Rustic's bagels are boiled to produce a yummy chewy texture and delicious flavor. Boiling breaks down the bonds in the starch, locking the liquid inside of it and expanding the interior.  The boiling also thickens the crust to produce a more chewy bagel.  Other bagel makers steam their bagels which does not achieve the unique texture of boiled bagels because the steam does not reach the starchy interior of the bagel dough.  After boiling, toppings are added such as rosemary salt, jalapeno cheddar or tomato asiago, or just made plain and then baked to perfection. Rustic even makes gluten free bagels.