As an American blogger in Joburg, it is my moral obligation to inform the public about the appearance of authentic bagels in this city. Although there are many imposters floating around, real, boiled bagels — crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside, served with real cream cheese — are few and far between. So I’m popping in here quickly to let you know about Bird’s Bagels, a semi-secret weekend bagel pop-up in Blairgowrie.
Bird’s Bagels belongs to Tracy Bird, a South African who spent some time in Washington D.C., fell in love with bagels, and decided the best way to enjoy them back home in Joburg was to make them herself. Her weekend pop-up takes place inside Mr. Pants Wine Bar, an adorable little building at Blairgowrie’s trendy new Delta Central complex.
I was only there very briefly on Sunday morning, when Thorsten and I had a sudden bagel craving, and I didn’t come prepared to do a blog post. We had a brief chat with Tracy and ordered eight bagels — two sesame seed, two poppy seed, two za’atar, and two “everything” (a special seasoning made up of all the bagel flavorings) — and a tub of cream cheese. Then we went home for breakfast.
The bagels looked and smelled so great that we were suddenly inspired to make a proper, instagrammable spread.
These bagels are seriously good and so is the cream cheese. I wish we’d bought a dozen instead of eight. Bird’s also sells bagel sandwiches with toppings like egg, smoked trout, tomato, red onion, and avocado, which we will definitely try next time.
Tracy says the pop-up at Mr. Pants is indefinite. But I suggest going soon. That is all.
Follow Bird’s Bagels on Instagram for more pretty bagel photos.
Jeez those look good. And I’m not sure if I’ve ever had a bagel. And I sometimes call myself a foodie, in the nicest sense of the word. Except maybe on the my many trips to the States. But that was decades ago and beyond my aged memory. Is it too late to start? I hope not.
It’s never too late to start eating bagels.
Now how did I know that you’d say that?????
Hi, Heather.
If you want to try another bagel source, there are 2 ‘BagelZone’ outlets – one in Morningside (? South Street?) and one in the Genesis Centre, Glenhazel – great variety of overflowing yummy fillings !
Best regards, Dave Sieff.
Hi David, oh yes I am also a huge Bagel Zone fan! https://430779ae203f.xneelosites.com/2018/04/24/restaurant-of-the-month-bagels-bagel-zone/
I really, really want a bagel right now.
I hope you have your own Bird’s to go to.
Maybe tomorrow!
Is there a way to get these during the week?
Yes! Tracy sells frozen bagels from her house in Melville too. Just message them on IG.
Bagel is my favorite