What’s in a bagel? Well, there’s flour, water, sugar, yeast, salt … and, if you’re the Knight family, plenty of creativity as well.

Jennifer and Deven Knight, who own and operate the restaurant Knights in Shining Aprons along with daughters Abby and Izzy, recently added breakfast to their lineup. Their location on North Main Street, across from the Spotted Cow and near the LISD Tech Center, makes them a convenient morning stop for anyone commuting between Adrian and Tecumseh. And the bagels they serve up daily are catching on not just because they’re made fresh from scratch every morning — but also because of their inventive array of flavors.

But first, what is it that gives this breakfast staple its unmistakable texture? The key is that, after the dough is made and shaped, it’s not just baked — it’s boiled first. Those few minutes in boiling water are what gives bagels the characteristic chewiness that has made them a favorite for centuries.

People who stop by to see the Knights on their way to work can expect that the bagels will not just be fresh-made, they’ll also come in a wide variety of flavors you might not expect. Alongside the traditional varieties like plain, everything, and salt, Abby, who makes the bagels, tries to mix it up with flavors like sharp cheddar and jalapeño cheddar — and also to have something different in the mix every week. She’s baked up pistachio bagels, mint chocolate chip bagels, and even ones flavored with Hot Cheetos or Fruity Pebbles. 

One customer favorite is the french toast bagel. This one starts out as a cinnamon bagel, but right near the end, it’s coated with a wash that’s basically like a french toast batter, plus maple syrup and brown sugar, which bakes into a thin crispy topping.

You can also get the bagels as grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches.

In addition to baked goods, when they expanded into offering breakfast, the Knights started grinding their own coffee. “We order the beans green, roast them in-house, and then we grind them — so it’s very, very, very fresh coffee,” explains Deven.

Besides breakfast, Knights in Shining Aprons continues to offer sandwiches, soups, and a variety of entrees, some of them on rotating weekly special, that are designed to be easily taken home or enjoyed on-site. 

Contact info:
Knights in Shining Aprons
1325  N. Main St., Adrian
517-920-4289
knightsinshiningaprons.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.