Authentic Bagels in Singapore

[[email protected]]

My Question. Is there anywhere in Singapore to buy authentic Bagels.

I was just at Great World and saw Bagels for sale in a bakery there. Then, I noticed that they are sourdough Bagels. Which, in general, seems insulting to a particular group of people. 1. Bagels aren't sourdough. 2. Bagels are boiled and then baked. Not nice to call it a Bagel if it's not a Bagel.

It is not polite to call your cheese Swiss if it is not made in the correct country. How about not selling your round-with-hole bread roll as a Bagel if your baker doesn't know how to make it?

Bad enough that the large bakers are selling at Fairprice, etc., a product that is not a Bagel. But to title yourself 'Baker' and sell something, not a Bagel as a Bagel, is embarrassing.

[abbby]

@[email protected] I think they're only keen in making money. Not the authenticity. Honestly, I find Singapore's bakery standard very average. I've not eaten nice bagels or pastry here.

[NYY1]

How about B for Bagel?

I don't eat a lot of bagels or pastries but had one of these a while back. It seemed like a bit more than a round piece of bread with a hole in the middle. Probably not as crispy / chewy as the boiled and baked ones elsewhere though.

[malcontent]

You are gonna have a tough time adapting to life in Singapore if you expect everything to be authentic. I’m no bagel purist, but I do like bagels, and sourdough. Lately I’ve been buying locally made NYC ones from Cold Storage. They aren’t bad, but you need a serrated knife, because they are not precut (fine by me).

It’s kinda weird, but I really like to wash down a bagel with cha yen (Thai tea), which I make at home, with a freshly toasted bagel and a generous dollop of cold sour cream spread on it.

It all started after a trip Bangkok around 10 years ago, we were at the Paragon mall in the morning and I spotted an Au Bon Pain outlet, which I could not pass up (they also had Au Bon Pain in Singapore a long time ago). I was hungry for breakfast at the time and they had these amazing jalapeño and cheddar bagels and they also served cha yen (like everywhere else in Thailand).

Anyway, bagels here are pricey, even the frozen ones, so it’s not something I eat regularly. I might buy one pack every two months at most. I keep them in the freezer until consumption. Ten seconds in the microwave is enough to get a knife through, then it’s on to the toaster in frozen mode… comes out wonderfully.

[Lisafuller]

My Question. Is there anywhere in Singapore to buy authentic Bagels.

I was just at Great World and saw Bagels for sale in a bakery there. Then, I noticed that they are sourdough Bagels. Which, in general, seems insulting to a particular group of people. 1. Bagels aren't sourdough. 2. Bagels are boiled and then baked. Not nice to call it a Bagel if it's not a Bagel.

It is not polite to call your cheese Swiss if it is not made in the correct country. How about not selling your round-with-hole bread roll as a Bagel if your baker doesn't know how to make it?

Bad enough that the large bakers are selling at Fairprice, etc., a product that is not a Bagel. But to title yourself 'Baker' and sell something, not a Bagel as a Bagel, is embarrassing.

Funny you say that about Great World. That place is crawling with expats, if anything you should have had pretty good luck there. Try Two Men Bagel House in Holland Village.

[Lisafuller]

@[email protected] I think they're only keen in making money. Not the authenticity. Honestly, I find Singapore's bakery standard very average. I've not eaten nice bagels or pastry here.

I actually have a soft spot for neighborhood bakeries here, obviously, they're not the best quality, but they are tasty and inexpensive.

[Lisafuller]

How about B for Bagel?

I don't eat a lot of bagels or pastries but had one of these a while back. It seemed like a bit more than a round piece of bread with a hole in the middle. Probably not as crispy / chewy as the boiled and baked ones elsewhere though.

Never tried B for Bagel, but have tried a number of others. I like TMBH for loaded bagels, Wooly's for dine-in, and Onalu for inventive flavors.

[Lisafuller]

You are gonna have a tough time adapting to life in Singapore if you expect everything to be authentic. I’m no bagel purist, but I do like bagels, and sourdough. Lately I’ve been buying locally made NYC ones from Cold Storage. They aren’t bad, but you need a serrated knife, because they are not precut (fine by me).

It’s kinda weird, but I really like to wash down a bagel with cha yen (Thai tea), which I make at home, with a freshly toasted bagel and a generous dollop of cold sour cream spread on it.

It all started after a trip Bangkok around 10 years ago, we were at the Paragon mall in the morning and I spotted an Au Bon Pain outlet, which I could not pass up (they also had Au Bon Pain in Singapore a long time ago). I was hungry for breakfast at the time and they had these amazing jalapeño and cheddar bagels and they also served cha yen (like everywhere else in Thailand).

Anyway, bagels here are pricey, even the frozen ones, so it’s not something I eat regularly. I might buy one pack every two months at most. I keep them in the freezer until consumption. Ten seconds in the microwave is enough to get a knife through, then it’s on to the toaster in frozen mode… comes out wonderfully.

Never heard of that combination before, sounds absolutely delicious! Will be lucky if I ever find myself with both on hand at once, though.

[malcontent]

After re-reading, I realize I goofed by saying sour cream instead if cream cheese. Obviously, it’s cream cheese… and not the soft stuff which isn’t as good.

[Lisafuller]

After re-reading, I realize I goofed by saying sour cream instead if cream cheese. Obviously, it’s cream cheese… and not the soft stuff which isn’t as good.

Was referring to the combination of bagels and Thai tea.

[malcontent]

After re-reading, I realize I goofed by saying sour cream instead if cream cheese. Obviously, it’s cream cheese… and not the soft stuff which isn’t as good.

Was referring to the combination of bagels and Thai tea.

I agree, and I would have never thought of the combination on my own… that’s why it’s good to travel. I still remember my very first Thai tea, it was 30 years ago in Milwaukee, WI of all places. It’s safe to say, it was love at first slurp.

[Lisafuller]

After re-reading, I realize I goofed by saying sour cream instead if cream cheese. Obviously, it’s cream cheese… and not the soft stuff which isn’t as good.

Was referring to the combination of bagels and Thai tea.

I agree, and I would have never thought of the combination on my own… that’s why it’s good to travel. I still remember my very first Thai tea, it was 30 years ago in Milwaukee, WI of all places. It’s safe to say, it was love at first slurp.

I moved my daughter into college this past fall and had some of the best Thai food of my life in NY. The cha yen was exquisite. Very pricey though, something like US$7 a cup. That's Manhattan for you...

[malcontent]

I’m currently happy on the NYC brand bagels (local) which are nice sized. Straight from the freezer, 10 secs in the microwave, serrated blade to saw it in half, then into the toaster with defrost mode on. Once they are gently sizzling, you know they are almost done. I stick the knife in the hole to get them out, because they are piping hot at first. Then slap on the cold cream cheese and dig in. It really hits the spot when I’ve got a hankering for one.