My (non-Jewish) boyfriend got a unique taste of Jewish New York this past weekend when we visited Katz's Deli. I had forewarned him to expect a large sandwich -- but he wanted pickles and knishes anyway! Safe to say this classic Jewish lunch left us with tons of leftovers!
When I was a kid, I thought Katz's was an old family secret. My great-grandparents took my grandparents, so my grandpa took my dad, so my dad took me. I know it's blown up into something else now, but I still feel at home there, comforted by all the memories that have taken place at its tables. Whenever I have to wait in line, I always want to push people aside saying "If you haven't been coming here for generations, step aside!" It makes me feel more like a Jewish New Yorker than anything else. (P.S Pastrami with mustard - NO cheese and ABSOLUTELY NO Thousand Island dressing - and a Dr. Brown's black cherry soda is the only way to go.)
My Jewish New York story is sharing the beauty of NYC with my southern relatives from Memphis, TN and Birmingham, AL when they visit. They get so excited over everything around us and remind me not to take anything here for granted! We can't forget about our Katz's Deli highlight!
I love mixing H & H bagels with Zabars Nova. Also, Eli's Table is an awesome restaurant experience on the Upper East side. The new kid on the block is Frankel's in Brooklyn. I didn't go there too often but it's sad that Carnegie Deli closed. I went there as a kid and always remembered the massive sandwiches. Best late night craving has to be Katz's. Their pastrami is unreal!
On Friday nights growing up my family and I would meet our friends before synagogue for the Ben's Deli Friday prime rib special. It was so much food we had leftovers to last the rest of the weekend!
Growing up in the Bronx in the 1940s meant a Jewish delicatessen on almost every other corner. This is where Jewish families went for hot pastrami and corn beef sandwiches, while Friday night at home meant chicken soup with matzah balls and roast chicken or brisket. For a treat, the family went to the Lower East Side to Katz’s for their deli and always stopped off next door to Russ and Daughters to bring home lox, herring, white fish, and sturgeon. No one left this appetizing establishment without picking out pickles from the huge barrels stranding up front. Going down on the subway which cost a nickel, was always fun in itself. The Lower East Side was a feast for the senses with kids running around the push carts, and crowds milling around the streets. Back home, we always stopped at the Jewish bakery for fresh seeded rye bread which they sliced to order and cheese danish or apple strudel which smelled like heaven.
