To think it's impossible to get a decent bagel or American muffin in this country?

[rollonretirementfgs]

Supermarket bagels are crap, the ones in the polythene bags. M&S did nice fresh ones but stopped selling them. American muffins... massive light fluffy muffins, as big as your head. Had one in France recently from Columbus coffee.... rubbish over here! Please enlighten me on any hidden gems.

Many thanks,

Desperate for carbs

I like these too! But for proper ones, definitely Beigel Bake (and they deliver now too) 😊

I’m in Texas. I make my own bagels using Nigellas recipe. My grandmother made bagels her whole life because she had to cross the Mersey to get one.

If a bagel isn’t boiled it’s not a bagel.

Nuffin on the muffin. In the UK my ride or die carb treat is the pret chocolate brownie or cake. Sometimes both. Million times better than any muffin.

Cohen's bagel are well reviewed online and are available through Ocado. I've tried them and they have a nice chewy texture

If you are further north west in London then there is also
https://www.itsbagels.com/#intro

And yes at £1.70, it's even more expensive. But it isn't cheap to make things properly.

If you’re anywhere near Radlett in Herts there’s a brilliant NY style bagelry called Bagel + Schmear. Not cheap mind.

Likewise if you’re anywhere near a Muffin Break cafe they’re an acceptable approximation.

How about English scones, or Welsh welshcakes, or bara brith, or Lancashire eccles cakes, or Scottish Dundee cake, or even a Bakewell tart, or Irish apple cake, or plain old crumpets with jam? :)

But yes, decent bagels are hard to find unless you can get to Brick Lane or Finsbury Park or other places with good bagel bakeries easily. There used to be a place in Lisson Grove that did decent ones. I've not seen any outside London, but there must be lots of places.

I get Waitrose cholla bread instead these days.

Lidl have decent bagels sometimes in the bakery section, Morrisons have had them too again fresh, or you need to go to a bakery. Our local bakery has good raspberry and white chocolate muffins

Beigels I will admit take work to make. But muffins? Make your own.

I make my own bagels sometimes, pretty easy

If anywhere close to London. Brick Lane!

I like Warburtons ones, BUT distinctly remember the taste of having one from a Jewish bakery when younger and they are not the same thing.

In north London, Panzer's Deli sells lovely plan , onion and seeded bagels.
Also not cheap. (It's in St John's Wood...)

Can someone share an American muffin recipe please. I'm googling and they all look the same as the British ones?

I've not had a decent American style muffin in the Uk. For bagels you need the Jewish neighborhood delis in places like Hampstead Garden Suburb. American bagels are just Jewish ones. Most of the ones here are shameful.

+1

Panzers also sell the best smoked salmon in the universe.

Totally agree.

You've not tasted a real bagel until you've tried a fresh one.

Used to buy them in bulk from Brick Lane when I lived in London.

This is near me and we have it almost weekly. Very, very good.

You can freeze the fresh deli ones. Then defrost, slice and toast. Lovely.

All this talk of bagels, makes me think of a fresh salt beef sandwich from Brick Lane Jewish bakery

Mmm a ( gigantic) slice of heaven!

If you mean Beigel Shop (the yellow one) then I think it closed?

Beigel Bake (the white one) is still there though 👍

This thread is making me crave cream cheese...

The one I got was from.the white one.

Think they’ve shut down.

Moishes in borough market do lovely ones (and chollah loaf and really yummy mini patisseries). And proper bobka.