I think that is not ideal on three counts --- cold bagel and maybe even a bit soggy from cream cheese and the cream cheese dries out on top too.

If it were me, I would pre-slice the bagels, and toast them lightly, and serve them in a basket with a warming disk. I would have the toaster on the buffet for anyone who wanted it warmed or toasted further. I would serve the cream cheese separately, too (maybe serve the whipped kind to make spreading easier).

Or, depending on the meal, you could go a different direction. Someone at my cooking club made mini corn fritters with creme fraiche and smoked salmon that were TDF. She just reheated the fritters and then quickly assembled.

Is this smoked salmon.... like lox / cold-smoked salmon?

If the bagels are fresh, do not toast them!

lolauren, every time I see your name, I think we might live in the same town :-).

I agree that fresh bagels don't need to be toasted. I ditto ellendi's post and would just add sliced tomatoes to it.

I'm with ellendi, please at least have dill weed on the side.

Must have full! Ditto what ellendi said

If the oven isn't being used otherwise, you could toast a larger amount of bagels in the oven.

I wouldn't worry about this. Neither cream cheese nor smoked salmon are at their best with anything hot. So the bagels can be toasted but not hot. Or they can be room temperature. I always cut bagels in thirds for smoked salmon -- makes them a little thinner.

I'd make a platter of the salmon, take the cream cheese separately, and take pre-toasted and not-toasted cut bagels in a baggie. if someone wants their bagel warmed it can be done on the cookie sheet in the oven.

marlene -- hmm... because of my name or something else? I'm Pac NW... you?

lolauren.... PacNW...about 12 minutes from Portland....Lake O :-)

I am in E. WA but visit family in your area often. :) ETA: Ohhh,.... Lake O Lauren. I get it now. :)

Thanks to all. I guess then that from the responses there is nothing wrong with pre toasted bagels which will be at room temp. Then cream cheese on side and smoked salmon ( lox) on side also. Thanks for the reminder of some dill.

you guys are great.

Maybe some capers on the side, too? (Up to you...)

Also could add sliced tomatoes and sliced red onion on the side if you like. Also, if you really want to get fancy you can mixed some chopped scallion greens into one batch of cream cheese and have plain & scallion.