Nova bagel sandwich from Proper Bagel
This week in Dining, I review Proper Bagel, the bagel shop and cafe that opened in January on in the restaurant strip on Belmont Boulevard across from Belmont university.
Proper Bagel is owned and operated by the Speranza family — Carmine and Marcy, their adult daughter Heather, and Heather's husband Alex España. The elder Speranzas have been in the bagel business for decades, starting on Long Island in the '70s and later moving to South Florida. Heather, meanwhile, is a veteran of the fashion industry in Los Angeles, where she and Alex lived for years. When they all decided to open a bagel shop as a family, both couples relocated to Nashville.
(Alex had discovered Nashville's thriving creative and culinary scene while working a music industry job doing LCD walls for touring acts like KISS and Mötley Crüe, and the whole family visited and endorsed the city.)
Proper Bagel impressed me mightily. The bagels are legit: made by the time-consuming, time-honored process that includes boiling. The Speranzas recruited two chefs — Joshua Simpson for savory items and Heidi Kohnhorst for pastries — to help create a surprisingly broad menu, and most everything offered is fresh and inventive. Read my full review for more details.
I think most people who love bagels actually love one variety the most. My favorite is pumpernickel, though I'm also quite fond of sourdough and sesame. How about you, Bites folk? Which bagel do you prefer? And this is the Open Thread, so what else is on your mind this week?
