Linny's

After all these tasting menus and elevated fine-dining experiences, it was time to...  go for another tasting menu!  Now, this was a little different as we made our way out to Ossington for Linny's.  This high-class deli and steakhouse elicits vibes from yesteryear with New York decor and servers with bow ties.  One could easily order a la carte off the menu, but for 2 people to get the Linny's experience, the Friday Night Special (can be had any night) is the way to go.  It is a chef's curated menu that highlights everything Linny's is known for.

This all started with some snacks including the Challah Service where it came with an addictive fresh cheese and blueberries.  The bread itself was fluffy and light with just the slightest chew.  Some nuttiness was provide by the roasted sesames on top while the spread was thick and creamy (like cream cheese, but milder) with the sweetness of blueberry compote and tangy dusting of sumac.  We found a couple of Pastrami Croquettes topped with pastrami seasoning aioli.  These croquettes were crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside.  The exterior was so light, it literally broke apart on contact.  Peppery and smoky, the pastrami and aioli added quite a punch.  Lastly, we had 2 slices of seared Pastrami Sausage which was salty and fatty.  It was sinful to eat, but super tasty.  The mustard helped cut the heaviness and salt.  House-made pickles helped cut even more so.

Next set of dishes included the Fluke Crudo sitting in a fennel oil that was super impactful.  It had enough salt to season the fish while the oil was definitely liquorice-forward.  It was a bit floral with the sharpness of garlic.  We also got the Chicken Liver Toast with cured egg yolk, fried onion and pickles.  First of all, the bread underneath was somewhat crispy with crunchy edges, but still soft in the middle.  I prefer this as it gave us a few textures rather than just crunchy.  The liver mousse was a bit on the salty side, but I enjoyed the boldness with a touch of booziness and sweetness.  The onions were aromatic and nutty while the pickles provided the necessary acidity.  Lastly, we had Linny's House Salad with gem lettuce, cucumber, bulgar and champagne vinaigrette.  Nice interlude in between the saltiness and richness of the current and previous dishes.  We had sweet tanginess and the brightness of champagne to go with the tender leaves.  Bulgar was a nice crunch to the mix.

Then we were served slices of their famed Pastrami with mustard.  Oh these buttery slices were heavenly.  Nicely marbled, these melted in my mouth and had the rich salty earthiness that we all associate with pastrami.  Of course there was a hint of pepperiness as well.  Cutting through the fattiness and saltiness was the tangy and slightly hot mustard.  There was also a plate stacked full of French Fries that were super crispy and totally fried multiple times.  These were more like crisps, but hey, I loved them.  Completely salted and tasting great on their own, but we had some aioli, ketchup and mustard on the side to compliment.

Of course we had to have a steak somewhere in the meal right?  Subsequently, we were presented with The Romanian or Hanger Steak with Grace's garlic and a Beef Karnatzel.  This was a beautiful cut of meat that doesn't get enough love.  It comes from the plate of the cow and is super meaty in flavour.  This one was exactly that and was prepared medium-rare.  It was tender with a pleasant chew while perfectly salted.  Some compound butter made things velvety and flavourful from the pastrami spices.  Hey, that roasted bulb of garlic was aromatic and complimented the beef well.  On the side, we found Cylindra Beets with pistachios and shallots.  The tender, earthy and sweet beets were great with the plethora of crushed pistachios as well as the pistachio puree.  Nice nuttiness and saltiness.  The shallots provided that bright crunch.

Before dessert, we were served some house-made Marshmallows which were light and fluffy.  Onto the actual dessert, we had the Chocolate Babka braided with chocolate and topped with vanilla ice cream.  This pull-apart bread was super soft and airy with a crispy exterior.  The chocolate was semi-sweet with appealing bitterness.  In the end, we really enjoyed this meal because it was completely different than what we had been eating.  Food is more down-to-earth but classy at the same time.  Service was great and we had more than enough to eat.  Would come back when in town.

The Good:

- Not fussy food, but still classy

- More than enough to eat with the tasting menu

- Great service

The Bad:

- Although there was some great light interludes, the meal as a whole is quite heavy

Langer's Deli

We've been trying to visit Langer's for quite some time.  However, every time we have been in L.A., it just hasn't happened.  This time around, it was only Viv and I, without the kids.  Hence, we did a bit more exploring into neighborhoods that may be a bit sketch.  To be fair, we didn't feel that we were in danger anytime, even though we had to walk 4 blocks to Langer's.  I guess we could've just parked in their lot and get validated, but like most times, it was full.

We didn't have to wait long as there wasn't much of a lineup on the day we went.  We were seated right by the door, which was interesting.  The first thing we had was the Matzo Ball Soup which was fantastic.  Really enjoyed the chicken broth as it was definitely chicken-flavored and the sweetness really came through.  I could also taste the mirepoix with the celery being prominent.  The matzo balls were ever-so-fluffy and texturally-pleasing.

So I know everyone will tell you to order #19 which is the a pastrami sandwich with coleslaw, Russian dressing and Swiss.  However, Viv didn't want that and heck she wasn't going to be a lemming.  So she just wanted a basic Hot Pastrami Sandwich on rye.  Well, there was nothing wrong with that choice as the meat was super tender and literally fell-apart.  It had a smoky saltiness to it that was accented by the fattiness of the meat.  Add a bit of mustard and it was delicious.  Bread was good too being a light rye that wasn't too soft either.

