Bagel Pop-Ups in JP and Somerville Bring Gluten to the Masses

Exodus Bagels is currently in search of a permanent storefront in Jamaica Plain, and Somerville-based Better Bagels has two upcoming pop-ups at local bars.

Before he makes a home, Exodus Bagels proprietor Adam Hirsch is also doing the pop-up thing. He announced on Facebook over the weekend that he’s booking a Saturday morning gig "very soon."

Hirsch has been baking bagels for more than a year now, even soliciting help and kitchen space from the Hub’s current bagel royalty, Mary Ting Hyatt of Bagelsaurus. Exodus offers traditional New York-style bagels in flavors like sea salt, everything, sesame, and poppy seed. Until very recently, Hirsch was giving his chewy rounds away, Boston Magazine reports.

"Some of my first batches were embarrassing," the 12-year JP resident told the magazine.

But his craft has improved, and Hirsch is in talks to lease space in a local pizzeria, using its ovens to sell bagels during the pizza shop’s off-hours, the magazine reports. Until that day comes, keep an eye on Exodus Bagels’ Facebook page for updates about where you can get your hands on one.

In Somerville, Better Bagels has been producing plain, everything, sesame, and poppy seed bagels for just a couple months. In addition to its puffy bagels, Better also has a menu of spreads including veggie and scallion cream cheeses. The company made its public debut during a late-January brunch shift at The Tip Tap Room in Beacon Hill before hosting its first pop-up at Daddy Jones in Magoun Square.

Two more pop-ups are on its calendar: Cuisine En Locale will host Better Bagels on Sunday, February 22, and the company returns to Daddy Jones on Saturday, February 28. Follow Better Bagels on Facebook for more details and updates.