Talia & Kelly Bongolan-Schwartz of Tali’s Bagels & Schmear: From Pandemic Pop-Ups to NY’s Biggest Bagel Bash
When you think of iconic New York bagels, you probably imagine bustling city sidewalks and steamy shops in Manhattan or Brooklyn, not the sun-drenched farmers markets of Oahu. Yet Talia Bongolan-Schwartz, a Long Island native, and Kelly Bongolan-Schwartz, her Hawaiian-local partner, have managed to transport the spirit—and chew—of an East Coast staple to the islands.
Originally reluctant to venture beyond her pandemic-era pop-ups and farmer’s market hustle, Talia shared with host Sam Silverman of BagelFest’s Bagel Buzz Instagram Live series how the duo’s passion project evolved far beyond their initial expectations. “All of this is something we never expected,” Talia admitted. Their journey included selling out their first markets, gradually quitting their day jobs, and eventually opening not one, but two brick-and-mortar locations. “Every step is truly just as shocking to us as it is maybe to everyone else,” she reflected.
From Home Kitchens to Sold-Out
The origin story of Tali’s Bagels starts at home during COVID lockdowns. “We ran out of our stash of bagels that we had brought back in our suitcase from visiting my parents on Long Island,” Talia recalled. So she and Kelly started experimenting with baking their own bagels. That first breakthrough batch captured the “nostalgic hit” of a real New York bagel, convincing them it wasn’t just about the city water, it was the technique and time invested.
After early success selling via Instagram and to friends, their first farmers market outing was a revelation: immediate sellouts, and a line of customers wrapping around. “We sold out for the first, like, four or five months,” Kelly remembered. The momentum pushed them both to fully commit, turning their bagel operation from a side hustle into full-time.
Brick-and-Mortar Ambitions and Local Loyalists
The leap from market stalls to permanent shop space wasn’t made lightly. Initially, Talia and Kelly sought a modest space for consistency and customer convenience, but the demand outpaced their expectations. “The shop was more of a success than we imagined,” Talia explained, referencing missing fans from farmers markets and the unique geography of Hawaii—"a half-hour drive is a trek,” unlike in New York, where a half-hour is a common commute.
In adapting their authentic bagel to local tastes, they encountered a unique blend of customers. While their initial expectation was serving tourists and transplants from NY, they quickly discovered that “the overwhelming majority of our customers are locals, people who grew up here.” Many had tried chain-style bagels but found Tali's New York-inspired chewy-crusted approach to be a revelation, attracting both nostalgic New Yorkers and new bagel converts.
Hawaiian Twists
Tali’s menu isn’t just a carbon copy of East Coast classics, it’s a Hawaiian love letter to the bagel. Their creative schmears set them apart, with standouts like lomi lox (a nod to the beloved local dish lomi salmon) and ube cream cheese, representing the Filipino heritage deeply embedded in Hawaii. Talia described these, explaining the blend of salmon, onions, tomatoes for the lomi lox, and the house-made ube schmear crafted from whole potatoes and sweetened condensed milk.
As the business has scaled, some artisan details have fallen away for practicality (like making their own cream cheese from scratch), but the commitment to quality remains. Still, “we’re whipping [cream cheese] every day and adding in all our mix-ins,” Kelly assured listeners.
Homecoming
New York BagelFest was a special milestone for Talia, a genuine homecoming. Raised on Town Bagel and Golden Myers in Plainview, Long Island, she was excited to share her journey with NYC as the furthest-traveling vendor of 2025. Family, fellow bakers, and even their mentor from Hawaii’s shared kitchen joined in support. In the end, it’s the heart, the hustle, and the love of sharing food that connect Tali’s Bagels to both coasts—and keep customers lining up wherever they call home.
Check out Tali’s Bagels & Schmear’s Instagram and website.
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