Good bagels near Westford, MA
Glenn Giacalone
In search of good bagels that are boiled then baked, crispy crust and
chewy inside near Westford, MA. That's near Carlisle, Acton, and
Chelmsford. I tried the Bruegger's near the Drum Hill Circle and the
bagels were just OK (did I get them on a bad day).
Thanks in advance for any help!
Barry Shein
From: Glenn Giacalone <g...@segsrv.enet.dec.com>
>In search of good bagels that are boiled then baked, crispy crust and
>chewy inside near Westford, MA. That's near Carlisle, Acton, and
>Chelmsford. I tried the Bruegger's near the Drum Hill Circle and the
>bagels were just OK (did I get them on a bad day).
Oh boy here we go again...
There are exactly two ways to get good bagels while living in the
Boston area:
1) Drive to NYC and buy some (or get someone to send you some.)
2) Change your definition of good bagels.
There do exist reasonably edible toroidol bread masses in this area
(mostly from places in Brookline), but if what you long for is
something like a good NYC bagel the consensus is (it comes up
frequently on this group): Forget it.
--
-Barry Shein
Software Tool & Die | b...@world.std.com | http://www.std.com
Purveyors to the Trade | Voice: 617-739-0202 | Login: 617-739-WRLD
David A. Pearlman
In article <x591f0b...@world.std.com> b...@world.std.com (Barry Shein) writes:
>
)From: Glenn Giacalone <g...@segsrv.enet.dec.com>
)>In search of good bagels that are boiled then baked, crispy crust and
)>chewy inside near Westford, MA. That's near Carlisle, Acton, and
)>Chelmsford. I tried the Bruegger's near the Drum Hill Circle and the
)>bagels were just OK (did I get them on a bad day).
)
)Oh boy here we go again...
)
)There are exactly two ways to get good bagels while living in the
)Boston area:
)
)1) Drive to NYC and buy some (or get someone to send you some.)
)
)2) Change your definition of good bagels.
)
)There do exist reasonably edible toroidol bread masses in this area
)(mostly from places in Brookline), but if what you long for is
)something like a good NYC bagel the consensus is (it comes up
)frequently on this group): Forget it.
There's a place near Arlington center on Mass Ave (at the corner
of Jason and Mass Ave), US Bagels, that claims to sell H&H Bagels of
NYC. Now, I don't know exactly how that can be. They sell day-olds
as day-olds, so I doubt they're shipping them in. Maybe they prepare
them according to the H&H recipe? Anyway, they have an H&H banner in the
window...I haven't been there yet, so I can't say what the story is.
Many people seem to think H&H make the best bages in NYC. Personally,
I don't agree (and their bialys are pretty poor), but they ARE definitely
"good NY bagels."
dap
--
David A. Pearlman email: d...@vpharm.com
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
40 Allston St. "There are only 5 great people in the world &
Cambridge, MA 02139-4211 5 of them are hamburgers..." -- Cptn Beefheart
Adam M Gaffin
In article <x591f0b...@world.std.com>,
>
>There do exist reasonably edible toroidol bread masses in this area
>
Ever been to Cafe Bagel in Dedham Center? Dunno why somebody would put a
bagel place *there*, but they serve up the best bagels east of the Hutch
(you'll have to go elsewhere for the nova, though).
--
Adam Gaffin
ad...@world.std.com / (508) 820-7433
Boston Online - Commercial Free, 24 hours a day
http://www.std.com/NE/boston.html
Phil Budne
In article <4n0c2m$j...@portal.vpharm.com>,
David A. Pearlman <d...@portal.vpharm.com> wrote:
>There's a place near Arlington center on Mass Ave (at the corner
>of Jason and Mass Ave), US Bagels, that claims to sell H&H Bagels of
>NYC. Now, I don't know exactly how that can be. They sell day-olds
>as day-olds, so I doubt they're shipping them in.
I live a block away, so I'm there often. I asked, and they said
they're par-baked in NYC, trucked up and they finish baking them.
I've had them warm and chewey. If you leave them out they turn
rock solid, and give your jaw a good workout, just as they should!
-phil
Chris Thurrott/Kris D'Anci
Try Coggin's in Concord Center (and now in Bedford on Great
Road).
Glenn Giacalone wrote:
>
> In search of good bagels that are boiled then baked, crispy crust and
> chewy inside near Westford, MA. That's near Carlisle, Acton, and
> Chelmsford. I tried the Bruegger's near the Drum Hill Circle and the
> bagels were just OK (did I get them on a bad day).
>
Stephen Z. Stein
In article <3193A3...@segsrv.enet.dec.com>, Glenn Giacalone
<g...@segsrv.enet.dec.com> wrote:
> In search of good bagels that are boiled then baked, crispy crust and
> chewy inside near Westford, MA. That's near Carlisle, Acton, and
> Chelmsford.
My favorite local bagel place is definitely
*** BAGELS PLUS ***
in Acton, on 2A between Rt 2 and 27 (near the Acton Cinema).
These bagels are the best I've had north of 100th St, and compare
favorably to the upper West Side offerings I recently sampled.
