Bagel News

Philly Cream Cheese recruits Dallas' Starship Bagels to resolve bagel issue

Starship Bagels and Philly Cream Cheese partner on a no-hole bagel.

Philly Cream Cheese

Dallas-based Starship Bagel has been recruited by a national company to solve a problem we did not know we had: bagel holes.

In a partnership with Philadelphia cream cheese, the acclaimed bagel maker has devised a limited-edition bagel with no holes, so as to make for a better platform for the spreading Philadelphia's cream cheese.

Called Philadelphia Bagel Wholes, it's a limited-edition, no-hole bagel that is available beginning January 30. Today! You can go get one today. At Starship's two locations: in downtown Dallas and the original in Lewisville.

Starship is one of five award-winning bagel shops across North America to partner with Philadelphia on this whimsical marketing quest. The five bagel shops serving the limited-edition no-hole bagel include:

Utopia Bagels in New York
Steingold’s of Chicago
Starship Bagel Dallas
Rubinstein Bagel in Seattle
St-Viateur Bagel in Montreal.

It's another accolade for Starship, rated the best bagel in Dallas and the only bagel shop from Texas to compete in the 2023 New York BagelFest, which Starship handily swept, winning top awards both for Best Bagel and Rising Star. Starship was also the only bagel shop in Texas to make a list of "The Very Best Bagels in the U.S." by Bon Appetit magazine.

According to a release, Philadelphia Bagel Wholes feature each shop’s signature bagel without the hole, providing a first-of-its-kind solution that offers more space to enjoy Philly's cream cheese spread.

“We’ve heard our fans question why bagels have holes and the limitations it poses for their favorite cream cheese, and we couldn’t agree more,” said Keenan White, Senior Brand Manager, Philadelphia at the Kraft Heinz Company. “That’s why we’re joining forces with fan-favorite shops across North America to create a more-schmear movement, maximizing the space to enjoy Philly’s signature, creamy taste with every bite.”

Philadelphia Bagel Wholes are available for purchase for a limited time in-store at all five bagel shops. Fans who can’t make it in-store can purchase the bagel for U.S. nationwide shipping via Goldbelly.com from Utopia Bagels.

Starship Bagel founder Oren Salomon is also quoted thusly:

“We’ve heard first-hand from our loyal customers about their frustrations around bagels with holes, so it was only right for us to rally with Philly, the only cream cheese that makes the cut to be on our bagels, in this creative movement,” Salomon says. “Now you can bite confidently into your bagel knowing that your bite will capture both bagel and schmear and lose none to the floor or less fortunate schmutz-dropping targets.”

Oren gives good quote.

Philadelphia Bagel Wholes will be available January 30 until February 12, while supplies last.

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Italian Restaurant News

Italian restaurant The Saint makes debut in Dallas Design District

Samantha Marie Photography

The Saint

A swanky restaurant is relocating from one hip Dallas neighborhood to another: The Saint, the Italian steakhouse from Hooper Hospitality Concepts which originally opened near Deep Ellum in 2023, is moving to a new address in the Dallas Design District.

The restaurant will open at 1000 N. Riverfront Blvd., and it's happening soon: According to a release, it'll open on Saturday, January 3.

It's going into same building that will be home to Night Rooster, The Saint's sibling Asian concept which will open sometime in 2026.

Hooper Hospitality Concepts CEO Andy Hooper says in a statement that "the Design District offers the ideal setting for the experience we’ve created. It gives us greater visibility, a setting that matches the sophistication of our menu, and a chance to welcome even more guests into the world of The Saint."

Decor
The 1,800-square-foot dining room seats 85. Highlights include a golden-tiled stairway leading to the restaurant’s second-story landing, crowned by an 18th-century gilt chandelier, counterbalanced by a graffitied antique oil portrait hand-tagged by Design District artist Kelly O’Neal.

It's a whole opposites theme, creating a space where both “saints and sinners” feel at home. The wallpaper features a vivid interpretation of saints-and-sinners iconography, blending flora, fauna, snakes, doves, and talismanic motifs into a damask pattern.

Scalloped upholstered booths soften the room with elegant curves under the pink glow of an antique 1920s Parisian glass-domed chandelier. Nearly every seat captures a view of the downtown Dallas skyline.

New chef
The kitchen is now led by executive chef Sergio Esquivel, a Dallas-born chef whose culinary roots trace back to early days cooking beside his grandmothers. He attended The Culinary Institute of America and has worked at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Georgie by Curtis Stone, Harper’s, Nuri Steakhouse, and as personal chef for the Jones family at AT&T Stadium.

His style blends steakhouse tradition with Italian technique, Peruvian brightness, American comfort, and Korean depth, with a commitment to crafting everything in-house.

His menu will include dry-aged cuts from Texas ranchers, Wagyu selections, housemade pastas, seafood, and vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Standout menu items include

Texas Wagyu Tartare with truffle carpaccio and balsamic cured egg yolk
Shellfish Platter with Maine lobster, king crab, oysters, and prawns with cocktail sauce
Wild Mushroom & Black Truffle Tagliatelle
32-oz Bistecca Alla Fiorentina

The bar program will continue to offer inventive cocktails and a notable wine selection, now enhanced by a lineup of new signature drinks such as the In Good Faith with Ford’s Gin, Ramazotti Apertivo, hibiscus syrup, lemon and sparkling wine; plus new smoked whiskey decanter drinks, offering a mesquite-smoked Manhattan and Old Fashioned in regular and top shelf selections.

deep-ellum openings