More on NY delis
Some of you may be relieved to learn that the “Save the Deli” guy found a few NY delis that still seem to be churning out the good stuff.
The New Neo
A blog about political change, among other things
Some of you may be relieved to learn that the “Save the Deli” guy found a few NY delis that still seem to be churning out the good stuff.
I was at Carnegie on Seventh a year-and-a-half ago, first time, the corned beef sandwich was incredible, and not cheap, big enough for two actually, and the waiter was a non-stop comedian; afterwards was walking by the Stage, on way to the MOMA, and thinking I wished I’d gone there; just have to go back. Also was thinking why isn’t everybody in NY fat, with the portions and all, probably because you end up walking a lot more there, since driving and parking isn’t as convenient. I live in Denver, we’re somewhat deli challenged, the side of town I live in, pretty much only go to the, get this, New York Deli News, at the door they have a sign as you enter which reads Leaving Denver Entering NY, as you exit the other side of the sign reads Leaving NY, Entering Denver, or something like that, which I should remember clearly because I go there somewhat frequently, down the road west a bit (East Hampden Ave), just a few blocks, is probably the next best, the Bagel Deli, which for years I only frequented. There are a few more around town, but New York Deli News is my favorite here, much like the Carnegie actually, but about 2/3 as expensive. The “regular” corned beef sandwich is not stacked quite as high as Carnegie though, you can almost open your mouth wide enough to take a bite. I like corned beef a lot more than jello….
“and the waiter was a non-stop comedian” reminds me of going to the Carnegie Deli some years back — with an extra two slices of rye, one can make two ample sandwiches from one — and, as I was paying the cashier, I heard a familiar voice behind me. I turned around to find Henny Youngman leaning on the display counter regaling the staff with jokes.
Heh. I am wondering if Neo is calling to find out who would ship and how quickly. Not that the idea hasn’t occurred to me. LOL
zfredz:
I never met Henny Youngman, but your comment reminded me of something I heard on the radio years ago. Somebody said he bumped into Youngman on the subway, and he rattled off a nonstop series of one-liners. In other words, he seems to have been pretty much the same offstage as on. 🙂
A couple of my first jobs were in delis, although not in New York. I’m glad I discovered the excellent fare they serve… 😉
Perfected democrat,
guess what? Carnegie deli will air ship overnight to you!!! that is, anywhere in the world, you can order your sandwhich, knish, dr browns, pickled half sour full sour and green tomatoes.
also, across the street from there is another good deli.
but as i said in my post, those are tourist places (expensive), and the real delis that dotted the lanscape are gone. just as some bars still show off their speak easy credentials (like the jockey club who now has nothing but white jockeys. god forbid there is a black one. a thousand years from now they will dig that crap up in some archeological thing and they will say that the africans oppressed the whites. funny)
there is also a good place to get a sandwhich down in way lower manhatten. ate at it once at two in the morning. saw it again on sandwhich heaven on cable. they put out almost 7000 sandwhiches a week… they only have a few types you can order, and they dont use a wheel cutter (its too slow). they use a good chefs knife and they are done fast. (i always bet with my wife i can cook faster than she can. she wants to use a food processor, and i said, ok, lets go… every time i win, if you unclude cleanup, i win by a wide margin. now all i need is one of those wooden scabards to hold the thing like at a hibachi steak place (i should ask, as i have more than one friend that does that))
what i miss was being able to go to one in your local neighborhood!!! (who wants to travel all the way to manhatten for a pastrami or corned beef on rye more than once a year?)
ah well, i have the best compromise though. i live near astoria in queens and i get to wander out and have some of the best greek food. the area is the most diverse place on the planet, with 800 cultures represented. walking in my neighborhood you can see siks, women with veils, burkas, saris, etc… two of the trade center guys were in teh area, and one of the mosqus down the block had some busted.
i love the neighborhood though. from the train to my house you can see brazilian steak, italian, greek, falafel at the swharma king, columbian, mexican tappas, did i mention greek? (lots of greek), serbian, slovak, two beer gardens (one czech type with such dishes), korean, thai, fusion chinese, rotiserie, columbian seafood, japanese sushi and hibachi, muslim chinese, bangladeshi and food from india, and a whole lot more.
and still we travel to have dim sum in flushing or china town.. 🙂 (veitnamese sandwhiches are good)
so dont think that i am against all the wonderful things you can eat. i just didnt think it was fair to basically remove them by favoring women and minorities, which basically made it impossible for the jewish white families to maintain their businesses along with everyone else too.
that is one type has a mill stone on their knecks and so they cant compete, and so their kind of contribution is gone from the lanscape other than tourist places who want to visit a deli and pretend its the same (just as somehow they think that coming to 42 and seeing a san rio store is the same as it used to be with all the theaters and more real places (instead of fantasy land thats the same from country to country))
the bonus is way way way too great for women and minorities in small business that there is no room for white male jewish establishments (except for the most expensive, and least ethnic)
the believe that push pop will work, but when they start push, they forget to pop.
Italian (and German) delis are alive and well on Long Island; there’s one in pretty much every shopping center and downtown, and it’s hard to find a bad one.
While I like a good pastrami on rye with mustard as much as the next guy, to me a deli means a place you can get a mouth-watering Italian hero. Load up some Italian bread with salami, pepperoni, cappicola, soppresseta, hot peppers, lettuce, tomato, provolone, oil, and vinegar… Mmmm….