About Sam
Sam's Story
America’s favorite bagel man, Chef Sam Abdalla began his culinary career in 1989. It didn’t take long for his creative enthusiasm for reinventing traditional American dishes to make a splash in New Jersey and eventually all across the United States. Ultimately, Sam created over 40 varieties of bagel flavors, but he is probably best known for his creation of the popular “French Toast” and “Waffle” bagels in 1998.
Never satisfied, Chef Sam continued to expand his culinary experience in 2013 with his completion of intense pastry training at the esteemed International Culinary Institute (formally The French Culinary Institute). While studying past masters, Chef Sam always had his eye on the future.
In 2014, America’s favorite bagel-man made his New York debut, as owner and head chef of The Corner Café on West 24th Street and the Avenue Of The Americas in Chelsea.
Sam boasts a impressive culinary background, having honed his skills in the heart of South France and experiencing the bustling world of celebrity cooking.
Old-Fashioned Hard Work
Over the years, many have forgone taste in order to save time and money. Not Chef Sam! “There are no shortcuts in making great bagels,” according to Sam, “they must be hand-made using the finest ingredients, hand-rolled, boiled, and baked in order to achieve perfection!”
If you can’t tell by now, Chef Sam loves tradition, which is why he chose to be located at “The Corner” building constructed from 1886-1887. Just look at this picture of the building from 1892, it looks almost the same today!
Thomas Edison presented the first demonstration of a moving picture at “The Corner” in 1896. In 2014, Chef Sam is demonstrating what’s old is new again at The Corner Café. He declared: “I believe in preserving the past! I believe in homemade food! I believe in great service!”
America's Favorite Comfort Food
Even after 25 years, Chef Sam’s creative enthusiasm has only grown and his commitment to reshaping our food experience with every bite remains unwavering. Sam says: “The magic that is New York and the cafe’s historic setting has inspired me to bring America’s traditional comfort foods back in a big way!”
In the city that never sleeps, The Corner Café is a friendly place where folks can meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Enjoy the finest homemade bagels, pizza, soups, wraps, salads, sandwiches, pasta, muffins, cakes, cookies and so much more!
The New Jersey Expansion
Now, Sam has brought his Famous Bagels to New Jersey! Chef Sam Abdalla decided it was time to bring his famous bagels back to his roots in New Jersey. With a heart full of nostalgia and a vision to serve his community, he opened Lox of Bagels in Totowa, NJ.
The decision to expand to New Jersey was not only a personal one for Sam, but it also marked a significant milestone in his culinary journey. With a dedicated team of bakers and chefs, the new location in New Jersey stayed true to the principles that made The Corner Café a success—handcrafted, top-quality bagels made with love and care.
In the heart of New Jersey, locals embraced the return of their favorite bagel man, and Lox of Bagels has become a staple of the community.
