Noshing With Leo Pearlstein – June 24, 2021

Publicity pioneer, food consultant, author, speaker, and “PR Food King”

This week, Ira spoke with Leo Pearlstein (100 years old!), founder and president of Lee & Associates, Inc., a public relations and advertising firm. In this branding episode of Ira’s Everything Bagel, Leo talks about his long career as a publicity pioneer, food consultant, author, speaker, and “PR Food King”; how he got into the business (courtesy of actor Eddie Bracken); bringing most of the family into the business; his long-time association with Mrs. Cubbison's dressing; how he began representing food associations; working with the media; his friendship with Steve Allen; and why he always considered his work his hobby.

Leo founded Lee & Associates, Inc. in 1950. He ran the company with his partners, two of his three sons, Howard and Frank, until it closed shop in 2013. (His other son, David, is in the music industry.) Leo’s wife of 69 years, Helen, passed away in 2012 at age 91. He lives in Los Angeles, near his three sons and their families.

« Noshing With Richard Pink – June 17, 2021

Noshing With Joe Wallenstein – July 1, 2021 »

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“Bagels are the only bread that are boiled before baked. Once the bagel dough is shaped into a circle, they are dipped in boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes on each side. After that, they are drained and baked for about 10 minutes.”

Bagels have been to space! “It’s safe to say that the treats from Fairmount Bagels in Montreal are out of this world. In 2008, Astronaut Greg Chamitoff boarded Discovery for a 14-day flight into space. Accompanying him? Eighteen bagels from Fairmount, a shop owned by his aunt.”

“The word Bagel comes from the German word “bougel,” meaning “bracelet,” and by way of the Yiddish “beygl” which means “ring.” So, if it is not in the shape of a ring or bracelet, it is NOT a bagel.”

“What sets bagels apart from other types of bread is the fact that they are boiled. Some imitations are steamed, but they do not have the same chewy and crunchy crust and are not true bagels.”

“The first beugel bakeries were founded in New York City in the 1920s. Later the name was changed and called a bagel.”

“The hole in the middle of your bagel is no mistake. In fact, this bread was baked with a hole so vendors could slide them on to dowel rods, making it easy to transport them to wherever they would be selling their bagel that day.”

“Bagels are the only bread that are boiled before they are baked.”

World Champion Competitive Eater Joey Chestnut won Siegel’s Bagelmania Bagel Eating Competition in Las Vegas January 13, winning the title, a championship belt and $5,000 of the total $10,000 prize pool.