Utopia Bagels Presentation Notes

Overview

• Utopia Bagels produces 100,000 bagels weekly.
• Owner Scott Spellman emphasizes the quality and freshness of their bagels as a distinguishing factor.
• The baking process starts at 3 a.m. and continues past lunch hours.

Dough Preparation

• Dough Recipe:
  • 41-year-old recipe utilizing barley malt (traditional method).
  • Most shops use brown sugar, but barley malt is essential for quality.
• Ingredients:
  • Salt
  • Puratos Bagel Improver (softens dough and crisps crust)
  • New York City tap water (ideal temperature around 60-63 degrees)
  • 200 pounds of all-purpose flour (from a total of about 7,000 pounds available)
  • Yeast (additional ingredients for flavored varieties, such as eggs or sugar)

Mixing and Rolling

• No set time for mixing dough; relies on experience and observation.
• Dough is cut into sections and moved to a rolling table to form bagels.
• Hand-rolling process takes 1-1.5 hours for about 1,000 bagels; skilled rollers have 15-27 years of experience.
• Bagels have unique characteristics, like "snowflakes" - each one is different.

Proofing and Fermentation

• Bagels are covered and allowed to soften for about 5 minutes before rolling.
• After rolling, they proof for half an hour, then ferment in the fridge for at least 24 hours.
• Utopia Bagels prefers smaller bagels; misconception exists that bigger is better.

Baking Process

• Two people manage the baking process (kettle and oven operators).
• Bagels are boiled in a kettle before being seasoned and moved to the oven.
• Seasoning done on pre-coated boards.
• Oven: 1947 Middleby Marshall, capable of producing 1,000 bagels per hour.
• Each batch is flipped in the oven to ensure even cooking.

Products and Customer Experience

• Utopia Bagels offers 30 types of bagels and various sandwiches.
• 43 staff members serve 3,500 customers weekly, with peak times on weekends.
• Strong community and loyal customer base; customers feel treated like family.
• Scott emphasizes the heartfelt connection the staff has with the business and their passion for serving customers.

Conclusion

• Utopia Bagels is recognized for its quality, community feel, and dedication to making exceptional bagels.