Laurel Kratochvila - Fine Bagels

Meet in My Kitchen

Berlin's Best Bagel Baker. (English episode) Many years ago, I discovered a small book shop in my Berlin neighborhood, specializing in English literature. It was a quiet, dark space with wooden floors and vintage furniture, and a little counter filled with the loveliest loaf cakes. I came back almost every week, mainly for the sweets, and soon found out that the shop was run by an American/ Czech couple: Laurel from Boston, responsible for baking, and her husband Roman Kratochvila from Prague, taking care of the books. They left my neighborhood too soon, creating a void that could never be filled, but they re-opened a much brighter and bigger spot just as charming. This became the famous Shakespeare and Sons / Fine Bagels on Berlin's lively Warschauer Strasse, praised and loved for Jewish baking classics - and good books. Laurel's bagels, babka/ challah knots, and rugelach are known across town and get me to hop on my bicycle regularly to enjoy her sweet and savory treasures. I'm intrigued by Laurel's passion and dedication, and her irresistible smile that wipes away all sorrows. She started as a home baker and then deepened her knowledge and education in French bakeries, but she still has this relaxed aura of 'a friend who's just baking in her kitchen.' Laurel treats her dough like a baby, she knows it well, watches and works it precisely, until it unfolds its true beauty. For this podcast episode, Laurel shared her recipe for Brick Lane bagels with me (named after London's famous Brick Lane Beigel bakery). She calls it a mix of a New York and a Montreal bagel. Quick to prepare, a little chewy, and perfect for a luscious sandwich filled with salt beef, mustard, and gherkins, you can now satisfy your bagel cravings in your own kitchen any time. You can find all the blog posts about the Meet in My Kitchen podcast episodes including my guests' recipes on meikepeters.com under 'Meet in Your Kitchen'. INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/meetinmykitchenpodcast/ GUEST: https://www.instagram.com/finebagels/ http://www.finebagels.com/ RECIPE: https://www.meikepeters.com/meet-in-your-kitchen-berlins-best-bagel-baker MUSIC: Martin Stumpf FRÜHSCHOPPEN SPONSOR: Ferrari Trento SOUND MIX: Kraatz Studios https://kraatzstudios.com/ MEIKE PETERS: Newsletter: https://www.meikepeters.com/subscribe-2/ Blog: https://www.meikepeters.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatinmykitchen/ and https://www.instagram.com/meetinmykitchenpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatinmykitchen/ Cookbooks: https://www.meikepeters.com/cookbooks/