St-Viateur Is Releasing A New, Limited Edition Montreal Bagel — Here's How To Get It

Innovation often treads a fine line between genius and sacrilege. That boundary is being deliciously tested by iconic Montreal bagel shop St-Viateur in collaboration with Philadelphia Cream Cheese.

They've created the "Philadelphia Bagel Whole," a bagel without a hole, and it's bound to pique curiosity. The unique take is currently being served up at the bakery's Montreal locations and is even available to order from anywhere in Canada.

How it shaped up

"When Philadelphia approached us with this idea, at first we were like, really? A no-hole bagel?" Vince Morena, co-owner of St-Viateur Bagel told MTL Blog.

"No hole" bagels smeared with cream cheese.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog

"Our first try looked too much like a bun. We tried a few different ideas before rolling it out and making the swirl," he said.

The appearance of the new bagel is more reminiscent of a snail shell than the familiar ring shape of a Montreal bagel, but they have more in common than meets the eye.

Despite its unusual design, the no-hole roll maintains its "bagel integrity," Morena said, thanks to the same traditional rolling method and a shared hollow middle pre-bake.

"We actually do leave a hole, which closes up as it cooks," Morena explained. That ensures the no-hole end product still tastes unmistakably like a bagel.

A 78-year-old artisan who's been hand-rolling bagels at the company for decades is actually in charge of mass-producing the no-hole bagels, which epitomizes the blend of old and new behind St-Viateur's approach to the project.

'No-holes' barred?

At first glance, the spiral-shaped, no-hole bagel might perplex Montreal bagel purists. But one bite into its crunchy exterior revealed a soft, chewy inside during a recent taste test. Plus, the bagel offers more surface area for schmearing — a win for fans Philadelphia Cream Cheese fans.

A selection of the limited edition bagels, including sesame, all-dressed, plain and poppy seed.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog

There are four no-hole flavours, all of which bring something different to the table. The all-dressed (everything) bagel is savoury, with pronounced onion notes making it ideal for sandwiches. The poppy seed option stands out with its granular topping and hints of nuttiness. The sesame variant maintains that classic toasted taste, while the plain option retains the slight sweetness characteristic of a true Montreal-style bagel.

The best part of eating the new no-hole creations was actually the centre. They're soft and chewy, much like the inside of a freshly baked loaf.

You can enjoy one just like a slice of bread, unroll it, or easily rip off chunks. It's more convenient and less messy to tear into than a traditional, denser bagel with a hole — if that's your style.

A limited-edition treat

Philadelphia Bagel Wholes are part of a North American initiative involving select bakeries, with St-Viateur representing Canada. They're available in-store at all five bagel shops until February 12.

Fans who can’t make it in-store can still get their hands on these unique bagels, with U.S. nationwide shipping available via Goldbelly.com from Utopia Bagels, and Canadian nationwide shipping offered through Stviateurbagel.com, while supplies last.

While they may be a limited edition for now, the reaction over the next few weeks will be telling. Will this be a fleeting novelty or a new staple in the world of bagels? Only time, and the taste buds of bagel lovers, will tell.