Tasting History: Old-World New York Bagels by Hand with Jeff Cooperman + Lauren McGrath | Sunday 07.19.26 @ 11:00am MORNING SESSION
THIS IS THE MORNING CLASS AT 11AM.
Few foods are as deeply woven into New York's story as the bagel. Its appearance here is the result of America’s early immigration policy, it played a role in the growth of organized labor, and it’s also a prime example of the radical changes in the American diet.
In this hands-on class, we'll make traditional New York bagels from scratch, mixing, shaping, boiling and baking them the old-fashioned way.
You'll learn the techniques that give a great bagel its distinctive crust, chew and flavor, as well as how to whip up the world's best cream cheese schmear!
Part baking class, part food history and entirely delicious, this is an opportunity to connect with a classic New York tradition through the simple pleasure of making it yourself, while learning about its deep connection to NYC's history and community.
Enjoy hand-made [by you!] bagels fresh from the oven, and leave with the skills and the recipe to make them at home in your own kitchen. Each student will take home a half dozen of your own bagels (unless you eat them in class)!
ABOUT THE CHEFS
Lauren McGrath (localfoodmaven.com) has been an event producer and consultant on programming, product development and on other projects in NYC. She is well connected in the professional food and restaurant world in NYC and throughout the USA, with ties to many top tier chefs and operators She has extensive hands-on knowledge, having worked as caterer, line cook, general manager of high end restaurants, business owner (Rick's Picks!), teacher, writer and editor. She lives in Manhattan and currently runs the Hamilton Heights Food Coop, which she founded in March, 2020.
Jeff Cooperman is an award-winning television producer, writer, and journalist, with a longstanding passion for cooking. He co-founded Tasting History in 2025 in order to combine his interests in history, education, and food. When not teaching bagel-making and history classes in the East Village or volunteering in the kitchen of Refettorio Harlem, he consults on non-fiction television and film projects.