- Steve Stein
Stephen Z. Stein
Happy Fun Ball
These bagels are the best I've had north of 100th St, and compare
favorably to the upper West Side offerings I recently sampled.
Heresy!
Columbia Bagels (110th & B'way) beat H&H hands-down. Whose bagels are
sold at Zabar's? Hint: Not H&H.
Having said that, I'll admit that I do prefer H&H's plain bagels
sometimes -- they're quite sweet.
betsey
--
**********************************************************************
Betsey Fike <fi...@picante.com> http://www.picante.com/~fike/
Zoe Cohen
In article <4n7frl$h...@paperboy.osf.org>, d...@osf.org (David Lewis) wrote:
> Kupel's made reasonably close approximations, but the continual price
> increases and snotty staff drove me away.
Try Tuler's on Comm. ave just outside of Newton Center.
(they sell Kupel's their bread)
Haven't been there all year (so I don't know about price increases, but
when i was there last they sold for .45 each, $3.89 a dozen) but I worked
there last year and the staff is anything but snotty. :)
I grew up on their bagels so they happen to be my faves- not extremely
crispy on the outside, but never airy (star market) or chewy (brueggers).
They toast up really nice...
-Zoe.
Richard Wolfson
Glenn Giacalone wrote:
>
> In search of good bagels that are boiled then baked, crispy crust and
> chewy inside near Westford, MA. That's near Carlisle, Acton, and
> bagels were just OK (did I get them on a bad day).
>
> Thanks in advance for any help!
>
> Glenn
> g...@segsrv.hlo.dec.com
Ignore Barry Shein's advice. The answer is, you go downtown (Boston) to
Quincy Market and buy them at Finagle a Bagel, $4.95 for a dozen (that's
13!). They're truly great bagels -- hot, chewey, and big, with little
sphincter-like holes. Not only the best in the Boston area, but BETTER
than H&H in New York City (which are very good).
As to Zabars (across the street from H&H), bagels are not really a
factor there, but their baguettes are the best I've had outside of
France (and of course, their nova is to die for).
Bon apetit.
--Dick Wolfson
--
Richard R. Wolfson rwol...@BareHill.com
Bare Hill Associates Tel 508-456-2700
42 Willow Road, Harvard, MA 01451 Fax 508-456-8101
-------------------------------------------------------------
Software design, development & management
-------------------------------------------------------------
Barry Shein
From: Richard Wolfson <rwol...@BareHill.com>
>Ignore Barry Shein's advice.
...at your own personal risk!
>The answer is, you go downtown (Boston) to
>Quincy Market and buy them at Finagle a Bagel, $4.95 for a dozen (that's
>13!). They're truly great bagels -- hot, chewey, and big, with little
>sphincter-like holes. Not only the best in the Boston area, but BETTER
>than H&H in New York City (which are very good).
(sphincter-like holes? if you were thinking of going into food ad-copy
writing, um, don't quit your day job!)
Ok, I'll have to try these and report back, at least you sound like
you know what you're talking about.
Aren't there other Finagle a Bagels?
Richard Wolfson
Barry Shein wrote:
>
> Ok, I'll have to try these and report back, at least you sound like
> you know what you're talking about.
>
> Aren't there other Finagle a Bagels?
>
> --
> -Barry Shein
I think they now have some "branches", but I'm not sure where. I've only been to
their place at Quincy Market, which is their original location. You can watch them
make the bagels there. I once struck up a conversation with the owner, back when
they had just opened. In response to my questions about how to make such good
bagels, he said they use high-gluten flour, and add additional gluten, plus a
"conditioner." I said, "what's a conditioner." He said, "I don't know. It comes
from Brooklyn, and it's called "Ancient Jewish Secret."
Adam M Gaffin
In article <x5zq7ak...@world.std.com>,
The Star Market on Spring Street in West Roxbury now carries them -
who'da thunk it?
Barry Shein
From: Richard Wolfson <rwol...@BareHill.com>
>I once struck up a conversation with the owner, back when
>they had just opened. In response to my questions about how to make such good
>bagels, he said they use high-gluten flour, and add additional gluten, plus a
>"conditioner." I said, "what's a conditioner." He said, "I don't know. It comes
>from Brooklyn, and it's called "Ancient Jewish Secret."
I could be wrong but I believe this is what most of us call "salt".
Faith Senie
In article <DrF75...@world.std.com>,
Adam M Gaffin <ad...@world.std.com> wrote:
)In article <x5zq7ak...@world.std.com>,
)Barry Shein <b...@world.std.com> wrote:
)>
)>
)>Aren't there other Finagle a Bagels?
)
)The Star Market on Spring Street in West Roxbury now carries them -
)who'da thunk it?
Actually, I have yet to find a Star Market that doesn't carry the
Finagle A Bagel bagels (of course, my sample size is only 2 -- the
Countryside Star in Stow and the SuperStar in Milford). And I quite
agree that they are outstanding bagels! We started getting them
when the ones from Lederman's in Worcester started tasting more
and more like plain ol' bread...
