HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - An Oahu bagel shop won three awards at the annual BagelFest competition in New York City.

Competing against bakers from 12 states and three countries, Tali’s Bagels and Schmear walked away as the winner in the Rising Star category, runner up in Best Showmanship, and third place in the Best Bialy category.

“We serve New York-style bagels in Hawaii, but to serve them to New Yorkers, it was very validating,” said owner Talia Bongolan-Schwartz.

She and Kelly Bongolan-Schwartz began perfecting their bagel-making skills at home during the pandemic, making bagels every day for a month.

“I was born and raised in Hawaii. I didn’t know what a real bagel was supposed to taste like. So I was the baker. She was the taste tester,” explained Kelly Bongolan-Schwartz.

Tali

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