This Is My New Favorite Way to Feed Party Guests

It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

The first time I set up a bagel bar at a party, it was an unexpected success. My friends and I were hosting our annual all-day ladies' eat-and-drink bicycle tour, with each stop designed as a different country or region in the world.

Mine was the last stop, and I had chosen Quebec, Canada. That meant a spread of Montreal-style bagels for everyone to enjoy. I set out various toppings and a toaster, and by the time the group of very hungry women arrived at my house, the bagels looked like the most delicious thing we had ever seen.

By the end of the night, the dozens of bagels were gone. So were all the various flavors of cream cheese; smoked salmon, capers, and red onions; pastrami; and Montreal smoked meat. The event was held outside, and the women loved being able to toast their bagels and have something slightly warm in their hands to offset the evening chill.

It felt like the perfect party spread—a sense that was reinforced by everyone's comments that having a hearty, savory snack bar at the end of a long celebratory day hit the spot perfectly. I took note and decided that bagel spreads are absolutely the way to go, whether it's a bike tour, a bachelorette weekend, a brunch, or a cottage weekend.

It turns out, I'm not the only person to think that. "Bagel bars," as they are referred to, are becoming more popular. Especially if you can buy high-quality bagels (wood-fired are the ultimate standard) or make them yourself, it makes for a luscious, creative, and satisfying meal.

My spread was entirely savory and focused on traditional smoked salmon toppings, but there are lots of other options. Try hummus, baba ghanoush (roasted eggplant), whipped feta, or fried egg with sun-dried tomato pesto. Jazz it up with prosciutto, Genoa salami, avocado, arugula, and bacon. Add thinly sliced vegetables and herbs for crunch and color, like radishes, tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh dill fronds, microgreens, and scallions.

You can also go sweet. Set out peanut butter with banana, or top Nutella with strawberry slices. Sprinkle caramelized nuts on top of mascarpone or sweetened cream cheese. Spread raspberry jam or fresh strawberry chia jam atop cream cheese and add some glazed pecans. (I have a strange proclivity for strong cheeses like Cambozola layered over sugary jam.)

Set up a bagel bar at your next event, and you will have some very happy guests.