On National Bagel Day, a unique showdown unfolded on US television, where Montreal bagels squared off against New York's famed bagel. In a light-hearted but spirited contest, Vince Morena of St-Viateur Bagel stood up for Montreal's bagel tradition. On the other side was Matt Pomerance from Zucker's Bagels and Smoked Fish, ready to uphold New York's bagel reputation.
Canadians are hungrier than ever for Montreal bagels and rightly so, the sesame-crowned golden dough rings are a city treasure. Google Trends shows online searches for the local specialty have been spiking over the past year across the country. But one bakery, in particular, has been garnering a majority of the attention. While ChatGPT couldn't settle the great Montreal bagel debate, it seems online crowds have picked their favourite between bagel-making rivals St-Viateur and Fairmount.