I tried PopUp Bagels in Boston so you don't have to
PopUp Bagels, the chain that wants you to rip apart pieces of your bagel like a caveman and dump it into a vat of cream cheese, is taking on the Boston breakfast scene.
Against my better judgment, I tried it.
The intrigue: What began as a pandemic experiment in a man's Westport, Connecticut, home has expanded across that state, New York and now Boston.
PopUp appeared in Wellesley and the Seaport and recently secured a lease to set up shop in Harvard Square.
Catch up quick: The concept of ripping a bagel chunk and dipping it into a cream cheese container feels wrong. But I volunteered as tribute.
Actually, my editors asked me to go. Maybe they were entertained by the shudder I let out when the topic came up.
Who am I to deprive them and the readers of some fun at my expense?
Anyway, that's what I told myself as I pulled apart a chunk of everything bagel and dunked it into a container of Parmesan-garlic cream cheese. (Yes, I spilled seeds and spices all over my table.)
My seven-word review: I wanted to hate it. I couldn't.
Zoom in: The bagel was almost as chewy as a New York bagel, with a crispy crunch around the edges.
The Parmesan and garlic were tasty, but not overpowering.
Between the lines: If you or your kids ever watched SpongeBob SquarePants, you might remember that Squidward, the grumpy squid Krabby Patty employee, insisted he hated the burgers.
Then he bit into a morsel of a patty, and — to his dismay — it changed his tastebuds forever.
I'm not saying this is Krabby Patty good. It's just better than I'd like to admit.
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Forbes
28-05-2025
- Forbes
The Dirty Martini Has Entered The Breakfast Game
Dirty Martinis have been trendier than ever in recent years, as this classic cocktail has found its way into everything from dips to pasta dishes and taken over social media each and every time. But the latest incarnation of the trend has taken the Dirty Martini into a place that's rather unexpected – breakfast. PopUp Bagels, itself often the topic of conversation in food circles, is known for seasonal schmears inspired by holidays or pop culture moments, and their latest limited-edition flavor just may be their most exciting one yet. Launching on May 29 and available through June 4 shall be, of all things, the Dirty Martini Schmear. Creamy and briny, it's everything we would expect in a chilled cocktail class, but instead primed to be spread on a bagel….where it seems to make so much sense, it is almost like it was always meant to be. After generations of pairing savory and briny tastes like scallion cream cheese with smoked salmon, why not bring olives into the mix? Some may say they've belonged there all along. The Dirty Martini flavor is the result of a collaboration that evolved over some time and made a lot of sense. 'Mezzetta actually reached out to us about a potential collaboration, and once Dirty Martini was on the table, we knew it was the move. ALB Vodka jumped in too, and the rest came together pretty naturally - it just made sense!' said Adam Goldberg, founder of Popup Bagels, in an email. 'We packed it with everything that makes a Dirty Martini, a Dirty Martini. Mezzetta's briny olives, a splash of ALB Vodka, and just the right balance of salt and tang," said Goldberg. But this is a flavor that's been on the brand's radar for years. "Loyal fans have been asking for a Dirty Martini schmear forever - and with martinis having such a moment right now, it finally felt like the perfect time," said Goldberg. It's also a way to start building excitement for National Martini Day, but don't expect it to be around that long. "We always bring back schmears by popular demand, but this one won't return in time for National Martini Day. That said, we've got even more exciting partnerships lined up for June - stay tuned!' said Goldberg. The Dirty Martini flavor will be available at all PopUp bagel locations through June 4 and is now available for preorder.
