home after playing tennis.

New York City bagels and cream cheese are available at Gables Bagels, a new ghost kitchen in Bloomington.

"I want to create those same memories here in town," Schwartzman said, "I can hear the bag rustling and then they call out, 'I got bagels.'"

For now, anyone who wants to start a bagel tradition of their own with Gables Bagels will have to order at least a dozen bagels and cream cheese, for $21.99. When the bagels are ordered, a time for the customer to pick them up will be determined. It has to be by 9:15 a.m., before BuffaLouie's opens it doors, so there's no impact on the other restaurant business. Delivery of the bagels is just now beginning and must be scheduled by texting Schwartzman.

There are six Kosher water bagel varieties available: everything, sesame, plain, cinnamon-raisin, ancient grain and rainbow (which is plain but colorful).

Currently customers can have either cream cheese or strawberry cream cheese with the bagels. Eventually more spreads will be offered, possibly chicken salad, tuna salad and all sorts of cream cheese options.

To order, text 219-210-1479.

Jit's Thai Bistro open for dine-in

When I wrote about JIt's Thai Bistro last week, there was a day or two when they had a shortage of workers and were only open for carryout services. But not anymore. Linda Alvardo reached out to let me know that Jit's Thai Bistro, on the courthouse square in Spencer, is open for dine-in customers as well as for people who want to place a carryout order.

Jit's Thai Bistro in Spencer is open for dine-in and carryout.

For more, go to https://bit.ly/3wBAfdH. Jit's Thai Bistro is at 6 E. Market St. in Spencer.

Pop Up Patio nights at Scenic View

Live music, food and drinks are all part of Pop Up Patio nights at Scenic View Restaurant from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturdays. Seating is first-come, first-served. There will be different musicians each week with the schedule on the restaurant's Facebook page. Pili's Party Taco Truck will offer eats with Trailhead Pizzeria joining in as well. 

Scenic View Restaurant is at 4600 Ind. 446 near Lake Monroe.