Is there decent delifood in California?

I grew up near Washington, DC and went to school in Baltimore. Both those cities have decent Kosher (or "Kosher style") delis. I've eaten deli in New York and Miami, two of the Mecca's of the genre. But after 20 years of living in CA and searching for decent delifood, I haven't found it. It seems like for one thing they are afraid of FAT here, and both corned beef and pastrami are dry and tasteless without a reasonable amount of fat. Then there's the goodies that go with the meats--like a choice of "doneness" in one's pickles (I prefer "half done") and really good potato salad and slaw. Back in the "good old days", Pumpernick's in Miami Beach (are they still there?--they were MUCH better than better-known Wolfie's) put enough free assorted pickled vegies on the tables that one could easily snare a free meal just eating those, but then one would be depriving oneself of much good eating. I was sitting there one time and somebody at the next table ordered baked fish. They brought out (I swear!) a whole 5-lb (my guess) fish, baked.

Sooooo. Has anybody here who has experienced really good delifood, found anyplace that meets that standard in CA? If so, WHERE?

I'll give a homecooked meal to anyone who knows how Pumpernickel bread got its name (I just found out and boy is it interesting)...

California's a big place. Where are you looking? In San Diego, DZ Akins is good, and there's another place in Del Mar, but I can't recall the name. I don't think you'll find anyplace offering half-or-full-sour pickles.

Have you tried Moishe's Pippic on Hayes St. It used to get poor reviews. But the few times I went there (years ago) it was decent.

Phil B.

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

I'll give a homecooked meal to anyone who knows how Pumpernickel bread got its name (I just found out and boy is it interesting)...

I don't know how the name came about, but the bread originated in Germany. It's a coarse-ground wholemeal rye.

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

I'll give a homecooked meal to anyone who knows how Pumpernickel bread got its name (I just found out and boy is it interesting)...

It's origin came from two words that through their translation meant the "devil's fart." I'd like a Roumanian skirt steak smothered with well done grilled onions, a bowl of matza ball soup, some kishke, and some apricot kolatchkies. Don't forget the Dr. Brown's black cherry soda in a chilled mug.

CSD

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Originally posted by Jennifer_4

I'll give a homecooked meal to anyone who knows how Pumpernickel bread got its name (I just found out and boy is it interesting)...

No! No!...........The spelling is ALL wrong too! It got its name
from having to put Nickels in to the machine to buy a fresh loaf of bread."Pump A Nickel" Get it? I'm easy, I will eat what ever you decide to cook. Just tell me when to come over.

I WIN! I WIN! I WIN! I WIN!

Big Glenn.

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Originally posted by Poverty Pete

California's a big place. Where are you looking? In San Diego, DZ Akins is good, and there's another place in Del Mar, but I can't recall the name. I don't think you'll find anyplace offering half-or-full-sour pickles.

Anywhere. I'd prefer it be in San Francisco, but I've given up hope of finding one here. There are several places with pretensions, but they really aren't very good.

Hard to believe if they don't offer half/full sour pickles they could be good in other ways.

quote:

Originally posted by plb

Have you tried Moishe's Pippic on Hayes St. It used to get poor reviews. But the few times I went there (years ago) it was decent.

Phil B.

Sure. I live near there. They try. They are as good as anything else I've found here, but really that's not very good. Every so often I get a reminder of how pale an imitation such places are. The most recent reminder was a visit to New York in early 2001 (took some pictures of the WTC--still there)--I visited a friend in his office near 54th and Madison and he had his secretary order us some deli from somewhere nearby for lunch. It was an eye reopener.

My hometown is San Diego, so i'm not sure i know "Authentic Deli" but i know what i like! These are my two favorites ~ we visit 2-3 times a year, and we ALWAYS stop by these restauants.

DZ Akins
6930 Alvarado Road
San Diego, California 92120
http://dzakinsdeli.com/

(beware of pickle jars on the table, you could fill up on these crunchy dills ~ but dont! i think you'll like these half-crispy/half vinegary dills. i adore the kreplatch soup, and usually order the mishmash *add a softball sized matzo ball*. sandwiches are big, two hands required to start, then scoop the rest up with a fork! dinner plates even bigger. i like DZ's knishses better than Miltons, as they are more the individual type *not the pan-cut-into-squares-type*. cabbage rolls big as your fist. DZ's potato salad is outstanding, not your run-of-the-mill mayo mess, but a vegetable-flecked mix of cubed and smooshed potatoes.. oh.. im drooling now! the desserts are amazing, and if you're too full to eat there, theres a take-out bakery too)

