The New Best of Betterbaking.com

In Montreal, the finest, legendary bagel shops are still located in the more colourful, earthy parts of town, (unlike the newer, spiffier places) and are scrupulously void of product marketing except for the aroma of fresh bagels on a wood hearth fire. Despite their location, and slightly less-than health board code of décor and hygiene, these bagel shops brag line-ups out the door all year long, even on the coldest, snowiest days.  Double-spaced luxury cars, alongside hordes of Italian racing bikes and toney strollers are the norm as bagel addicts get their fix. In fact during Montreal winters, the bagel business booms as the outer temperature descends.  The intense heat of the wood oven together with the frigid cold of winter coats the bagel shops' windows with condensation and the display front reveals only a blurry gloss of deep amber-coloured bagels.  A heady image for those who know what lies within.