Artisanal Bagels Arrive in Richmond
Nate’s Bagels Image by Jake Lyell
On a recent visit to Richmond, Virginia, I overheard a couple of locals carping about the lack of good bagels. A third person butted in — that’s not just a New York thing — to let them know that Nate’s Bagels had launched.
Nate Mathews, a New England transplant, hand-rolls and kettle-boils his bagels, which he sells at local farmer’s markets and through subscription bagel clubs — pickup locations, really — at local indie stores. Mathews is also whipping up his own homemade cream cheese.
Nate Mathews hand rolls and kettle boils his bagels. Image by Jake Lyell
“Our bagels have a lingering aftertaste and depth of flavor that is not normally found in a bagel,” Mathews said. “Richmonders appreciate that. They appreciate food.”
With zero baking experience but a love of Jewish food, Mathews began baking bagels at home in December 2015 and started the business with his wife, Lauren, in May 2016.
“I was a civil engineer. Now I’m a bagel engineer,” he says with Borscht-Belt timing. “Jewish cuisine has been special to me for a long time. My neighbor and best friend Danielle growing up was from a loving Jewish family. Her mom made latkes and matzo and often had their temple community over for communal meals.”
Matthews, here with his son Gus, sells bagels at farmers markets and through a bagel club, to be collected at local pickup locations. Image by Lauren Mathews
As Mathews continually refines his bagels, he’s starting to win over doubters. Now, he’s working on securing more retail locations.
Doing robust bagel business at the farmers market. Image by Lauren Mathews
“Our bagels seem to have caught on, although it’s still hard for people to get their hands on them. But there is buzz for sure,” he said. “I’ve had probably a dozen New Yorkers come to the farmer’s market with piercing skeptic eyes. ‘Who are you? Are you Jewish? There’s no way these bagels are good. We’re in Richmond’. I ask them to see for themselves. After all, maybe they’re right — I haven’t spent their 30 years in New York. Then they come back next week and shake my hand and order a dozen.”
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Michael Kaminer is a contributing editor at the Forward.
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