Send a Salami . . .
Tomorrow nightís Bloggersí Dinner [1] will be at Katzís Delicatessen. This is a New York landmark of great, well-deserved reknown.
When Johnny Deppís FBI agent in Donnie Brasco [2] meets with his contact, the place is Katzís. Meg Ryanís famous ìWhen Harry Met Sally [3]î fake orgasm (ìIíll have what sheís having.î) took place at Katzís. That response to Sally was uttered by Estelle Reiner, mother of Rob, wife of Carl. Numerous presidents and statesmen from all over the world have eaten there, from Nixon to Clinton to Yeltsin to Gore.
By far the best graphics to make your mouth water over Katzís Deli seem to be found here [4]. Bloggers and blog readers from elsewhere can use this link [5] for mail order service to get a taste of the foodstuffs from Katzís. Donít be daunted by the pricing. It is well worth it.
To the left is a picture of a Katzís sandwich. Want to see it in its full glory? Click here [6]. You start with rye bread, a little deli mustard (please! Frenchís yellow mustard ñor, worse yet: mayonnaiseówould be an insult to the sandwich!), and adorn the work of art created for you by one of the countermen. Theyíve all been there for years. As they make the sandwich they give you a taste of the meat, freshly sliced, off the knife and onto a small plate in front of you. With it maybe youíll have some chicken soup with motzah balls, a Dr. Brownís soda (I prefer Black Cherry, some like Cel-Ray, others go for the Cream or the Root Beer), or even a side of Fries, cooked, of course, in chicken fat. Most of Katz's patrons line up at the counter with a lunchroom-style tray, to order their sandwich and take it to a table. Waiter service exists only along one wall, and sometimes in the back, behind the counters and past the washrooms. Pictures of the famous and noted who have visited the place are everywhere.
A famous line was coined by Katzís shipping department in the days of WWII: Send a Salami To Your Boy In The Army. Now thereís a T-Shirt to that effect, and a nice neon sign with the slogan, brightly lit every day and night at Katzís.
A wonderful watercolor painting of Dave Tarowsky [7] can be seen hanging at the back of the place, as well as a small version of it at the cashierís station. Dave was a 50+ year employee at Kats'z. Stories about him are legend. He was a wizened old man with a knowing look and a permanent station in life: at Katz's, guarding tradition. Search though I did for a copy of the painting on line, it was nowhere to be found. This must mean it is getting near time for me to make good on my threat to someday buy a litho of it. Not only would I hang it on the wall in my office, but I would also scan it, to post as a graphic on the blog.
Looking forward to the blog meeting tomorrow night. Something tells me many posts will come of it. And good eats, too!