Peter Shelsky of Shelsky’s: Balancing Tradition With Innovation
For nearly fifteen years, Peter Shelsky has been a fixture in Brooklyn’s appetizing scene, building Shelsky’s into both a beloved deli and bagel destination known for reverence toward tradition and creative experimentation. Peter joined Bagel Ambassador Sam Silverman on BagelFest’s Bagel Buzz Instagram Live series to talk bold new flavors, delivery partnerships, and the New York versus Montreal bagel debate.
Innovation Meets Tradition
Peter’s love of variety is at the heart of Shelsky’s menu: “I love the traditional stuff, but I also love doing new, crazy stuff,” he explains. The result? A constantly evolving menu that combines time-honored recipes with ingredients and ideas gathered from far-flung places.
One example of Shelsky’s inventive spirit is the new Pastrami Guo Kui sandwich—a fusion of Jewish and Chinese flavors inspired by Peter’s travels to Chengdu. This creation features hot pastrami, sour cream sauce, Japanese Kewpie mayo, homemade Sichuan chili oil, tingly peanuts, pickles, and Jewish cucumber salad all stuffed into a pillowy, everything-topped bialy roll. “[It’s] a party in your mouth,” Peter jokes, embodying his ethos of pushing the envelope while staying rooted in classic culinary culture.
But striking the right balance isn’t always easy. “Sometimes they are ideas that I think are… wonderful, and they turn out to be utter duds,” Peter admits. The key, he says, is never losing sight of the foundational items and making space for both tradition and innovation. Not every experiment sticks, but those that do help keep Shelsky’s ahead of the curve.
Surviving and Thriving in Delivery
Like many independent shops, Shelsky’s has faced significant challenges in the age of delivery apps. Before the pandemic, Peter relied on industry giants like Grubhub and DoorDash, enduring high commission fees and impersonal support. Seeking better terms and more control, Shelsky’s transitioned to smaller, more responsive platforms, eventually partnering with Sauce.
“Their reactivity is just absolutely remarkable,” says Peter of Sauce, which centralizes orders and support for multiple locations and occasions. Unlike the large third-party services, Sauce listens to its partners and regularly implements feedback as new features. For other deli or bagel shop owners thinking about switching, Peter’s advice is clear: “Switch to Sauce. Literally just switch.”
Bagels Across Borders
The classic New York versus Montreal bagel rivalry is alive and well, and Peter isn’t shy about his preferences. After many trips to Montreal, he finds the local bagels lack flavor and salt, missing the craveability he feels in New York: “Objectively, New York bagels are better.” He credits ingredient choices like unhulled sesame seeds and proper salt in making the difference.
As someone living in Paris, Peter is witnessing the slow spread of bagel culture in Europe. While chains like Bagelstein exist, he’s determined to introduce an authentic Brooklyn experience with plans for Shelsky’s Paris. He wants to educate Parisians about bagels as a bread product, not just a sandwich vehicle, and refuses to “dumb down” the menu for local tastes. “I really want to bring the Brooklyn bagel to Paris,” Peter says, emphasizing the importance of authenticity.
Lightning Round & Final Thoughts
In a rapid-fire session, Peter shares strong opinions—he never likes hot egg sandwiches on bagels (“bagel’s too chewy for an egg sandwich”), prefers bialys over bagels for smoked fish, and loves a simple poppy seed bagel with cream cheese, despite poppy’s reputation as a slow seller. He debunks the myth that New York’s bagel magic is “in the water,” attributing quality instead to experience and know-how.
As bagel culture goes global, Peter’s story is testament to the power of culinary tradition, the exciting possibilities of innovation, and the importance of adapting without compromising core values. With Shelsky’s Paris on the horizon, we may soon see bagels truly become a universal language.
Check out Shelsky’s website and Instagram.
The Bagel Buzz is presented by Sauce — the pickup and delivery network built for restaurants, helping them keep more of every online order and strengthen their customer relationships. Try it free for six months with the code BAGELBUZZ25.
Catch more Bagel Buzz conversations on Instagram @bagelfest