Artie's 05-31-2009

Location: 2290 Bway
Time: 3pm
People: RB and myself

Feelings: After Japan Day, I had a craving for something non-Japanese. I really lusted for Popover with strawberry butter from Popover Cafe, but since I have not lived in UWS for over five years, I completely forgot where it was. (I really need you, iPhone!) So we instead went to our usual UWS deli, Arties.

Artie's brought me my first New York deli experience nine years ago, and it still is my staple for potato knish and mushroom barley soup if I am ever in the area. I thoroughly enjoy their good cup of diner coffee and complimentary pickles and coleslaw. Today, I got a mushroom egg white omelet with potato pancake/latkes and apple sauce. RB got his usual chicken Reuben, which comes with full of Sauerkraut with melted Swiss cheese and Russian dressing. He sure is a very big fan of their Reuben so much so that he never ever orders anything else. The chicken is very juicy and flavorful, but he always wishes they would use less Russian dressing.

When we took my mother here last year, she said, "Jewish food tastes so much like Osaka food." I thought she was a bit strange for saying so, but I believed her today. The omelet tasted very similar to Ikayaki, and latkes reminded me quite a lot of Japanese croquettes. I suppose it's understandable that they have culinary similarities since they both bring ancient history of tradition and culture to the table. (When I was googling, I found this: "Are Japanese People Actually Jewish?")