Bagel Monday is a way to start each week with a fresh start, and start it right. This last Bagel Monday I worked on a batch that had a few issues, but I learned a lot. Aside from the actual bagels, Bagel Monday is a way for me to get into a good mindset for the week.
This Bagel Monday I woke up at 7:00AM and the first thing I did was turn on the stove to start my water boiling, and on the oven to get the oven warm. I then had about 20 minutes to prepare everything else: take a shower, get dressed, go get the bagels from downstairs, get the poppy and sesame seeds ready. After the first batch got in the oven, everything was dictated by the timing of the oven. Every 8 minutes I would remove the bottom pan, move the top pan down to the bottom, and put a new half-sheet pan full of boiled and seeded bagels into the top rack. During non oven loading times I was boiling more bagels, removing the plastic covering from the proofed bagels, answering phone calls, or just resting. The whole process took about 2 hours, and I was done by 9:00AM.
Throughout the baking, I had 4 different people come to pick up batches of bagels for their offices. First, Jen, someone I met at the Eat Real Fest, and has since come over for bread training came and picked up bagels for her office. Then, Clara, who found me through Twitter (and picked up Challah once before) came and got some. My friend Ramona (who first requested Bagel Monday) came and got her usual 30 bagels for her office, Research Now; she also picked up 12 extras for a co-worker. Finally, Frank came and picked up 2 batches for the two offices of Debra Dolch Fiduciary.
It was nice to have people pick up the bagels, as it made things much easier for me. However, not everyone can pick up bagels, so after I was done with everything at the house, I set off on my deliveries. First was Pirate Cat Radio, which is just down the street from me. I’ve given them bread a few times, and there are volunteers who work there at different times on different days. Next came Progressive Grounds, the coffee shop down the street who hooked me up with some free coffee and talked a little about business with me. Finally, Drew, my upstairs neighbor got a bagel to try (he’s my head taster).
After that, it was time to go downtown. I checked into my office, and there was not much going on there. So I took my bagels and went to my old boss Harold and gave him his weekly bagels (not sure if his company gets any, he might eat them all); he let me borrow a few books to read. Next up was my new favorite crepe spot, Creperie Saint Germaine. I had promised the Zeynep some bread, so dropped off her loaf along with a few bagels. I got a delicious egg, ham, and cheese crepe in return.
After lunch, I went to my new gym and gave some bagels that I had promised to the people who run member services. I had a nice swim on the roof (overlooking downtown SF), and then headed home. I relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, and baked 2 loaves of bread that I had been proofing. One of the loaves was saved for my brother, but the other one I took down the street to the Monkey Club. The owner, David, had told me that a lot of people from Range and Foreign Cinema were having a get together there, and wanted me to bring some bread. I gave David the final bagel (who hooked me up with a free beer), and hung out at Monkey Club for the rest of the night. I met a lot of cool people, and set up a time to give Foreign Cinema some free bread. They were also interested in having me come by to train them how to make bread using their deck oven.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable and productive Bagel Monday. If you would like to participate in the next Bagel Monday, you can come pick up some bagels, have bagels delivered to you, make some bagels, or deliver some bagels.