Milton's
2660 via de la valle
del mar, ca 92014
http://www.miltonsbaking.com/
(i often order the combo salad plate, you pick 3 and its served with an assorted bread basket. the chicken salad and chopped liver are rich and delicious. excellent bread is baked on site. stuffed cabbage rolls at Milton are in a sweet sour sauce and have huge chunks of corned been in it. again, take out bakery if you overstuff yourself. my 74 year old dad finished a breadbasket and everything that accompanied his 3 egg omlette. my husband usually dives into a ruben, and doesnt come up to talk till he's finished every bite.)

now im homesick and hungry.. and seattle has absolutely NOTHING resembling a deli (Salumi excluded, but they're open limited hours..so i dont count them...)

elicia

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Originally posted by dogbytes
Milton's

Hmm, I've not seen churros at east coast delis but both the places you suggested (and to give fair credit, other people above also suggested Akins) look well worth a try.

I'm still waiting for the correct answer...although I must say I like Glenn's enthusiasm... and Chicago Dog...if I could cook Jewish Homestyle I wouldn't need to find a deli.

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

I'm still waiting for the correct answer...although I must say I like Glenn's enthusiasm... and Chicago Dog...if I could cook Jewish Homestyle I wouldn't need to find a deli.

This is what I found: "Pumpern" was a New High German word similar in meaning to the English "fart" (so chosen because, like the word "achoo," it imitated the sound it described), and "Nickel" was a form of the name Nicholas, an appellation commonly associated with a goblin or devil (e.g., "Old Nick" is a familiar name for Satan). Hence, pumpernickel is the "devil's fart."

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Originally posted by chezkatie

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

I'm still waiting for the correct answer...although I must say I like Glenn's enthusiasm... and Chicago Dog...if I could cook Jewish Homestyle I wouldn't need to find a deli.

This is what I found: "Pumpern" was a New High German word similar in meaning to the English "fart" (so chosen because, like the word "achoo," it imitated the sound it described), and "Nickel" was a form of the name Nicholas, an appellation commonly associated with a goblin or devil (e.g., "Old Nick" is a familiar name for Satan). Hence, pumpernickel is the "devil's fart."

Chezkatie, what time should I pick you up for that home cooked meal at Jennifers?

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Originally posted by chicagostyledog

quote:

Originally posted by chezkatie

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

I'm still waiting for the correct answer...although I must say I like Glenn's enthusiasm... and Chicago Dog...if I could cook Jewish Homestyle I wouldn't need to find a deli.

This is what I found: "Pumpern" was a New High German word similar in meaning to the English "fart" (so chosen because, like the word "achoo," it imitated the sound it described), and "Nickel" was a form of the name Nicholas, an appellation commonly associated with a goblin or devil (e.g., "Old Nick" is a familiar name for Satan). Hence, pumpernickel is the "devil's fart."

Chezkatie, what time should I pick you up for that home cooked meal at Jennifers?

Hey, your time is my time! Sure hope she is having something really good. Do you think that this will be a dressy affair or should we wear jeans?

You don't say where in California. But I'll give you my favorites:
DZ Akins in La Mesa, CA (it's a San Diego suburb)just off the 69th St exit of the 8 Fwy.
Victor's in Hollywood, CA (just east of the Hollywood Bowl, nearest intersection: Franklin & Gower)
Junior's in West L.A, (nearest intersection: Pico & Westwood)
Factor's in West L.A. On Pico Blvd between Beverly & Rexford
Solley's in Sherman Oaks (an L.A. suburb)it's just off Van Nuys Blvd exit of the 101 Fwy.

Having grown up spending lots of time in the Fairfax area of Los Angeles, the Jewish center of LA, I often ate ate the kind of delis BT describes. Places like the Bagel deli, Dave's and Freddy's had it all-------good knishes, great sandwiches-----not lean, but incredibly flavorful pastrami, corned beef and peppered beef----and delicious kishke. That said, as those places shut down, I have looked for others to take their place. I have found the same thing BT found------wannabes, places that have only extra-lean meats, places that don't know what chopped liver is, places where a third of the menu is filled with chef's salads, wraps and burritos. The few old time places left such as Canter's are a shade of their former selves-----not that Canter's was ever that great, of all the places on fairfax they were always the last choice. Unfortunately, having tried Brent's, Fromins and some of the others---they all come up short. Even Junior's is no longer what it used to be. I have heard good things about DZ Akins-----I suppose I will not write off a deli on the West Coast yet. But as for LA delis, which used to be superb-------the PC/health has taken all the fun out of eating at a real deli.

