The Bagel Bosses at 5 & Dime Have Opened a Pop-Up Shop in Caulfield North

This pandemic mightn't have dampened your appetite for fresh, chewy bagels, but with social distancing, it's sure made things a little more hectic at your local farmers market — which is where folks normally flock for a weekend haul of 5 & Dime's bagel creations.

The legendary bagelry is still hitting markets across town, but Melburnians with a singular, hole-y focus can now visit 5 & Dime's new takeaway-only pop-up shop in Caulfield North. While the brand's Collins Place store takes a hiatus, it's more than making up for it with this temporary venue on Hawthorne Road, which will be dishing up the goods until the start of September.

Boiled and baked bagels head up the menu here, with fan favourites like the sesame, salty garlic and cinnamon raisin available as is,= or jazzed up with one of the signature schmears. And yes, the famed bacon maple cream cheese is indeed getting a run.

Kate Shanasy

You'll also find a slew of other baked goods, with a range of house-made sourdough breads and pastries rounding out the lineup. Loaves run to the likes of a spiced fruit loaf, a jalapeño and cheese creation, and another sourdough modelled on 5 & Dime's popular everything bagel blend.

There's the all-new selection of pastries, too, many a first-time foray for the bagel brand. Dessert is sorted with goodies like escargot, babka, plain and flavoured croissants, and danishes. The latter's filings will vary, made using fresh fruit the team's traded for bagels at that week's farmers markets. And, if you're lucky, there'll be a slice or two left of the kitchen's new Basque-style cheesecake — an on-trend way to use up some of those extra stocks of cream cheese.

The pop-up's also slinging coffee to match its menu of baked treats, courtesy of small local roastery Rosso. There are both single origin options and a rotating filter coffee on offer.

Melburnians are currently instructed to only visit their local cafe or shop — no trekking 30 kilometres for butter chicken — so if Caulfield North isn't in your immediate vicinity, check if the bagelry stocks any of your local farmers markets.

Find 5 & Dime's bagel pop-up at 261 Hawthorne Road, Caulfield North until at least early September. It's open from 7am–3pm Monday–Friday and 9am–2pm Saturday–Sunday.

Images: Kate Shanasy