It's More Than Just Bagels

A quick listen to the vast menu Kariene Aghabekian will be offering at A Bagel & A Shmeer is a true testament to the East Meadow resident's passion for food.

A veteran in the food business, Aghabekian is poised to begin a new venture on the retail side of things as the shop opens at 532 East Meadow Avenue in late August.

Aghabekian admits she had an opportunity to set up shop elsewhere but chose East Meadow because of its quaint feel.

"I look around here and there's so much potential and I really would like, in one sense or another, to give back what this community has certainly given my children and myself, honestly," she said, gesturing to the busy avenue right outside her shop now under construction. "I love this area. The people are great. It's a wonderful place."

Bagels will be made off-site but it's Aghabekian's recipe all the way, a recipe she's been perfecting for years making bagels at home for her two daughters. (Bagels will be sold at half price at the end of each day to cut back on waste.)

"We produce an amazing bagel but we're more about what we're putting on it. It's something a little more diverse," she said. "I think we have a lot of exciting options."

In addition to items you'd find in a standard bagel shop like lox and veggie salads, Aghabekian will also offer more than a dozen homemade "shmeers" including spicy chipotle and biscotti almond cream spreads, flavored butters like garlic and onion and cinnamon and a variety of hummus and yogurt spreads too.

"For all of our flavored specialty shmeers we are going to use light cream cheese because once they're infused you're not going to miss that extra fat," she said.

Cold cuts, paninis, breakfast sandwiches, a portions control menu, along with a Kids Kombo menu are more of what will be offered. Kids can enjoy a trio of mini bagels with spreads like peanut butter and jelly while Mom can try a cream cheese spread layered with brie, thinly sliced green apples and crumbled bacon topped with chopped pears, an Aghabekian panini special that proved to be a big hit at her daughter's recent bridal shower.

"It's an ambitious menu," she admits, but it's important to Aghabekian that all offerings cater to "all different palates."

A visit to the shop will be an "interactive experience," says Aghabekian, who will welcome community input at a small tasting station inside the store that will allow customers to sample upcoming specials and let Aghabekian know what's working and what's not.

Aghabekian will also offer a monthly recipe contest where residents can share their unique recipe for a bagel shmeer. The winning recipe will be featured as the store's grand opening special. Monthly winners will also receive a dozen bagels and a half-dozen every Saturday for one month.

"I have to allow my customers to dictate to me what's going to work and let them have a voice," she said.