Bruegger's

I love bagels. I've loved them for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I even take the time to make my own from scratch. That's how much I enjoy them. Ever since we've moved to Delaware, it's been hard to find a good bagel. The place in Dover that had decent bagels changed ownership and the quality has gone way downhill. The closest place to us now that has a good bagel is a Manhattan Bagel location about 20 minutes out of the way from our daily activities. So when we went back to NY earlier this month, we knew we would be stopping at Bruegger's at least once. As it turned out, we went three times and grabbed a dozen to freeze on our way home.

Christine and I are big fans of bagels for breakfast, so Bruegger's used to be a semi monthly stop for us when we lived in NY. Unlike the "bagels" you'll find at fast food establishments and most grocery stores, Bruegger's bagels are actually bagels. They are not just a roll with a hole. The key difference between an actual bagels and what the majority of places serve as a bagel is the process of boiling them before they bake. If you walk into any Bruegger's, you'll likely see somebody behind a pane of glass making the bagels. What you'll also see is a gigantic steaming kettle that they use all day to boil the bagels in before they go into the rotating deck oven.

Other than serving a pretty damn good bagel, Bruegger's has a large variety to choose from. Along with a few different seasonal selections, they normally have the following daily: 12 Grain, Asiago Parmesan, Blueberry, Cinnamon Raisin, Cinnamon Sugar, Egg, Everything, Garlic, Jalapeño Cheddar, Onion, Plain, Poppy, Pumpernickel, Rosemary Olive Oil, Salt, Sesame, Sundried Tomato, and Whole Wheat. If that wasn't enough to choose from, then you have the option of a bunch of spreads like butter, peanut butter, hummus, and cream cheese to pair with your bagel. Oh and they make their own cream cheeses in a bunch of different flavors like: Plain, Garden Veggie, Bacon Scallion, Honey Walnut, Jalapeño, Light Herb Garlic, Olive Pimiento, Onion & Chive, Smoked Salmon, and Strawberry.

If you don't want a bagel and a smear (why wouldn't you?) they have breakfast sandwiches and wraps, muffins, bars, and cookies. For lunch they also have sandwiches served on a bagel or bread, salads, and soup. So no matter what time of day you are looking for something to eat, Bruegger's has you covered. I know we've had the muffins, bars, and cookies, but they always go along side a bagel with cream cheese or butter. Like any other breakfast spot, they have coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. 

Of all of the place's back home that we miss, Bruegger's is definitely high on that list. Panera Bread, which you can find almost anywhere, is a great substitute and has a much wider selection of foods. The problem is their bagels aren't quite as good. We've only had Manhattan Bagels once and they were good but it'll take a few more tries to see how they compare. If you like bagels and are ever near a Bruegger's, definitely stop in and have one. My personal favorite is the classic everything bagel with plan cream cheese.