Bagels - New York and Identity

"The Bagel's American Journey," by Jeff Kaufman, explores the bagel's evolution from an Eastern European Jewish staple to a global American food. It details how material culture, particularly food, mediates identity and community integration for immigrants. The text examines the physical characteristics of traditional bagels, their initial adaptation to American palates, and the role of institutions like the Bagel Bakers Union Local 8 in preserving cultural authenticity while navigating economic pressures. It also discusses the bagel's transition into mainstream American culture, the "invention" of the iconic bagel-lox-cream cheese breakfast, and the impact of commercialization and mechanization, like the Lender revolution, on its cultural meaning and authenticity. Ultimately, the work uses the bagel's journey to highlight broader theoretical implications about adaptive authenticity and cultural negotiation in a diverse society.