Woman stuffs 144 bagels from beloved Toronto shop in her suitcase on flight to L.A.
A woman visiting Toronto over the holidays flew back to Los Angeles with 144 Gryfe's bagels in her checked luggage, all in an attempt to secure three months' worth of delicious breakfasts.
Canadian-born content creator and independent artist Lilianna Wilde, now based in L.A., was in the city over the holidays. As her time in Toronto wrapped up, she knew there was one essential item she needed to bring back home: extra poppy-seed bagels from Gryfe's Bagels.
Touting Gryfe's as her "favourite bagel shop in the world," Wilde and her husband, musician Sean Kolar, documented the entire ordeal and posted the reel on her official Instagram account — a post that now boasts 450K views and over 250 comments.
The couple ordered twelve dozen bagels, which the shop neatly packed into two large cardboard boxes. They then transferred the bagels into large Ziplock bags and packed them into their "bagel suitcase." Yes, a complete suitcase stuffed entirely with bagels. Cravings, satisfied.
So, is this a normal day at Gryfe's? It seems like it.
"Bulk orders are a regular part of our operation, whether for events, offices, retailers, or customers travelling with bagels for friends and family. Bagels and cream cheese are the best way to feed a large group," David Fisher, co-owner, Gryfe's Bagels, tells blogTO. And with this not being a novel experience — and with the right equipment — Fisher makes it sound like the team can pack an order like this in their sleep.
"With three ovens running throughout the day, we always have fresh, hot bagels coming out. Packing an order typically takes between two and five minutes," he confirms.
This is also not the first time popular internet figures and celebrities have taken a piece of Toronto home with them in the form of Gryfe's bagels, with the shop serving avid bagel lovers for over a century.
"While we respect our customers' privacy and can't name names, Gryfe's bagels are enjoyed by many familiar faces — including some of your favourite hockey players and television personalities — who often take them back to share at home," Fisher remarks.
Of course, there's something special about the bagels that keeps people coming back for more. Beyond the taste, Fisher believes their bagels are renowned because they bring people comfort.
"We often hear that our bagels were someone's first treat after giving birth, a source of comfort during a hospital stay, or even their very first bagel — and the one that set the standard for a lifetime," he says.
Returning to Wilde's now-viral moment, she mentioned in her post that she and her husband secured breakfast for the next 90 days, and judging by the excited looks on their faces, it doesn't seem like they're complaining.
blogTO did reach out to Wilde, but she was not available for comment.
If a Gryfe's bagel is on your list for a morning or mid-day snack, then you can visit the beloved shop at one of its two locations in Toronto. Gryfe's Bagels is located at 3421 Bathurst St. and 34 Drumlin Cir.
Lilianna Wilde
