Comments on: My latest Jewish News column

By: Gaz

Gaz — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:28:42 +0000

Great Chas

By: Mikey

Mikey — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:27:32 +0000

Marian,

If you open in the UK, I shall come along! The only decent salt beef (what you call corned beef) sandwich in London in a restaurant is at the non-kosher Brass Rail which is a concession in the department store Selfridges. (Only open when the shop is open so it is really a lunch place) It is very good, but not a patch on what you can offer. The Kosher Reuben’s in Baker Street does not quite cut the mustard as it were, but, as they are a Kosher establishment, they do have a natural clientèle.

For chicken soup, this can be had also at Reuben’s but the best is at Harry Morgan – another non-Kosher Jewish deli in London. Their main branch is in St John’s wood but they also have a concession in Harrods, the top department store. However, none of these places can compete with yourself (although I would say that Harry Morgan comes close!)

All these places that I have mentioned are quite central in London. As I am sure you are aware London is a very popular city with tourists and many of them come from the good ol’ US of A. I always wonder what American tourists make the measly small sandwiches that most establishments serve as standard fare in this country. I believe there is certainly room for Carnegie Deli to open up here.

I will conclude with an amusing anecdote. When I made my first trip to New York, I was not familiar with the size of the portions and I was in the mood for a corned beef sandwich. As I was feeling very hungry, I thought one would not be enough so I ordered two. The waitress, you will not be surprised, gave me a very strange look. Needless to say, I struggled to finish half of one of the sandwiches. It was a mistake that I never made again.

By: Chas Newkey-Burden

Chas Newkey-Burden — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:06:54 +0000

Marian, thank you very much for your comment. It’s fantastic to know you read my post. I can’t tell you how many happy visits I have paid to your deli. Last time I came to NYC I went there before even checking into the hotel! I will indeed come and ‘meat’ you next time I am in town! Thanks again for your fantastic food.

Here is a photo of me last time I was at Carnegie: http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v193/33/22/640026135/n640026135_971186_6076.jpg

If I can help at all in facilitating the opening of a UK Carnegie, I will do so with glee! Keep in touch.

By: Marian Levine

Marian Levine — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:53:24 +0000

Chas – My family runs the Carnegie Deli. Thanks for a mention of our book”How to Feed Friends and Influence People” What sets us apart from all the other delis, is that we have our own commissary USDA where we make OUR OWN.We smoke our pastrami for 14 days and cure all our meats. We make our own cheesecakes that are unique to us as they are baked three times. We have many people begging us from the UK to open in the UK If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate it. Glad you liked the book. Please stop in if in NY – I would so like to “meat” you. Marian Levine, President

By: Chas Newkey-Burden

Chas Newkey-Burden — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:34:14 +0000

Thanks. Never been to Reubens but I’m often in Baker Street so I will look in. Thanks for the heads-up!

By: Poppy

Poppy — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:23:46 +0000

I love the article – have you been to Reubens in Baker Street? Yum!

In New York 2nd Avenue gets my vote, even in it’s new location.

By: Israelinurse

Israelinurse — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:19:04 +0000

Sorry Annie, I don’t know of any secret NY delis in the entity either. But then again, what nice Israeli boy would go to eat in a deli, however good, when he knows that the best ktsitsot in the world are waiting for him in his mom’s kitchen?
I don’t know about the rest of the ladies here, but I soon discovered that my meatballs could never,ever compete with those made by my mother-in-law, and that if I wanted someone to think mine were the best, I’d better bring some sons of my own into the world!

By: Chas Newkey-Burden

Chas Newkey-Burden — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:56:49 +0000

Yes, Elise. However there is a different discount code for Americans: “We Control Congress”.

By: Elise

Elise — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:50:46 +0000

I’m in just transplant the Carnegie. So what about us Yanks. Do we get an “evil Zionist” discount too?

By: Lynne T

Lynne T — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:16:39 +0000

Chas:

Some of the late Canadian novelist Mordecai Richler’s best scenes were set in London among the ex-pat Canadians, importing goodies from Montreal delis. St. Urbain’s Horseman for sure and possibly also Joshua Then and Now.