We at Taking Your Pulse HQ are never quite sure exactly what will strike a nerve in Palm Beach County.

Apparently, the question of who makes the best bagel here is very important.

We had the most votes ever in our short history for this battle royal, and there was no runaway winner this time around. Our winner had just 18 percent of the vote.

That winner is Bagel Boyz, the mini-chain that started in Jupiter and is now in four locations in North County.

More: See final results | Past polls, results

Following Bagel Boyz in our poll are Jupiter’s Maplewood Bagel Market, Delray Beach’s Way Beyond Bagels, Strathmore Bagels in Wellington and Original Brooklyn Water Bagel, which has locations in both Delray Beach and Palm Beach Gardens.

We’ll be leaving our poll open and checking back at another time, so if you really feel passionate about where you get your bagels, keep on voting.

By MEGAN K. SCOTT

Like most moms, Monica Schumacher’s mornings are a bit busy; she has less than an hour to get herself and her daughter out the door. So breakfast for her 6-year-old has to be simple: frozen waffles or pancakes, a yogurt and fruit, some instant cream of wheat. She herself grabs a granola bar and a banana on her way to the car.

“You are always feeling rushed as a mom,” said Schumacher of Rockledge, a third-grade teacher at Tropical Elementary on Merritt Island. With her husband’s help, she pulls out of the drive with her daughter in tow at 6:50 a.m. “You always feel like you are on the go.”

We’ve all been told breakfast is the most important meal of the day, what we need after a night of fasting to get us going in the morning. An ongoing study of people who have maintained weight loss of at least 30 pounds for more than a year (National Weight Control Registry) shows eating breakfast helps control weight. Breakfast eaters tend to consume fewer calories and less saturated fat and cholesterol than skippers. Read the full story

One of Kellogg Co.’s most popular brands is popping up in Times Square on Tuesday at Pop-Tarts World, with more than 3,000 square feet dedicated to toaster pastries.

Customers will be able to eat Pop-Tart “sushi,” order a customized pastry or create a custom box filled with a mix of their favorite flavors. They can suggest new types of Pop-Tarts, select a Pop-Tart T-shirt made by specialty artists or get “frosted” and “wrapped in foil” by a light show.

It’s the first time Kellogg has focused a store on one product to cash in on its dedicated following and increase its exposure. The company hopes to make the new store a fixture in Times Square, where two candy makers already have stand-alone emporiums, the Hershey store and Mars Inc.’s M&M’s World.

Pop-Tarts — two layers of pastry with sweet filling — have been a Kellogg mainstay for nearly 50 years; about 2 billion sell each year. But it wasn’t until the recent rise of social media that Kellogg grasped the dedication of Pop-Tart fans.
Read the full story

By MEGAN ANN HARMON

Miami is blessed with sunshine and beaches, but when it comes to terrain, Miami is flat. I always say ‘when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.’ So, I found us an Indoor Rock Climbing Gym in our very own backyard as an alternative! And, to be honest, if you had to rock climb in the South Florida heat, would you? Take a day and enjoy an indoor adrenaline-filled adventure; and stop off at some New York-inspired venues along the way.

Your Schedule:

9 a.m. / Roasters’N Toasters New York Deli and Bagels
9465 South Dixie Highway, Pinecrest, FL 33156
Website: roastersntoasters.com
Cost: $10-12

Yes, even with my huge obsession with Miami, I sometimes still need a little New York in my life. Especially a New York Deli that has become a staple in Miami. Maybe it’s true what they say: Miami really is the New York of the South! Either way, stop here and enjoy coffee and a bite of whatever your taste buds desire – which, if your taste buds know New York, is probably a bagel. The staff is super friendly, and it’s a great place to meet with friends so you can carpool (Miami is a paradise; let’s keep it that way; reduce your carbon footprint).

Read the full story

A mango-blueberry couscous is a healthy, solid start that staves off mid-morning munchies. (AP)

It seems like a paradox, but eating actually can help you maintain a healthy weight and even lose a few pounds, especially when it comes to breakfast.

Many of us skimp on this important first meal of the day, either because we’re in a rush or it seems like a good place to cut a few calories. Unfortunately, this usually leads to feeling starved by mid-morning. That’s when the temptation is greatest to grab a doughnut or other carb-dense food for a quick (and counterproductive) energy fix.

Studies have shown that people who eat a healthy breakfast have an easier time dieting (because they’re not hungry all the time) and are better at keeping off the weight they lose.

Of course, this isn’t license to start the day with a stack of syrup-drenched pancakes. Instead, choose foods that are low-calorie and filling, such as fresh fruits and vegetables or low-fat dairy products, such as yogurt or skim milk.
Read the full story

Pancakes are a perennial favorite, in part because they’re fun and easy to make, both desirable attributes for a Mother’s Day meal.

These double-ginger pancakes with orange-vanilla yogurt creme are as good as brunch at a restaurant.

A combination of ground dry and grated fresh ginger creates an intense flavor in the pancakes, which is complemented by a sweet and tangy yogurt topping laced with orange zest.

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Oscar and Grammy award-winner Jennifer Hudson chose a candle to light up the side of the second celebrity-designed “7-Eleven® Coffee Cup With A Cause.” Her cup goes on sale today at participating 7-Eleven stores across the U.S. and will be available through May 31 or while supplies last.
Proceeds from the cup featuring Hudson’s personal design will benefit her designated charity, Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The cup is inscribed with the words “Light of Peace” in Hudson’s handwriting. Read the full story

Rabbi Michael Singer is a 'foodie' and is commonly asked about good passover meals. (Richard Graulich / The Post)

The Dish video: Matzo ball soup, made by the chef at David’s East Side Deli

Many Jews look to their rabbis for sage advice. But the congregants in Rabbi Michael Singer’s synagogue also look to him for a good recipe for General Tso’s Chicken.

"I’m a foodie," said Singer, who’s the rabbi at Temple Beth David in Palm Beach Gardens.

In Singer’s case, that love of all things gourmet has translated into a variety of synagogue programs, from a "Welcome Back" barbecue he hosts in the late summer to a series of cooking classes he conducts throughout the year.

And with Passover just around the corner — the eight-day holiday that commemorates the Jewish exodus from Egypt begins on Monday night — that also means more than a few congregants are bound to be asking Singer for his holiday brisket recipe.

Read the full story

Your day just got a little sweeter.

Ben & Jerry’s is offering a free ice cream cone (any flavor) in their annual Free Cone Day! giveaway noon to 8 p.m.

You don’t need a coupon, but you might need patience, especially if you que up after the school day ends.

Ben & Jerry’s is celebrating new flavors, including Maple Blondie, Milk & Cookies, and Peanut Brittle.

To find a store near you, click here (and be sure to specify shops that participate in Free Scoop Day)

Earlier today,
Starbucks declared today “free pastry day.” Sweet.

Customer had until 10:30 a.m. to claim theirs, with purchase of any drink. They needed to present this coupon to their barista.

Starbucks also accepted coupons presented on mobile devices. The offer was good for one free pastry per customer and supplies were limited. (What’s your favorite Starbuck’s pastry?)

Find the Starbucks closest to you here.

By MIKE SUTTER

When he woke up Wednesday morning, I doubt that food writer and historian John T. Edge meant to offend the entire city of San Antonio.

Except that he did.

Right there in the second paragraph in a story on Page 2 of the New York Times food section, Edge said this: “When it comes to breakfast tacos, however, Austin trumps all other American cities.”

Click here for more on this story from our sister site, Austin360.