As carbohydrates go, the bagel is one of the most versatile and the most beloved. Chewy on the inside, crunchy on the outside, and bursting with every flavor under the sun, the bagel comes in enough varieties to suit any taste—cinnamon raisin, garlic, blueberry, “everything,” and good, old-fashioned plain. 

The bagel is worth celebrating every day, but especially on January 15, which – as of 2020 – is National Bagel Day. Up until 2020, bagels had to share a national day with pizza on February 9, but the country has finally come to its senses and granted the bagel its very own holiday. 

The honor seems overdue for a breakfast-and-beyond favorite with such a venerable lineage. While the bagel didn’t reach peak distribution across America until the mid 20^th Century (thanks to Daniel Thompson’s invention of the bagel maker), its world conquest began way back in the 1600s as a staple in the diet of Jewish families in Poland. When Polish-Jewish immigrants arrived in America in the late 19^th Century, the bagel arrived with them. The rest, as they say, is history.

Today, people everywhere enjoy the bagel plain and toasted, with all manner of schmears (sweet like honey almond or savory like garden veggie and onion chive), or as the foundation of a sturdy breakfast sandwich. 

With so many options to choose from, it’s hard to pick a favorite; but curious minds wanted to know, so we looked at our data to see which bagel flavors were the most ordered by ezCater customers. The most popular flavors are: 

1. Plain
2. Everything
3. Asiago Cheese
4. Blueberry
5. Cinnamon Raisin
6. Honey Whole Wheat
7. Sesame
8. Cinnamon Sugar
9. Chocolate Chip
10. French Toast

We also got curious about which cities love bagels the most. In 2020, the cities that ordered the most bagels from ezCater spanned the country from coast to coast: 

1. New York
2. Chicago
3. Atlanta
4. Boston
5. Washington D.C.
6. San Francisco
7. Los Angeles
8. Phoenix
9. Denver
10. Seattle

Have we got your mouth watering for a perfectly chewy, crispy bagel yet? Are you thinking about your favorite flavors and schmears? Is it breakfast time yet?

You can satisfy that craving by ordering bagels for your next team meeting. In addition to being versatile and delicious, bagels and bagel sandwiches make for a perfect individual-serving catering option – something that is both convenient and COVID-smart.