Larah Bross aka Mama Bross, Owner of Bross Bagels empire in Edinburgh talks to Hidden Edinburgh following their latest opening which is their sixth shop in the city – ‘Brossties and Frickles’ on Waverley Mall’s iconic rooftop and they’re still growing. First established in August 2017, Larah Bross has set the bagel scene alight with her authentic Montreal style bagels which are famous throughout the city for spreading her bagel love far and wide.
Tell Us A Bit About Yourself
When I was six years old, growing up in Montreal, Canada, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I was going to be a star …on Broadway …with my name up in lights! Never in my wildest dreams did I think those lights would be for repping my stardom as Mama Bross. However, when I think about it, all the paths and careers I’ve taken over the years were leading to this very moment. Working for Disney, weeding in the rainforest, hosting the South African club house for the Olympics and then onto cruise lines where I met my partner Marc, who I eventually moved to Scotland to be with. But before that I moved to New York for four years, to become an actor, and got a great job as a bartender. Fell into comedy for the nightlife and In 2006 and I was just about to turn into the stereotypical girl that moved to NYC with stars in her eyes and hit the ground running; Marc suggested I take a break from the buzz life and come to Edinburgh for the summer – Fast forward 14 years and I’m still here. My life in Scotland only became bagel bound after becoming a resident comedian at the Stand Comedy Club, running a youth theatre group for 10 years, going back to uni to study film & tele, making documentaries with Scottish Documentary Institute, and having two beautiful children with my old ship mate and the love of my life.
Why Bross Bagels?
I spent 13 years craving them and decided Edinburgh needed bagels! After living in Scotland for 13 years without any bagels (like literally begging my parents or friends to smuggle them in from Montreal when they visited and hiding them in the freezer and only using during desperate times) – I had an idea to open a bagel shop. My partner Marc said yes (he never says yes to my ideas) – and Bross Bagels was born! Initially, I settled on opening a little café, where I could write comedy while I was serving coffee and bagels, and then pick up my daughters after school. But the day we opened Bross Bagels in Portobello there was a queue down the block. Now we have six locations – Portobello, Leith, West End, Stockbridge, Bruntsfield and Waverley – and I’m busier than ever before. If something exciting doesn’t happen in a day, there’s definitely something wrong!
Tell Us About Your New Opening
When the opportunity came up to open at Waverley Mall slap bang in the centre of Edinburgh, in such an amazing location, I couldn’t turn it down. We are excited to continue our street food vibe following the opening of Bross StrEAT in Leith which has been a great success with our brand new Brossties and Frickles. We will specialise and a first of a kind for us, Brossties (Toasties a la Bross) – exclusive to Waverley and will not be available in any of our other shops and frickles – (fried pickles) You can pre-order from the menu online from the train, bus or at home before coming in to the city centre. The new shop is in the perfect location in the heart of the city, next to the iconic Balmoral Hotel and opposite Edinburgh’s Apple store, with Edinburgh Castle as the backdrop.
What Is Your Favourite Restaurant Or Bar In Edinburgh And Why?
The Kitchin will always be my top favourite restaurant because it was my very first job in Edinburgh and Chef Tom Kitchin taught me everything I know about food! (minus everything I know about bagels) I also love Civerinos (best pizza in town and I feel like I’m back in NYC)
What Are Your Top Tips For A First Time Visitor To Edinburgh?
Don’t ask anyone to take you up the castle. Wear layers and be prepared to strip down to a vest and back up into a woolly jumper within an hour. Complete the Bross Foodies Tour and visit all 6 shops in one day! It’s the best way to explore Edinburgh.
Where Is Your Own Hidden Edinburgh And Why?
It has to be Porty beach sun rise (when the kids are visiting the grandparents after a decent night out) or Porty beach sunset with the family & our dog for an instant bbq nosh and an evening swim.
A Day In The Life Of Mama Bross
Get the girls ready for school (depending on who’s working earliest – Marc or I will rush them and our massive Goldendoodle out the house).
Check into Porty shop (The O-G) have a coffee (or 3) and a meeting (or 3)
Head over to Bruntsfield before the lunch rush as well as fitting in the other shops in between – have another coffee (or 3) and another meeting (or 3) and my daily Bagel (still not sick of them!)
Then to Waverley to bring in stock or equipment or bagel love (our newest baby is still finding its feet so needs lots of attention and nurturing from Mama Bross)
Life Motto
Play hard. Work harder.
