If you thought a bagel was just a round of boiled dough, think again. Depending on whether it’s a New York-style bagel or a Montreal-style bagel (which determines the size of the hole, the general crispiness of the exterior and even the saltiness of the dough) there’s more to the process than meets the eye. As a bonafide bagel lovers, Emily Hugo and Mitch Barling have spent countless hours rolling, proving, baking and boiling to perfect their ideal bagel, which sits somewhere between Montreal’s soft inner and New York’s slightly crispy outer. “Our bagels are a bit of a mix, we call it a GC bagel,” says Emily of UE’s version, which they have adapted to suit Australian tastes. “Ours are a little bit crispy but also chewy,” she says before outlining some of the processes that affect the end result, from how it’s boiled and the timing to how long the dough proves for, how it’s rolled and even how the weather impacts conditions. As you may have deducted by now, Emily and Mitch are pretty passionate about bagels, a love that was forged when they lived in Lake Louise in Canada and bagels became a part of their daily diets.

When Covid put an abrupt end to their travel plans, Mitch (a chef by trade) and Emily (who has previously worked in hospitality roles), decided their bagel itch needed to be scratched. Mid-pandemic, the pair purchased a food van and got their start at Helensvale Farmers Market. Late last year, Mitch and Emily took over the industrial space that was formerly occupied by Street Food Cartel to create a bricks-and-mortar home for UE Bagels. One of the main things that sets UE apart is that its bagels are made fresh daily. Mitch and Emily begin their work day at 3:00 am baking and boiling their beloved bagels. The flavours and topping combinations are constantly rotating depending on what they can get their hands on at the time. The pumpkin bagel topped with grilled haloumi and pesto aioli is an ode to chilly mornings, but the ‘Breaky Bagel’, which is loaded with a sausage patty, egg, cheese, leafy greens and lashings of house-made chipotle and barbecue sauce, is undoubtedly their best-seller. If you’re in need of a little pick-me-up, you’re in luck, UE Bagels has Burleigh’s Social Espresso on pour.

If you possess a soft spot for bagels, check out UE Bagels in Varsity Lakes or find them on UberEats or Doordash.