Bluesfest - The Hole Bagels stall

Blog update: I've unfortunately neglected this blog over the past couple of months, and have lost a couple of Reuben photos due to my phone blowing up, but the blog will push on. One of the Reubens I lost was from a work trip to Brisbane, so needless to say that will have to remain in my memory rather than immortalised on the internet with a review.

Bluesfest: Astounded on the first day by the many many food stalls all serving delicious options, I was truly stuck for what to choose. Passing by "The Hole Bagels" stand, a Reuben offering made up my mind for me. There were a few people waiting to receive their order which was a good sign so I handed over my $10 and waited for my name to be called out. My expectations were low to be honest, I just wasn't convinced a bagel would deliver the goods but the photo on the menu was relatively convincing.

Having received my bagel, I noted significantly less filling than promised by the menu photo, but it was true to the ingredient list of "pastrami with spiced red cabbage, russian dressing & swiss cheese". Never one to eat a Reuben without playing with it first, I opened it up and had a poke around the individual ingredients. The meat was top quality and delicious, the cheese had holes in it (i.e. proper swiss) and the sauce gave a really great tang. I'm afraid that's where the positives ended. The bagel was put on one of the toasting heating conveyors so fast before the ingredients were added that the heat barely penetrated the surface and the bread was...well...really doughy, solid and kind of felt a bit not quite cooked. I know that bagels have that unique consistency and I've enjoyed many a bagel previous to this one, but there was just something not quite right about the bread. I was also disappointed at the lack of hole in the bagel (see top shot).

I ate the insides and threw out the bread after a couple of bites. It seems like I wasn't the only one sharing this view, on the Bluesfest forum it was said: "Tried the Bagel Tent- bagel was dry, supposed to be toasted but not hot, could only eat the turkey and cheese inside and threw that actual bagel away , it was stale".

These guys tried, but just couldn't deliver. Try again next year (spelling "Reuben" correctly on the menu would be a great start) 5.5/10