My Favorite Yenta

My knowledge of Yiddish is very limited, so Ida's lessons are a treat for me.   I grew up in a household where although we weren't religious there were always Yiddish words in the air.  I feel warm and fuzzy when i hear Yiddish today because I am reminded of my childhood. 

Great Deli Memories

Oh how I miss the old fashioned Jewish deli.  I grew up in Abington, PA. and every Sunday morning after Sunday school you could find our family at Murrays in Baederwood Shopping Center.  We would choose lox, smoked sable, whitefish,  olives  and bagels to take home for our weekly Sunday brunch.  At the mention of Murrays I can still conjure up  the smells of fresh rye bread and the Kosher dill pickles.  The pickles and sour tomatoes in waist high wooden barrels waiting to be plucked with metal tongs which were attached to the barrels with string. Another memory which still makes me smile is that of nuns dining at Murrays.  Five times out of ten, there would be  a table of nuns in the dining room.   An even older deli was Famous Delicatessen at 4th and Bainbridge in Philadelphia.  When I was downtown this was the place I called home.  OMG, the building is ancient and the narrow steps to the ladies room are scary, but  what I remember most clearly were the corned beef specials.  Lean corned beef, coleslaw and russian dressing on rye bread.  The rye bread was delicious with a crunchy crust, nothing like the mushy packaged  bread I've been finding lately  Sandwiches were piled high with delicious meat, in fact enough to make two sandwiches.  And yes, the sandwiches are always served with a bowl of the freshest of pickles and sour tomatoes.

The delis are one of the reasons I miss living in Philadelphia.  I have found one good deli in Maryland and that is Edmart in Pikesville.   They have a few small tables in the back of the store but no dining room which makes it difficult as a destination to relax and eat.

I honestly did not intend for this post to be a critique on food.  I was reminiscing about fond childhood memories and along with Yiddish words are the delis of my childhood.

Do you have some favorite delis you'd like to share?