Barry Shein
From: f...@senie.com (Faith Senie)
>Actually, I have yet to find a Star Market that doesn't carry the
>Finagle A Bagel bagels (of course, my sample size is only 2 -- the
>Countryside Star in Stow and the SuperStar in Milford). And I quite
>agree that they are outstanding bagels! We started getting them
>when the ones from Lederman's in Worcester started tasting more
>and more like plain ol' bread...
Interesting, I usually shop at either the Star in Newtonville or the
one in Brighton and never noticed these. Are they sold fresh in the
bakery or frozen or what?
Faith Senie
In article <x5spd1k...@world.std.com>,
Barry Shein <b...@world.std.com> wrote:
)
)From: f...@senie.com (Faith Senie)
)>Actually, I have yet to find a Star Market that doesn't carry the
)>Finagle A Bagel bagels (of course, my sample size is only 2 -- the
)>Countryside Star in Stow and the SuperStar in Milford). And I quite
)>agree that they are outstanding bagels! We started getting them
)>when the ones from Lederman's in Worcester started tasting more
)>and more like plain ol' bread...
)
)Interesting, I usually shop at either the Star in Newtonville or the
)one in Brighton and never noticed these. Are they sold fresh in the
)bakery or frozen or what?
Both Stars have them out as fresh bagels, delivered daily. The Stow
Star has 'em in a display case by the meat counter; the Milford
Star has their display case right by the bakery. The display cases
are large enough at both stores for them to separate out different
flavors into mini-bins. We discovered you have to be careful, though,
with the pumpernickel ones, because, if they don't get sold out
right away, they're the ones most apt to go blue and furry (so far
only a problem in Stow, and not in the last 6 months, at that). But if
you get 'em early enough in the day that they're still soft -- yum!
David A. Pearlman
In article <x5zq7ak...@world.std.com> b...@world.std.com (Barry Shein) writes:
>
>Aren't there other Finagle a Bagels?
There are...And you can also get Finagle a Bagel bagels at many star
markets, trucked in every day...
dap
--
David A. Pearlman email: d...@vpharm.com
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc.
40 Allston St. "There are only 25 great people in the world &
Liz Little
As for Finagle a Bagel, I think different Star markets get their bagels
from different bakeries - some Finagle and others use others.
As for great bagels, there are some really good bagels in Framingham and
now one in Ashland (on Rt 126) called Brooklyn bagel. Or maybe they just
take great since I've been forced to buy those old ones at Star or
Roche shipped by Finagle, etc. Once they arrive their, they stay for a
while I fear. So the fresh baked I guess are always better anyway. But
I do think Brooklyn bagel is excellent.
Fred R. Goldstein
In article <3198DE...@BareHill.com>, rwol...@BareHill.com says...
>The answer is, you go downtown (Boston) to
>Quincy Market and buy them at Finagle a Bagel, $4.95 for a dozen (that's
>13!). They're truly great bagels -- hot, chewey, and big, with little
>sphincter-like holes. Not only the best in the Boston area, but BETTER
>than H&H in New York City (which are very good).
I'm amazed at all the praise Finagle a Bagel is getting.
They're not bad. But they're not exactly classical bagels either.
Finagle makes a big round thingie that's good for sandwiches, sort of
a sandwich bagel roll. It's softer than a real bagel, and, like too
much food these days ("Vinnie Testa syndrome"), too big. My two-year-old
likes them, since he can't handle firm food yet.
Finagle was *almost* bought out by Einstein's (of Colorado,owned by
the same folks who now own Boston Market) last month. But it wasn't, so
it may not be expanded the way Einstein would have.
Some Brueggers shops (not Newton Center, which just seems to get it
wrong) do pretty well at getting the classical New York form down.
--
Fred R. Goldstein k1io fgold...@bbn.com +1 617 873 3850
Opinions are mine alone; sharing requires permission.
Carol Beaulieu
There is a farm stand/store in the Westford/Acton/Boxboro
area called Idlewild. There is a bakery in the store that
has great bread etc. & in my opinion, the best bagels in the area!
Terry Bruno
In Article <4nsi7l$8...@info-server.bbn.com>, Carol Beaulieu
While I love Idlewild and drive out from Bedford almost every weekend to buy
my fruits and veggies there, those round breads with holes they sell there
aren't bagels. They sell a lot of good tasting bread products there, but not
BAGELS.
I'll be in Bayside Queens this weekend visiting my mom, where we'll be
partaking of the real McCoy. Even my 4 and 8 year old daughters can tell the
difference.
Terry Bruno
te...@aoainc.com
Christian Longshore Claiborn
In article <4nsi7l$8...@info-server.bbn.com>,
Carol Beaulieu <cbea...@bbn.com> wrote:
>There is a farm stand/store in the Westford/Acton/Boxboro
>area called Idlewild. There is a bakery in the store that
>has great bread etc. & in my opinion, the best bagels in the area!
This is, of course, just my HO, but the bagels that they sell at
Idlewild are inferior to most of the chain bagel places in Boston,
and not even Au Bon Pain quality. I work just down the road, and
I've been several times, but I find the bagels there just plain
uninteresting.
That said, they do sell some good breads, and occasionally some
really delicious fruit cookies.
christian