K&H Hot Bagels serves it fresh

When Herbert Loaize first came to Delaware, the New Jersey native realized there were no bagel shops to satisfy his appetite for what he calls a northern specialty.

“I was looking for my bagels – and nothing,” Loaize said.

He saved other hungry customers from a similar fate by opening K&H Hot Bagels in the Midway Shopping Center.

Having learned the business in New Jersey, Loaize has worked all over bagel country, including New York City and Connecticut.

Before K&H, Loaize co-owned a Georgetown bagel shop for seven years, which he sold in December 2010.

By mid-April, K&H Hot Bagels was serving local and northern bagel aficionados.

K&H is named for Herbert Loaize and his daughter, Kelly, although he laughingly admits that he also needs to name a dish after his other daughter, Emily.

“The sandwiches and the bagels are out of sight,” said customer Jane Asher, who lives in Washington, D.C., but visits Rehoboth often. “It’s really fresh.”

Everyday, Loaize prepares fresh dough, letting the yeast rise, and then chilling the bagels overnight. He said this gives the dough extra flavor. The next morning, he briefly dunks the dough in boiling water and immediately bakes the bagels in a large rotating oven.

Out come hot, fresh bagels.

K&H features breakfast all day, sandwiches, muffins and pastries.

“The food’s good; the bagels are good,” regular customer Mona Schwartz said enthusiastically.

K&H also serves another type of roll called a bialy, cousin to the bagel. Baked with a pocket of chopped onion and poppy seed, the bialy is new to most Delawareans, but the specialty is very popular.

Customers also enjoy the “everything” bagel, with plenty of seeds and spices.

Loaize is ready to get creative with customer flavor suggestions, such as the upcoming asiago cheese bagel. “Just let me know,” he said.

K&H Hot Bagels is open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with free delivery and wholesale available. For additional information, call 302-645-1535 or visit the shop at 18675 Coastal Highway.