Ben’s Best Kosher Deli
9620 Queens Blvd, Rego Park

Everyone celebrates the holidays in their own ways, so this year, Spud and I decided to celebrate Hanukkah at a local institution, Ben’s Best in Rego Park. While every tourist visits Carnegie and 2nd Avenue Delis, Ben’s has been supplying Queens locals with amazing deli fare  since 1945. If you want an authentic old school Queens experience, this is it. Inspired by this episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, we decided to feast on some kreplach and stuffed cabbage, the way my ancestors probably had done for centuries. The kreplach (fried meat dumplings) with onions is a signature dish at Ben’s and it is outstanding. The meat is high quality and the onions are really crispy, but what puts it over the edge is that it is served with duck sauce! Since it tastes like an egg roll and most Jews love their Chinese food, it’s a brilliant twist. The stuffed cabbage was also excellent, with tender leaves and a filling that is mostly meat, not rice. I am usually not a fan of the sweet sauce, but their raisin sauce is excellent. If you share the kreplach appetizer ($5.75) and stuffed cabbage lunch special ($14.95), which includes soup, potatoes, vegetables, coffee/tea, and the pickles and great cole slaw, you will only spend about $10 per person and enjoy plenty of food. You may even have a few dollars to spend on some rugelach. Happy Hanukkah!

Mile End Delicatessen
97a Hoyt Street, Brooklyn

I’m not aware of too many outstanding Canadian culinary imports…maybe maple syrup and salmon jerky? So when I discovered poutine, it definitely became #1 on my list. Poutine is basically a classy version of cheese fries with gravy (aka “disco fries”). I have had several versions, but my favorite is with chunks of cheese curds. So when I heard that Mile End, a Montreal Jewish Deli in Brooklyn, has a signature poutine, I was on it. The classic poutine ($10) at Mile End is delicious with perfectly sized, perfectly crispy fries, intertwined with high quality bits of white cheese curds. But splurge and please share, it shouldn’t be consumed solo, and order the smoked meat version ($14). The expertly smoked hunks of brisket are fantastic and offset the richness of the cheese. It is the culinary equivalent of settling into a recliner after a long day – pure comfort. The other meat offerings are excellent as well. It’s a small, popular place, so expect to wait. But it is a damn fine deli, not like Katz’s or Carnegie, but suited for much of today’s Brooklyn.

Their tagline says it all. The place is a modern/classic oxymoron, that somehow works quite well. Lansky’s has only been open for about a year, but somehow seems classic. I’m not talking Katz’s classic, but it has done a nice job of making a cozy pub-like decor, while still offering a flat-screen tv and good soundtrack – we heard some Bowie tunes. They serve the requisite garlicky pickles and creamy coleslaw as complimentary starters. We split the “Coney Island Knishwich”, and along with our Dr. Brown’s, it was a tasty, filling lunch. This dastardly creation is a large potato knish cut in half with one side corned beef, the other pastrami, both topped with muenster cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing. It is genius really. At a Jewish deli, I always want a knish and a sandwich – now I have both and the whole thing just melts in your mouth. They have a wide variety of soups, sandwiches, special “Devil Dogs”, and everything else one desires from solid Jewish fare. Check it out, it’s a lot tastier than temple!

Baked
359 Van Brunt St, Red Hook, Brooklyn

This post has been long overdue since we first visited Red Hook looking for the Mexican trucks at the ball fields last May. We had heard about these incredibly authentic trucks that serve tacos and pupusas and were salivating from the videos. But after trekking all the way out to the far end of Brooklyn, we learned the city had closed them down! Right before the start of the summer! Well they are back now and are well worth the trip. (See the GrubHub review) But of on this beautiful day in May, we needed a backup plan stat. So of course I carry in my wallet a list of the Time Out NY’s 100 Best City Dishes (doesn’t everyone?) and we consulted the list for two nearby favorites.

We walked about a half mile and found Defonte’s on the corner in a working class neighborhood. Now I’ve been in a lot of delis (I’m from Jersey) and this is as real as it gets. There are no frills here, just quality ingredients and fantastic heroes (or subs/hoagies/grinders). The featured sandwich was roast beef, mozzarella and fried eggplant and it was incredible. Our friends, Blair and Jeff also enjoyed some mighty tasty giant subs.

When we asked where to find Baked, the counter guys gave us directions and the suspicious tip “walk fast”. But we didn’t run into any trouble, just amazing whoopie pies at
Baked. In case you are not familiar with this tasty treat, a whoopie pie is two round chocolate cake discs with a thick layer a creamy frosting sandwiched between them. Think of a big cakey oreo. We had some peanut butter ones which were oh so good. Baked itself is a full service coffee place with great treats and interesting customers. It might be heading towards trendy in the near future, but for right now, it is an excellent stop for whoopie pies, brownies and caffeine.

So this day did not go according to plan, but so many times those days are the most fun. We definitely had an adventure, discovered a new Ikea, played a marathon Uno game and had awesome comfort foods. Go Red Hook.

Here is one of my favorite tours, although brief descriptions don’t do it justice:

Jewish Eating in the Lower East Side