3 nights in south Florida (burgers, deli, bbq)

quote:

Originally posted by annpeeples

As always, so enjoy your reports, Ellen!! Hope to meet up with you someday!!

same here, ann!
(maybe in Milwaukee, huh?!?)

Don't know if anyone is interested, but the Carnegie Deli came out to Beverly Hills because this extremely wealthy guy, Marvin Davis, of Denver fame, was pissed he had to wait so long for a take out order in his limo one day. He had an argument with the management of Nate and Al's. So, he called up the owners of the Carnegie in NYC and agreed to fund the entire project.

True story..I know because they paid for me and my partner at the time to fly out from NJ and give them our opinion on the space and how much it would cost to build the place. Unfortunately, we did not get the job. Sometimes that's a good thing. They could not compete with Nate and Al's..I never thought Nat and Al's compared to NYC's best...Not enough meat on their sandwiches.

Shapiro's and Arnie's...those two I've heard very good things about. When you are at Katz's you can see them bringing out the pastrami's from the back. I just love to watch the incredible business these places generate. At the Carnegie, they use to process the corned beefs and pastrami's upstairs..Harold was their manager at one time. When he left to open his own place, he took all that knowledge plus what he already knew to his own place in Lyndhurst and then Edison. I say he's the best deli man in the country...The dude knows his stuff! He knows what his customers like and gives them lots of it! And, most importantly, they're willing to pay him for it.

Several years ago, the Carnegie established their own processing plant in Northern NJ for their pastramis and corned beefs. I'm pretty sure they still have it. Could be Carlstadt? I forget. They may even be selling their corned beef and pastrami to Harold. I'm betting they are.....He left on good terms.

There are many good deli/appetizer places in South Florida...sans corned beef and pastrami. Yeah, the Rascal House and Epicure are both owned by Jerry's. They hit a home run. After they brought the Rascal House, they got a huge offer on the land. A condo is supposedly being built or may even be finished now? They have a deal to re-enter on the ground floor I believe. Don't live in South Florida anymore, but I do think that's what's going on....I hope we hear from MiamiDon that the Epicure is still good. It use to be fantastic.....

I grew up in the Miami area and what's happened to the delis down there is an absolute shame. The Rascal House is nothing like it once was. Wolfie's is still somewhere down south on the Beach, but I haven't been there in years. The Town is long gone, Pumpernik's vanished. I haven't had any luck getting decent corned beef in Miami since Jerry's bought the Rascal House. That was the last holdout.

Ellen, Thanks for the heads up on Charlie's in Dania. Was driving by yesterday and it smelled good. Didn't stop because I had just filled up on stone crabs at Joe's (I know that wouldn't have stopped you), but I'll definitely stop there to eat next month when I have more time. Yes, it should be a good warm-up for Austin.

quote:

Originally posted by branedamag

I grew up in the Miami area and what's happened to the delis down there is an absolute shame. The Rascal House is nothing like it once was. Wolfie's is still somewhere down south on the Beach, but I haven't been there in years. The Town is long gone, Pumpernik's vanished. I haven't had any luck getting decent corned beef in Miami since Jerry's bought the Rascal House. That was the last holdout.

I really enjoyed Mo's Bagels and Deli in Aventura.



It is not going to be the cured-on-site stuff, which now only appears to be available in NYC (and if you consider it the same thing, Montreal), but it isn't bad...and I found it better than Wolfie Cohen's.



With a little salt and pepper, the soup is pretty OK, too. As with most things in Florida, they cater to their main source of customers - the elderly - which means having some seriously bland food on hand. But, the soup is easily doctored, in this case.

They also have a selection of bagels and pastries. I don't have pictures, but the bagels are strong and my favorite of the pastries is a crumb-toppped coffee cake.

You might give it a shot.

quote:

Originally posted by branedamag

I grew up in the Miami area and what's happened to the delis down there is an absolute shame. The Rascal House is nothing like it once was. Wolfie's is still somewhere down south on the Beach, but I haven't been there in years. The Town is long gone, Pumpernik's vanished. I haven't had any luck getting decent corned beef in Miami since Jerry's bought the Rascal House. That was the last holdout.

The South Beach Wolfie's, at Collins Avenue and 21st Street, has been closed for years. Wolfie Cohen's Rascal House, at Collins and 171st, is still open, although allegedly not for long.

Rascal House closing in mid April. This was told to me just a few days ago when I stopped in for a loaf of bread.