Ever wonder where Montreal’s best bagel is made? That would be Fairmount Bagel. Right here, the aroma of freshly baked bagels fills the air. Fairmount Bagel is more than just a bakery. It’s a family legacy spanning generations.
Fairmount Bagel started its journey in 1919. Isadore Shlafman, a Russian immigrant, founded it. He first called it Montreal Bagel Bakery. The bakery was on Saint-Laurent Boulevard back then. In 1949, Isadore moved to Fairmount Avenue West. He renamed it The Original Fairmount Bagel Bakery. This location gave the bakery its now famous name.
The Shlafman family has run Fairmount Bagel since its opening. Isadore passed it to his son Jack. Jack then passed it to his son Irwin. Today, Irwin and Rhonda Shlafman keep the tradition alive. They make bagels the same way Isadore did. Everything is still made by hand.
Montreal bagels are different from New York bagels. Fairmount Bagel makes Montreal-style bagels. They are smaller, sweeter, and less chewy. Honey and malt syrup give them their unique taste. The dough is hand-rolled. Then, it’s boiled in honey water for about three minutes. Finally, it’s baked in a wood-fired oven for 20 minutes. This process creates the perfect Montreal bagel.
Sesame bagels are the most popular at Fairmount Bagel. They make up 70 percent of sales. But Fairmount offers many other fresh products. They sell cream cheese spreads called schmears. Customers can add these to their bagels.
Fairmount Bagel even made it to space. In 2008, astronaut Greg Chamitoff took Fairmount bagels to the International Space Station. Chamitoff is the nephew of the owner. He couldn’t leave Earth without his favorite bagels.
There was once concern about wood-fired ovens. New environmental laws threatened to outlaw them. But existing ovens were grandfathered in. Fairmount Bagel’s ovens are safe for now. They can continue baking bagels in the traditional way.
“Bagels in the Blood” is a documentary about Fairmount Bagel. Filmmakers Jonathan Keijser and Daniel Beresh created it. The film tells the story of this iconic bakery.
Originally, Fairmount Bagel only sold poppy seed bagels. A customer complained about the poppy seeds getting stuck in his teeth. So, Isadore created a sesame bagel. The customer brought his own sesame seeds. Soon, everyone wanted sesame bagels. Now, Fairmount offers about 20 different bagel variations.
Fairmount Bagel remains a Montreal landmark. People come from all over to enjoy their bagels. They are made the same way they were in Isadore’s day. The employees work from the heart. They sell bagels that taste like home.
Fairmount Bagel is open 24 hours a day seven days a week. You can always get a fresh bagel. Fairmount Bagel is more than just a bakery. It is a taste of Montreal history and culture. It is a family tradition that continues to delight.