Best of Cleveland 2015: Bagels

Cleveland Bagel Co. co-owners Geoff Hardman and Dan Herbst are more than just bakers — they are inventors. In 2013, the duo spent countless hours creating a Cleveland-style bagel — a mashup between those you'd find in New York and Montreal. The result is an Old World-style bagel with a crusty ring and a chewy interior. That combination is important, says Hardman — so much so that your jaw should be a bit sore when you finish eating. "We've really tried to perfect both of those aspects of it and not just focus on one or the other," says Hardman. "And I think we nailed that." The duo now sells more than 70 dozen bagels a week in varieties such as everything and sesame seed to more than 15 local vendors. And what's a bagel without schmear? Try the company's inventive flavors such as raspberry goat cheese. 216-395-7723, clebagelco.com