To "bread-slice" a bagel, you simply cut it into sections vertically as opposed to horizontally (the standard method of cutting a bagel). Instead of cutting the bagel once, you'll cut it multiple times, creating thin cross-sections.Some bakeries bread-slice large orders of bagels, as this allows consumers to select small sections, rather than taking an entire bagel. The method is known as "bread-slicing" because bakers often use commercial bread slicers to accomplish even cuts.In March 2019, a man named Alek Krautmann drew attention on social media for cross-slicing his bagels."Today I introduced my coworkers to the St Louis secret of ordering bagels bread sliced," Krautmann tweeted. "It was a hit!"Today I introduced my coworkers to the St Louis secret of ordering bagels bread sliced. It was a hit! pic.twitter.com/XNGbljtpYz— Alek Krautmann (@AlekKrautmann) March 26, 2019He included a picture of bread-sliced bagels with the post. Other Twitter users criticized Krautmann's "St. Louis secret," noting that traditional delis wouldn't consider bread-slicing their products (Krautmann reportedly had his bagels sliced at Panera, a popular bakery in the Midwest).Others noted the practical benefits of bread-slicing: People can enjoy several different varieties of bagel, rather than committing to a single flavor. Nevertheless, within a few days of Krautmann's tweet, the #bagelgate hashtag was trending as people debated the merits of bread-sliced bagels.