Badass Bagels Goes Big

Savvy shoppers know they can get badass bagels at the Westport Farmers’ Market. And just over the Norwalk line, on Lois Street (take a right at the McDonald’s, on Westport Avenuue/Route 1).

Actually, that’s Badass Bagels — with capital “B”s.

Westporter Jennifer Balin began baking — with a sourdough starter — in the COVID spring of 2020. She already ran the very popular Sugar & Olives farm-to-table restaurant/event space. The pandemic forced her to pivot.

Her bagels are made with only a few ingredients: organic and non-organic bread flour and ryle flour (all non-GMO, locally or regionally sourced), water and sea salt.

They’re dairy-free and vegan. The sourdough starter allows the dough to be naturally leavened, without commercial yeast.

They come in a variety of varieties — plain, smoked sea salt, golden sesame, black sesame, Himalayan blue poppy, whole wheat, pumpernickel caraway, cinnamon raisin and everything — plus several cream cheese options.

No matter how you slice ’em, Jennfer Balin’s bagels are badass.

Recently, Badass expanded its reach. They’ve opened shops in New Canaan, and Rye and Armonk, New York.

All serve (in addition to bagels and schmears) open-faced sandwiches like green goddess (green goddess cream cheese with cucumber, dill and a lemon wedge), avocado jam (smashed avocado, special sauce, radish, fried shallots, black lava salt) and  bacon jam (house-made bacon jam, lettuce and tomato, with ramp oil and a dollop of tomato jam).

The Badass Bagels outlets also carry favorite food finds from around Fairfield County.

In addition to using locally grown produce in their spreads and salads, Balin participates in farmers markets beyond Westport: Rowayton, New Canaan, Rye, Ridgefield and Larchmont.

But you don’t have to go to one of her stores, or a farmers’ market, to find Badass Bagels. They’re also at Greenology/Jack’s Coffee and Double L Market here,  and the Georgetown Owl in Redding.

Meanwhile, Balin says, franchise opportunities are available. Her bagels may soon spread far beyond Fairfield and Westchester Counties.

How badass is that?!

Jennifer Balin (right), and a loyal customer.

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