Smith’s Bagelry opened a few months ago and is getting rave reviews from locals who visited this Turkish-Canadian bakery. Look for the bagel cart along West Broadway to find this hidden gem!
About the name: there is no Mr. or Mrs. Smith
“Simit” is a Turkish bagel. In the Ottoman Empire during the 1400s, the empire started making these bagels for the public on special days. Overtime, it became the standard Turkish street food and breakfast item sold from carts.
Smith’s Bagelry knew that they’re the only one of it’s kind in western Canada and to make it easier for customers to pronounce simit, they chose “Smith”. Now you know why it’s called Smith’s Bagelry!
Interior
The interior is well lit, has modern lines and displays historical photos of simit vendors.
Menu
Smith’s Bagelry offer many sweet and savoury choices, with one board dedicated to their sandwiches.
They also have a beverage menu that combine drinks you expect from cafés, as well as new Turkish drink options to try.
Simit (Turkish bagels)
Compared to bagels we’re used to, these Turkish bagels are lighter, less doughy, has a hint of sweetness and still has a crispy exterior.
Smith’s Bagelry makes all their bagels from scratch and shapes them all by hand. (And because I always ask this…) The secret ingredient that makes their bagels extra special is grape molasses that they import directly from Turkey.
Bagel sandwiches
Lunch is their busiest period. The bagels are perfect for sandwiches. My favourite were Aspendos (smoked salmon) and Cappadocia (Montreal smoked meat).
Sweets: Éclair and San Sebastian cheesecake
The éclair have the perfect cream to bread ratio and the crushed pistachio was a good addition. I could probably eat a dozen of these.
Their San Sebastian cheesecake is a must-try! It’s light, fluffy and goes perfect with strong coffee.
Final Thoughts
Smith’s Bagelry has been open for less than six months and deserve the good reviews they’ve received. The Turkish bagels are perfect alone, but work just as well on sandwiches. They have so many sweet and savoury choices, so there’s something for everyone.
I am a big fan of their business name being a clever way to appeal and educate customers about simit (but only if you think about it). They plan on continuing to expand and refine their menu, including adding more brunch items.
Address:
191 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC
Website:
http://www.smithsbagelry.com/
