A wide variety of bagels offered in Morris County

In America's nearly $1 billion market for fresh bagels, where an estimated five million of these baked beauties are sold each day nationwide, Morris County is pulling its share as a bagel lover's emporium.

Enjoy everything from a classic plain bagel to a more nouveau variety laden with any number of spreads or toppings at the following great bagel shops throughout Morris:

Chester Bagels, Chester, and Flanders Bagels, Flanders

17 W. Main Street (Chester Shopping Mall), Chester (tel. 908-879-1155) and 293 Route 206, Flanders (tel. 973-584-4933)

Enjoy up to 24 different varieties at these long-standing shops, where bagels are baked throughout the entire day to ensure freshness. "A lot goes into making a great bagel with a good crunch on the outside but a nice soft center," said owner Henry Delgado. "It comes down to the ingredients you use and the recipe, and our recipe is our closely-guarded secret." Delgado said his best-selling varieties include the plain and 'everything' bagels, while their newest 'apple cinnamon crunch' bagel is perfect when paired with walnut raisin or strawberry cream cheese. "I've always loved bagels," said Delgado, a New York native and current Bedminster resident who has owned Chester Bagels for the past eight years and purchased Flanders Bagels a year ago. The best part of the bagel experience for him? "There's nothing better than a bagel right out of the oven, nice and hot," he said.

Rockaway Bagel & Deli, Rockaway

171 Green Pond Road, Rockaway; tel. 973-625-4322

Offering 16 different varieties daily, shop co-owner Kevin Nienhouse said that plain bagels remain their most popular, followed closely by the 'everything' bagel, "which features poppy, salt, onion, sesame, and every other seed we carry." According to Nienhouse, "our 'French toast' bagel — which is like an egg bagel with maple syrup and cinnamon — smells and tastes great, and we recently started doing an 'asiago cheese' bagel too." For Nienhouse and his business partner, who have been in the industry for 20 years, "bagels are a universal food and water is definitely a key ingredient." At the bustling Rockaway shop they've owned for 11 years, "it's a fun environment," and Nienhouse, a die-hard bagel fan, admits, "I have one every morning."

Time for a Bagel, Morris Plains

680 Speedwell Avenue, Morris Plains; tel. 973-984-5885

Morris Plains has bagel buffs covered, with Time For a Bagel on Speedwell Avenue offering 17 different types, including their popular new 'whole wheat everything.' A renowned town landmark for nearly two decades, "we sell over 15,000 bagels a week," said owner Steve Bukowiecki, whose relaxed shop also offers a wide variety of flavored, hand-mixed cream cheeses, tasty lox and homemade salads as well as a large selection of tempting bagel sandwiches which make for a great breakfast or lunch on-the-go.

Denville Hot Bagels & Delicatessen, Denville

123 E. Main Street, Denville; tel. 973-586-3441; www.denvillebagels.com

In business since 1986, partner Tarek Farghly is proud to offer customers 20 different types of bagels 365 days a year, "from plain and 'everything' varieties to 'cinnamon raisin,' 'French toast,' 'chocolate chip,' 'super cinnamon,' 'multigrain,' and our special 'flagels,' or flat bagels," he said. "There's a big difference between bagels and regular bread," he added. "Bagels are crusty outside, soft inside, and go great with tuna salad, egg salad, and chicken salad in a way that regular bread just can't compare." According to Farghly, "the right ingredients and flours as well as experience have a lot to do with making a great bagel. Our good product and service really make a difference."

Mountain Lakes Bagel & Deli

350 Route 46, Mountain Lakes; tel. 973-627-4999

This popular 19-year-old shop offers 18 varieties of bagels, including their 'blitz' (everything), 'eight-grain,' and 'chocolate chip.' "We also offer a 'Black Russian' variety made with molasses, raisins, and nuts, and our 'French toast' bagel is off the charts," said Dawn Imbert, manager and owner of the busy outlet, which also offers a variety of popular sandwiches and homemade cream cheese spreads featuring scallion-bacon, strawberry, vegetables, walnuts and raisins, lox, and many other popular add-ins. "We use only the best-quality ingredients and everything we offer is like your mother would make," Imbert said of the key to their success. The draw of biting into a fresh, hot bagel for Imbert? "Bagels are like coming home," she said.

Tell us your favorite bagel shop. Email eabreu@dailyrecord.com

Readers' choice: Favorite bagel shops in Morris County

STAFF REPORT

We asked Daily Record readers to tell us their favorite Morris County bagel shop. Here is a selection of responses posted on the Daily Record Facebook page. See more comments online at http://on.fb.me/1afN2bj.

Alfa Bagels, Randolph

587 Route 10, Randolph; tel. 973-361-3311

About 40 percent of the total responses received in our informal online poll on Facebook chose Alfa Bagels as their favorite place to go for bagels in Morris County. Check back next Wednesday in the Table section of the Daily Record for a full story and photos of the popular bagel shop.

Jersey Boy Bagels, Morristown

16 South St, Morristown; tel. 973-455-7222

"Love Cinnamon Raisin warm from the oven with cream cheese on Sunday morning or Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheese on a Plain Bagel — my weekly carb indulgence!" - Patrice Foglyano

Java Joe's Bagels, Roxbury

Ledgewood Strip Center, 509 NJ-10, Ledgewood; tel. 973-584-5115

"Java Joe's is good if you want variety. Their French toast bagel is delicious!" - Em Cee

Pop's Bagel Shop

370 N. Main St., Wharton, tel. 973-659-1111

"Pop's Bagels, North Main Street in Wharton are the best is area! The chain bagel shops cannot compete with the love & ingredients that are put in these bagels. They put toppings on both top & bottom & are not stingy with them. Absolutely love the "everything" on it bagels. This little bagel shop is worth the out of the way trip." - Jim Rice

Time for a Bagel, Morris Plains

(see 'Bagels' story, above, for address)

"Time for a Bagel in Morris Plains is far and away the most authentic, best bagel in Morris County. I bake them at home, and I used to work in a classic bakery, thirty years ago - TFAB is the real deal." - Richard Rubenstein

"Their whole wheat everything bagels are unlike any bagel I have ever had. They are so flavorful that you really don't need anything on them. If you're lucky enough to arrive when they are just out of the oven, your taste buds are in for an extra special treat. For me, it's an extra drive that is well worth it." - David Comora

"Time for a Bagel in Morris Plains has the best bagels and bagel sandwiches. We live abroad and my husband does not come back from the U.S. without a couple dozen TFAB in tow!" - Janna Wianecki

Honorable mention

Here are a few more bagel places recommended by Daily Record readers:

Bagels on the Hill, 175 Lakeside Blvd., Landing; tel. 973-770-4800

Brooklyn Bagel & Deli, 517 NJ-10, Randolph; tel. 862-244-9073

Budd Lake Bagel & Deli, 141 US-46, Budd Lake; tel. 973-448-1300

KC's Bagel Express, 443 Route 23, Pompton Plains; tel 973-835-0438

Morristown Bagel & Deli, 123 Morris St., Morristown; tel. 973-292-0717

Mount Olive Bagels, 135 US-46, Budd Lake; tel. 862-254-2100

Noah's Bagels, 459 Main St., Chatham Township, tel. 973-635-0100

Is your favorite place on this list? What is your favorite type of bagel or sandwich? Let us know on Facebook DailyRecordNJ, Twitter @DailyRecord or email eabreu@dailyrecord.com.