I want sources you guys! but still... I know a completely different answer!! But I will still give dinners to Katie and the ChiDog... casual dress, menu to be worked out amongst yourselves.

Doesn't any one go to Langers in LA.? I have had some great meals there, I'll admit that the neighborhood has gone down hill. You rarely hear English spoken in that area anymore, But Langers keeps going. Rex in expensive San Diego.

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

I want sources you guys! but still... I know a completely different answer!! But I will still give dinners to Katie and the ChiDog... casual dress, menu to be worked out amongst yourselves.

Are you referring to the story about Napoleon saying that it was bread unfit to feed his horse?

Alright..here is the version I know... Napoleon could not find bread fit to feed his horse (whose name was Nicole), and so he called for "pain por Nicole".... they served him the dark bread and it came to be known as pumpernickel...
Now when's dinner?

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

Alright..here is the version I know... Napoleon could not find bread fit to feed his horse (whose name was Nicole), and so he called for "pain por Nicole".... they served him the dark bread and it came to be known as pumpernickel...
Now when's dinner?

On Scopes, they discount that story (although I love it) because they said that pumpernickle bread came into existance one century before Napoleon was born............but what do I know?

The best pastrami in the world is at Langers on Alvarado and 7th in Los Angeles. Much better than I've had anywhere else. I don't know how good their other stuff is since I just get the pastrami. Langer's is one of Jonathan Gold's favorites. A pilgrimage to Langer's is a must for any foodie. They now close at about 4 pm and there is a parking lot a half block away and they also do curbside pickup for to-go orders. The neighborhood is not as bad as it was in the 80s and 90s; there is a huge Red Line stop across the street and the city has "cleaned up" that area.

If you really need an NYC deli fix I know that Katz's does mail order; I think that they send out their pastrami (with rye bread and pickles) and the corned beef (ditto).

Now I'm really hungry!

Well that's two dinners then, and perhaps egg on my face if Scopes is correct!

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Nate n Al's in Beverly Hills or Jerry's in Encino.

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Originally posted by Ballpark Roadtripper

I've never had decent Deli outside of NY/NJ. And it wasn't for a lack of looking. They just can't seem to get the meats right, not to mention the rye bread. The "smoked meat" joints in Montreal came very close.

I will grant you that nowhere else approaches that level of perfection, but I've had pretty acceptable deli in Baltimore (Atman's--given the seal of approval by my college roomate from Flatbush) and Miami Beach (the aforementioned Pumpernick's). In my own hometown of Silver Spring MD, Hoffberg's and Katz's Kosher Supermarket were also reasonable facsimiles. Of course this was all decades ago and I'm not sure any of these places are still there.

I've found nothing to compare with any of these on the West Coast, but of course I haven't yet tried any of the places being suggested here.

quote:

Originally posted by Jennifer_4

Well that's two dinners then, and perhaps egg on my face if Scopes is correct!

Here is the Snopes website about it: http://www.snopes.com/language/stories/pumper.htm

I've never really found snopes to not be incorrect about stuff. They research that stuff very very thoroughly.

Still does not answer your question about how the name came to be.

As I am from NJ, jewish, and raised kosher I am pretty biased when it comes to deli. Living in Boston kills me in this area as there is nothing either.

As for outside of NJ/NY there is one place in CT. Crown Deli in West Hartford.

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Originally posted by renfrew

I've never really found snopes to not be incorrect about stuff. They research that stuff very very thoroughly.

Still does not answer your question about how the name came to be.

As I am from NJ, jewish, and raised kosher I am pretty biased when it comes to deli. Living in Boston kills me in this area as there is nothing either.

As for outside of NJ/NY there is one place in CT. Crown Deli in West Hartford.

Is Ruben's still on Harvard Street? It was kosher- it was OK, not NY deli, but even in NYC, deli isn't what it used to be.

The Mill Basin Kosher Deli on Ave T in Bklyn is quite good
they ship nationwide- www.pastrami.net

Rubins is still there, and its horrible. There are a couple of other places in boston, but none are the same as the delis in NY/NJ.

Doesnt have to be kosher to be good, but it helps. Weeds out the people asking for cheese and mayo on their corned beef or pastrami sandwiches.

Remember someone asking for mayo and white bread at 2nd Ave. Deli when I was little. The guy behind the counter promptly replied "We dont have that here". I turned to my Mom and loudly asked her " Mom, why would she put mayo on corned beef?". The counter man smiled at me and said "Son, your sandwich is on the house today!"