Bagels. Oxford, UK

March 2021


I've always been a big fan of bagels.  I even tried making my own bagels a couple of times - there's something very satisfying about watching them bob in a pan of boiling water.  But I recently discovered bagels on a whole other level.  With a soft and chewy centre, an almost caramelised crust and more flavour than I can understand how it's possible to get in to what is essentially just a ring of bread, I'm rapidly getting addicted to One Daily Bagel bagels.  I ate both the plain, and salt and pepper ones straight from the bag, no toppings, no toasting, they were that good.  There's also poppy seed, sesame seed, and cinnamon and raisin - it's fine to have a 2 course bagel meal with this as the 'dessert' right!?

Hand crafted by the super friendly Esme, straight from the US, these really are perfect bagels.  Not only are they outrageously delicious, these small-batch authentic American bagels are a shiny object of beauty as well.

Order direct by the half dozen and collect from near Summertown, get them filled from The Jericho Cafe (the New Yorker with salt beef, Emmental, sauerkraut, pickles and thousand island dressing is particularly delicious), or head to Colombia Coffee Roasters or 2 North Parade where you can buy them at weekends (but be warned, they sell out in minutes!).

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