Boy, was I WRONG, yet again! If anybody had ever told me, "You can get

[Redstone]

a really, and I mean a DAMN good Reuben from a place in the Food Court of a MALL," I'd have vehemently advised them that they were fucking nuts.

But it happened today. Nicely filled, on swirled rye / pumpernickel, melting Boar's Head corned beef, and as the closing argument, served with a proper fresh, crispy quarter of a half-sour pickle (NOT a Dill), and overall it was, I'll admit, 85-percent-plus as good as the best Reuben out there.

In a fucking MALL! What a nice surprise.

(And, I might add for those who have been attending to my health woes, it was the second third of THREE MEALS IN ONE DAY, which I have not eaten in over two months.)

Oh, yes. Definite upswing happening here in the health department.

(I don't know if it's a chain, but the place is called Meyer's Deli, based as far as I can tell on a real NY deli. If you see one, try their food.)

Redstone

[fizzgig]

1. you're killing me here, man

i can't find a great rueben in my town for love nor money

[Redstone]

2. Where's your town? If it doesn't have a good Reuben, you need to move. And now.

Redstone

[fizzgig]

7. i'm in northern colorado

but i've been spoiled by having family in nyc

i'm screwn

[Redstone]

9. As I told KW: You can't find a good one? Start a place where you MAKE a good one.

They'll be beating down your door at opening time. A good sandwich will sell anywhere.

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

3. BAAAAAAAAH!

No decent delis here in sunny California.

[Redstone]

4. So start one up yourself. You'll make a fortune.

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

5. You are right about that.

:)

[rug]

6. Where's the sauerkraut?

[Redstone]

8. Oh, the kraut was there, as was the Swiss, and the Thousand Island, but the surprise

was the quantity and, more important, the quality. THAT'S what was so shocking to find in a Mall Food Court.

Redstone

[rockymountaindem]

13. I need more sauerkraut in my life

When I visited the Czech Republic on a college trip everybody was surprised that I actually wanted to *eat* all the white and purple cabbage stuff that appeared on nearly every plate of food.

If I could eat that Czech food most days and round it out with burritos, Indian and Italian food the rest of the time I see no reason to eat anything else.

[Redstone]

21. Uh, "Czech food, rounded out with burritos, Indian and Italian?" Could ANYBODY not

be happy with that forever?

(As long as there's some Greek / Arab / other Mediterranean thrown in as well?)

Oh, yes.

Redstone

[rockymountaindem]

27. I tried to narrow it down

But one of the oddest things you'll ever see (IMHO) is the Czech idea of "American food", most of which features a meat/fruit combination. A lot of the time I was just guessing at random from a Czech menu (although I had learned the words for chicken, pork and beef so I had some idea) and just hoping something good came out. One time though I went straight for the wacky side:

Two whole chicken breasts each topped with half of a fresh peach, covered with melted swiss cheese and *fresh* whipped cream. I thought it sounded weird but I thought "how bad could this be?" Turned out it was ab-so-lutely great. I can taste it now. Another time I got some beef pot roast with gravy, blackberry jam and whipped cream. That was also great. Both of these concoctions were supposedly "American food" when I asked about them. Now I ask you, have you ever eaten anything like that in the US? I haven't, but I wish I could...

[Redstone]

29. I envy you. That sounds like a GREAT experience.

Redstone

[rockymountaindem]

32. Thanks, it was, but the best part

is that I paid about four bucks for each of those meals and I got complimentary unlimited bread! One time we fed four people from the grocery store for $12, wine included. Don't even get me started on the low cost of pretty good alcohol. Plus, for the real fun, we got to live for six weeks in a Communist-era student residence with no ventilation and no real beds. That was a scene.

Of course, later there was some confusion as to whether or not the roadside shack we kept eating in had a roach problem. I choose to believe that it did not. In any event, to make a long story short, if you want to travel for less, head for E. Europe.

[Redstone]

34. Ah, Europe. I wish I had been able to go there, or would be able to in the future.

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

10. But was this mall in a village?

:evilgrin:

[Redstone]

14. No, I'm afraid it was in a town, and one of the few towns around here that

doesn't actually have any villages within it.

So I guess it was a racist sandwich after all. I suppose I should feel ashamed for havig mentioned it.

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

15. ...

:rofl:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

11. You never know, do you, my dear Redstone...

Just when something completely wonderful and totally unexpected will jump up into your mouth!

Enjoy!

Glad to hear you had another good day, sweetie!

:hug:

[KitchenWitch]

12. Must . Not . Think . Impure . Thoughts!

:evilgrin:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. Oh. Good. Grief!

Perhaps I should edit?

I just knew someone would make something dirty out of my innocent phrase! O8)

[KitchenWitch]

19. ...

x(

No spankies!

x(

[CaliforniaPeggy]

26. I wouldn't spank you, sweetie...

Never, ever...

You are a sweetheart, and you know it!

I used this smilie: O8)

[Redstone]

16. I really hope you MEANT to write a post that would make me laugh so hard that

I hope my neighbors don't call 911...I'm out here on the screen porch where they can hear me barking, after all.

Thanks, Peg. You really ARE a peach.

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

18. Are you thinking what I thought when I read Peggy's post?

:evilgrin:

[Redstone]

24. Yes, and it involved being ambushed (oh God, another pun) by Mrs R.

Redstone

[KitchenWitch]

25. ...

:D

[CaliforniaPeggy]

23. Honestly, I wasn't trying to make you laugh!

OR think dirty thoughts!

But I'm glad you laughed!

Just blame my creative writing class...

I'm in a much different zone these days!

Laughter is very good for you....it extends your life!

Thank you for calling me a peach, sweetie...

:hug:

[Redstone]

28. Seems like that zone you're in is a good one, and I'm happy. My zone: Two days in a row

of feeling NORMAL (doesn't sound like much, but is worth shooting for when you haven't had it for so long); being able to eat three meals in one day (the Monster I deal with attacks various parts of your body almost at random, digestive system included, and that's what it hit me with recently); today, walking around a goddamn mall for three hours, then coming home and installing new handles on all the kitchen cabinets and then putting up two new lights outside by the front doors, then eating an actual dinner, then watching a whole baseball game, then posting on DU...

Christ, this is how the healthy people live, isn't it? (Not to mention the way I remember living myself, not that long ago.) I like it. I like it a lot.

This feels damn good. But I think should close this second of two good days in a row out, and hit the rack. Don't want to press that luck too much.

Thanks, Peg.

Redstone

[Danger Mouse]

20. i love reubens...

:9
unfortunately..i no longer eat meat...
FAIL
:cry:

[Redstone]

30. I think there's a fairly good vegetarian fake corned beef out there.

Ask you fellow DUers for a source, because this is an amazingly resourceful group of people.

Redstone

[BarenakedLady]

22. Now I'm hungry

I love Reuben's (minus the beef). I used to be able to get a delicious reuben with tempeh, sauerkraut, vegan 1000 Island dressing and swiss on pumpernickel. That was in RI and the place closed down. :(

Gaaaawwwd, to die for.

[Redstone]

31. What? A HEALTHY sandwich in RHODE ISLAND? The home of the Gaggas? Damn, another

thing I was wrong about.

Redstone

[Habibi]

33. I crawl on my belly like a reptile

for a good Reuben. We have a coupla good joints here in Rottenchester, NY. :9

[Redstone]

35. "She crawls on her belly like a reptile! Only one thin dime, only the tenth

part of a dollar!"

You must be a member of my generation.

Redstone