The Bagel Lady of Barcelona
commissioned by Strada, Toni & Guy's magazine, 2001

'I had no idea how to make a bagel when I started,' laughs Canadian Susan Wright, owner of The Bagel Shop, just steps from Barcelona's fashionable Las Ramblas. 'But 120,000 Americans lived here, and bagels are what they missed most.'

Opening its doors in 1997, this bright yellow café is the first and only place to produce its own bagels in Spain. 'When the Spanish first came here, they wouldn't try the bagels,' says the blonde 38 year old. Once they did, they kept on coming back. 'Every Fall I notice new Spanish customers,' says Susan. 'They talk about having gone on holiday to the States or Canada and were introduced to the bagel there.'

Made to the traditional Montreal recipe, Susan's bagels are 100% natural and contain no preservatives. Her best selling topping is Turkey, cream cheese, lettuce and tomato and wilder ones include homemade pesto and chorizo. Unique flavoured bagels are carrot and ginger and garlic and dill.

Childhood summers spent in Europe gave Susan itchy feet and Barcelona was the easiest place to get a job. She loves the beautiful architecture, and being close to both the beach and skiing. Of Canada, Susan only misses Chinatown and seeing the snow ­ especially in mid-summer.

The Bagel Shop, 25, Calle Canuda, 08002, Barcelona Tel. 93-3024161