Thursday, April 28, 2011

2nd Avenue Deli: Our Bubbies Would be Jealous

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Coming out of a terrible, miserable, cold winter, most of the Foodies were under the weather. We needed a low key dinner that would give us the strength to get over our ailments… some Jewish Penicillin (matzoh ball soup) and all the fixings were in order.

Oy vey (oh no), where does one get great Jewish deli in the city these days, you may ask? Well, the question is not as easy to answer as it used to be. You see, Jewish delis have gone through a period of consolidation and disappearance. Where once there were hundreds there are now only a dozen or so worthy of your bubby’s (grandmother) stamp of approval.

2nd Ave Deli is a New York institution. While no longer located on Second Ave (it is now just off Third on 33rd St.), the deli returned with a force from a several year hiatus. While the deli meats are good, they aren’t as good as Katz’s, the king of all NY delis.

The foodies opted for a smorgasbord of Jewish delicacies. They included: matzoh ball soup, latkes (potatoes pancakes) with homemade applesauce, stuffed to the brim deli sandwiches (corned beef, turkey, brisket and pastrami) with coleslaw and Russian dressing (of course), and kasha varnishkes (bowtie pasta with barley)… OY GAVALT (on my gosh)! With a round of Dr. Browns’ sodas (cream and black cherry), we feasted until we were too full to kibbitz (make small talk / joke) and turned to kvetsching (complaining).



While the meal hit the spot, it was very salty. The corned beef was a little too lean, but the pastrami and brisket melted in your mouth! If you are going to make the schlep (the trip) to the 2nd Ave Deli, the matzoh ball soup is a must, and make sure you stay hydrated throughout your Jewish delicacy delight!




2nd Ave Deli
http://www.2ndavedeli.com/
212-689-9000
162 E 33rd St (at Third Ave)

Friday, April 15, 2011

Flight of the Foodies: Oregon Wine Tasting at City Winery

Pin It Since it’s been a while since our last post, we thought we’d mix it up with a little tutorial on the Oregon wine region after having attended a special wine tasting at City Winery for an unofficial food club gathering. There’s no pop quiz at the end, just a few bullet points to wow your guests at a dinner party:

  • Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are the top two grapes grown in the region
  • The main wine regions in Oregon are the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon, Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley
  • Cuvée means blend in French (a popular type of wine for the region)
  • Oregon Wines are very similar to French wines because the regions fall on the same latitude line and therefore are affected by similar growing temperatures and elements
  • 2008 was a “textbook” year for the Oregon region so most pinot noirs from that year will be delicious
  • Some of the highlights of the evening: 2008 Beau Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2008 Benton-Lane Winery 1st Class Pinot Noir, 2008 Boedecker Cellars Stewart Pinot Noir, 2009 Coleman Vineyard Estate Pinot Gris, 2007 Daedalus Labyrinth Pinot Noir, 2009 Eyrie Vineyards Original Vines Reserve Chardonnay, 2008 Iota Cellars Pelos Sandberg Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2005 Left Coast Cellars Cali’s Cuvée Pinot Noir, 2008 Rex Hill Pinot Noir (see below for the full list of participating wineries)
  • Some Pinot Noirs can last up to 20 years on the shelf
  • (Warning: not a wine tip) – City Winery had fabulous finger foods that night including lamb skewers with a cherry chutney dip, mini egg quiches with red pepper mayo on top, truffle crab melt on brioche (the tuna melt’s ivy league cousin) and pulled pork sliders – all great compliments to the wines being served

All in all, a good evening for the Foodies because honestly, what goes better with a fantastic meal than a great bottle of wine? Maybe we’ll take our show on the road, Foodies in Oregon anyone?


City Winery
155 Varick St.
New York, NY
(212) 608-0555
www.citywinery.com