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42 | SEPTEMBER 3 • 2020
Sam has had Jewish vacationers and
local residents visit the store. The presi-
dent of Traverse City’
s Beth Shalom syna-
gogue and a rabbi from Petoskey’
s Temple
B’
nai Israel have been customers. As for
shipping of Bubbie’
s Bagels for downstate
Metro Detroiters to enjoy, “for now that is
limited to what my parents are willing to
shove into the backseat of their car,” Sam
said with a laugh.
It’
s not unusual for orders of 200 bagels
to be packed into the Brickman’
s backseat
for their friends and family upon a return
trip from visiting their son.
I consumed, actually, inhaled 12 bagels
over a four-day period. I have no shame
when it comes to a schmear on a bagel.
They were worth every one of the 4 lbs. I
gained.
More than just a catchy name, there’
s a
real baking Bubbie behind Bubbie’
s Bagels
— Esther Kraft, Risa Brickman’
s mother,
of blessed memory, who passed away in
2012. While she didn’
t actually bake bagels,
Bubbie Esther’
s renowned cooking prowess
is the inspiration for and the face of her
grandson’
s business. Her strawberry and
apricot ruggalah is featured in the store and
her mandel and banana breads may not be
far behind.
In 2012, just prior to Chanukah, the
Detroit Free Press dedicated a two-page
spread to Esther’
s latke recipe. But she didn’
t
seek fame. Esther was only into cooking for
the fun, the food and, most importantly, the
family. That was the recipe for three gener-
ations worth of incredible memories in the
Kraft’
s Farmington Hills kitchen.
“She taught us baking was fun,
” Risa said.
“But it was serious, too. You had to level
your flour exactly, line up your cookies
and admire your results. To this day, all 12
grandchildren, boys and girls, are creative
bakers and are comfortable in the kitchen.
”
The family still has regular baking chal-
lenges, a babka competition being the most
recent.
Sam is the lone grandchild to turn his
experiences with his Bubbie in the kitchen
Nosh
eats | drinks | sweets
Time to make the bagels. Charlie Baker shows how it’
s done.
details
Bubbie’
s Bagels
1215 E. Front St.,
Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 252-3587
www.bubbiesbagelstc.com
s,
s
d
“She taught us baking was fun” Risa said
His Bubbie, Esther
Kraft, is shown on the
labels below and on
the wall with Grandpa
Aaron.