Bagel supply

[zmook.livejournal.com]

What's the best source around here for bagels?  Do I have to go to Panera in Porter Square?

Comments

[teko.livejournal.com]

Having not tried them yet (due to the aforementioned crazy line out the door), I'm not exactly defending them, but every review I've read besides this describes them as "easily the best in the city, though overpriced" (more or less). So if they aren't even good bagels, do you have an alternate suggestion?

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

How many of those reviews included a description that was like the one above, "as good as the best in NYC"? As noted, I am baffled, and I do think a lot of it is effective marketing, and pricing that makes people believe they are better than they are. Or because they are different, that is interpreted as better. I really don't know. I bought a dozen because my partner had heard all the good and wanted to try them. I nearly walked out when I saw the price, because I've never paid that much for a bagel in my life. It both bothered me and also worried me a little, because what if they *were* all that, and then I'd keep overpaying for bagels like crazy?

As it happened, both of us found them nothing special. We are both from NY, though, so perhaps if we were more used to Montreal bagels, we'd have been more impressed.

As for alternate suggestions, I don't buy bagels often enough to offer, I'm sorry. When we go to NY, we tend to bring back a dozen or so to freeze, but other than that, we generally don't bother. I feel like I recall thinking the Einstein Brothers Bagels weren't bad, but I can't swear to it?

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

So having just posted that, I had another thought...

When I first moved to the area, there was one morning I was out for a walk and wanted a bagel. So I wandered into various shops and asked what was still warm (my standard question back "home" when I wanted a bagel to eat on the spot) and everyone would look at me like I had three heads. But I was used to bagel stores that baked round-the-clock so it didn't seem like an odd question to me. :)

Anyway, remembering that made me wonder if part of the love affair with Bagelsaurus is that if you go at the right time, you do stand a chance of getting a fresh-out-of-the-oven bagel, which is a lovely thing to have, and may be something else that is tricking people into believing they are better than they are. I mean, the NY-style thing isn't even a matter of opinion, so given how many people make the comparison, I know folks are being deluded by *something*.

[enveri.livejournal.com]

Bagelsaurus bases their dough on Scratch Bakery, in south Portland, ME.

Scratch does a sort of sourdough bagel. I'm not knowledgeable enough about Montreal style to make a comparison, but I've been pretty happy with both Scratch and Bagelsaurus. I do buy bagels infrequently enough that the price tag didn't really bother me.

[ceo]

Ah, I thought Bagelsaurus's bagels were similar to Scratch's. I really like their bagels, but Iggy's are much closer to what I think of as a NYC-style bagel.

[gruene.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Montréal bagels definitely use a sweeter dough. The crunchiness and chewiness is what reminded me of them.

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

oh I bet you're right that the "still hot" freshness comes into play. And the wire cages and bagels with salt toppings available. :)