How do they compare to New York bagels?

Smaller, denser and sweeter with a bigger hole

Montreal Bagel Quiz: Wood-Fired Ovens and Honey Water

This Montreal bagel quiz heads to the Mile End, where ovens burn wood around the clock. Play 10 interactive questions on boiling in honey-sweetened water, wood-fired baking, a smaller, denser, sweeter ring with a big hole, sesame and poppy seeds, the rival bakeries Fairmount and St-Viateur, the New York rivalry and bagels sent to space.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

City
Which Canadian city is famous for its bagels?
Water
What is added to the boiling water?
Oven
How are Montreal bagels baked?
Shape
How do they compare to New York bagels?
Seeds
Which seed is the most popular coating?
Area
Which neighborhood holds the famous bakeries?
Rivals
Which two bakeries are famous rivals?
Hours
When do the classic bakeries operate?
Space
Where did an astronaut take Montreal bagels in 2008?
Eat
How are they often eaten fresh?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which Canadian city is famous for its bagels?
Answer: Montreal
It is in Quebec.
Q2: What is added to the boiling water?
Answer: Honey
It adds sweetness and shine.
Q3: How are Montreal bagels baked?
Answer: In wood-fired ovens
Fire gives a smoky char.
Q4: How do they compare to New York bagels?
Answer: Smaller, denser and sweeter with a bigger hole
They are hand rolled.
Q5: Which seed is the most popular coating?
Answer: Sesame
Locals call them white seed bagels.
Q6: Which neighborhood holds the famous bakeries?
Answer: Mile End
It is a lively area.
Q7: Which two bakeries are famous rivals?
Answer: Fairmount and St-Viateur
Locals pick sides.
Q8: When do the classic bakeries operate?
Answer: Around the clock
Hot bagels come out at night.
Q9: Where did an astronaut take Montreal bagels in 2008?
Answer: The International Space Station
Gregory Chamitoff grew up in Montreal.
Q10: How are they often eaten fresh?
Answer: Warm from the oven, plain
Many skip toppings.

Honey Water and Wood Fire

Montreal bagels are hand rolled, boiled in honey-sweetened water and baked in wood-fired ovens. The result is smaller, denser and sweeter than a New York bagel, with a bigger hole and a smoky, slightly charred crust.

Sesame, called white seed, is the favorite coating, followed by poppy. The famous bakeries Fairmount and St-Viateur sit in the Mile End neighborhood and operate around the clock, so locals pick up hot bagels at any hour and debate which is best.

Montreal's bagels are often compared with New York's, a friendly rivalry. In 2008, astronaut Gregory Chamitoff, who grew up in Montreal, took a supply of the city's bagels to the International Space Station.

What This Quiz Teaches

Food fans will enjoy these questions.

How they are made
How they differ from New York's
Which bakeries are famous
When bakeries open
Where bagels traveled

Did You Know?

Bags of a dozen are a common order.
Ovens are fed with wood daily.
Fresh bagels are best eaten soon.
Smoked meat is the city's other icon.
Many visitors try both rival bakeries.