BOLTON may be a long way from Baltimore -- but the town shares a favourite taste with American food fans -- we all love bagels.

And 25-year-old Kai Taylor could not be more pleased about that on National Bagel Day. The young entrepreneur -- owner of Cafe:Bagel on Deansgate -- has found that Boltonians love the traditional Jewish favourite, and beat a lunchtime path to his door.

Kai buys his bagels from a local bakery and picks his own veg, salmon and chicken for fillings at Bolton Market fresh every morning. He said Bolton's best-selling bagel is the classic favourite smoked salmon and cream cheese variety, but the breakfast bagel -- with smoked bacon, egg and tomato -- is also popular.

He added: "Bagels are really taking off here -- I'm ordering more and more each week."