Does Orlando have decent bagels?

[Asc341]

Hello all,

I have two CM friends who I'd like to surprise with a box of goodies. I live in NYC (where they're originally from) and wanted to send things that they can't get in Orlando. I was thinking of bagels and Tate's cookies. Any locals or frequent Dis-ers know if decent bagels or Tate's cookies are available in Orlando?

Alternatively, I'd love to hear any ideas of things you'd like to get in the mail from NYC (things that can be shipped, of course.) Thanks!

 

[ElizabethB]

Zabar's and Eli's in New York can send New York bagel baskets. I'm sure they send to Florida all the time!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . decent bagels or Tate's cookies are available in Orlando? . . .

1) No way.
2) Most Orlando residents only think "Deli" is a city in India.

 

[Asc341]

Hahah excellent! Bagels it is then.

 

[RogueKnits]

In general, you can't get good bagels anywhere outside of the NYC metro area and parts of NJ. Maybe I should send my mother in AZ some bagels for Mother's Day...

 

[Art 1]

In general, you can't get good bagels anywhere outside of the NYC metro area and parts of NJ. Maybe I should send my mother in AZ some bagels for Mother's Day...

I disagree. One can find good bagels in most places.

 

[RogueKnits]

I disagree. One can find good bagels in most places.

Okay? What would you suggest the OP send instead that is quintessentially NY? Assuming, of course, that shipping a pizza is impractical...

OP -- Junior's will ship a cheesecake, though it's a bit pricey due to the fact it has to stay cold in transit. That's another thing I've sent my mother that she was delighted with. Oh, and she always asks me to bring proper Black & White cookies when I visit.

 

[Art 1]

Okay? What would you suggest the OP send instead that is quintessentially NY? Assuming, of course, that shipping a pizza is impractical...

OP -- Junior's will ship a cheesecake, though it's a bit pricey due to the fact it has to stay cold in transit. That's another thing I've sent my mother that she was delighted with. Oh, and she always asks me to bring proper Black & White cookies when I visit.

I was responding to you, not the op.

 

[Ali]

Send the bagels. My friend goes to NY and brings backs a suitcase full of bagels. I am lucky to get 2 of them.

There are tate's cookies at Whole foods, I think, I know I can get them at health food stores near me.

 

[Alesia]

I disagree. One can find good bagels in most places.

Not if you're a new yorker.

 

[mommycrawford]

I'm from NYC too, and when my bestie from high school moved to Miami she learned that the bagels are so different (and breads in general) because the water is soft! The ph and minerals are different, so the product changes.

EXCELLENT CHOICE TO BRING BAGELS!

 

[CinderElsa]

Not if you're a new yorker.

Exactly. You can find bagels anywhere, but they're not good.

 

[Art 1]

Exactly. You can find bagels anywhere, but they're not good.

I just had one not a few hours ago that was very good. I've eaten at some pretty good places in my life, and often. I know what's good and what's not good.

 

[fairyprincess88]

Florida bagels in no way compare to NY bagels.

I made the mistake of grabbing one for breakfast while at Disney one morning and while yes it was edible, that's about all it had going for it.

Maybe it's just a New Yorker thing but I have never found good bagels outside of the city or the surrounding areas.

 

[MillauFr]

Exactly. You can find bagels anywhere, but they're not good.

The NYC bagels are the best. The only other bagels I have liked were the wood fired ones I had in Montreal.

 

[bumbershoot]

I made the mistake of grabbing one for breakfast while at Disney one morning and while yes it was edible, that's about all it had going for it.

That bagel probably wasn't made in Florida, and wasn't trying to be a good bagel. It was just trying to be a circle of dough.



I would ask the friend what she wants, personally.


My mom was from NY and when she moved to CA and found frozen Lender's bagels, those did the trick until she moved to Miami and could find a more homemade version when she went downtown. And I found those Lender's bagels in Orlando. Since I'm a Californian with a NY-born mom, I can do nothing but go by what she did, and she liked Lender's when not in NY or making the trek to a deli in Miami.

 

[Aminiman]

You can absolutely get great bagels outside of NYC. Montreal bagels are fantastic, and we have a couple of proper bagel shops here in Toronto that use wood fired ovens etc... and produce a proper bagel.

The soft water thing in Orlando makes sense though. I don't even like drinking the tap water down there, so I can't imagine a bagel made with the stuff would be any good.