For myself, I went for the #12 as in the Mixed Delicatessen with Corned Beef, Pastrami and Beef Tongue.  This also came with 2 slices of rye bread, pickles, veggies and olives.  So essentially, I could make my own custom sandwich with the supplied meats.  But I just ate the meats and bread separately.  I thought the corned beef was buttery, tender and a balanced saltiness with pickling spice vibes.  As for the beef tongue, we had a similar flavor profile except since it was fattier, there was a silkiness to it.

This also included a plate of Fries.  These krinkle-cut potatoes were fried until golden brown.  Beyond the aesthetics, they were hot and super crispy.  Inside, the steaming potato center was delicate and soft.  Really good fries.  In general, this was worth the visit, even if the area is a bit colorful.  Just mind your own business and you'll be fine.  I thought the pastrami was very good and brought back memories of Katz's except being more tender and less smoky.  Whatever the case, I enjoyed it and would come back again for more.

The Good:
- Super tender Pastrami
- Loved the light rye bread
- The fries are crispy

The Bad:
- Parking is validated but the lot gets full fast
- Neighborhood isn't pretty, but you'll be find during the day  

Schwartz's Deli

Okay, we've been to Schwartz's Deli before on our last visit to Montreal, but we didn't dine in due to the long lineup.  Hence, we didn't get the "true" experience and to give it a fair shake, we returned to do it right.  Fortunately for us, there was not much of a lineup (as you can see in the picture).  I've always held the thought that Snowden Deli is better but we ate in there and this was the way to settle the comparison.

So without further ado, let's get straight to the Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich.  It was fairly good size with enough meat to satisfy without being a monstrosity.  It was a combination of fatty brisket and the flat.  There was a background level of smokiness and the meat was just salty enough.  It ate tender and didn't require much chewing.  As for the rye bread, it was pretty robust and held things together nicely.  Definitely solid and is still one of the best.

This time around, I had to get something different, so we went for the Smoked Chicken and Montreal Smoked Meat Combo.  It also included fries on the side.  Well, I regret ordering the chicken because it was super dry and not all that fun to eat.  I mean the flavour was good with smoky pepperiness, but the meat, especially the breast, was practically inedible.  As for the sliced smoked meat, it was excellent.  Tender, moist and flavourful. 

About those Fries, they were fresh cut and fried up beautifully.  They really piled it onto the plate and in reality, it is hard to finish by yourself.  Best to share with a friend (or the random stranger sitting beside you).  They were uniformly crispy and had a nice attractive colour.  Inside, the creamy potato was warm and appealing. These were definitely delicious but they would be better served in a poutine...

Yes, we did get the Smoked Meat Poutine too (same as last time) and it was fantastic.  Unlike last time, we ate this fresh and it made a huge difference as the fries were still crispy in some spots.  The hot gravy had a nice viscosity and was not overly salty.  That was a good thing as the ample amount of chopped smoke meat added all the flavour this dish needed.  Underneath, we found a bevy of cheese curds that were partly melted.  We still had some whole pieces that were at their squeaky best.  Well, I gotta say that Schwartz's still has game and their smoked meat is good as well as their poutine.  Can't say the same for the chicken, but that isn't the main draw here.  There are other places to get smoked meat in Montreal and some of them maybe arguably better, but if you are looking for an iconic place, Schwartz's is it.

The Good:

- Excellent smoked meat

- That poutine!

- It has history and the name

The Bad:

- You'll have to lineup for it

- Seating isn't the most comfortable (part of the charm right?)

Cochon Butcher

So far, the weather in New Orleans was exactly as expected - hot, humid and some thunderstorms here and there.  We got a bit sunburned, drank lots of water, ate lots and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Up until our brunch at Commander's Palace, the rain pretty much held off except for a brief one while we were at August.  However, we ended up spending our afternoon before our flight back home at Riverwalk since it was absolutely dumping.  This was no passing storm and really, we were lucky it came on our last day.  Prior to our flight, we decided to hit up something close to your hotel in Cochon Butcher.

We already had a wonderful dinner at Cochon next door, but at the butcher they are known for their sandwiches, in particular their version of the Muffaletta.  At first glance, the sandwich was medium in size, yet definitely generous with the meats.  I enjoyed that this was served warm with the oils of the meats activated giving off a salty aroma.  The bread was on point being toasted crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  There was just enough olive condiment to give the sandwich some zing and fermented saltiness.  This was pretty tasty in my books.

Viv ended up with something lighter in the Smoked Turkey with avocado, sprouts, tomatoes and mayo.  This was all served between 2 slices of aggressively toasted and charred whole wheat bread.  Hence, there was a smoky and nutty crunchy that gave way to soft ripe avocado and fresh veggies.  The star of the show was the turkey though as it was moist, tender and plentiful.  Best of all, the smokiness really came through.  After the initial bite, the smoke flavor was impactful and lingered to the end.  We liked how it was as advertised since some smoked meats are not that strong.  Despite this, we didn't find it overwhelming as we could still taste the sprouts.

Lastly, we shared the Marinated Brussels Sprouts which were also very good.  They were fried just enough to give them a meaty texture while retaining a bite.  They were aggressively tossed in a spicy, savory and almost meaty dressing.  All the flavors were heard as the seasoning got in between the leaves of the sprouts.  There was also a nice smokiness from the deep fry as well.  After it was all said and done, we could see why this place is so popular.  Too bad we didn't have the appetite to try more sammies!

The Good:
- Loaded big sandwiches
- Well-priced
- On point meats

The Bad:
- Can get busy and seats will be at a premium

Snowdon Deli

Okay, I admit it.  During this trip, I've been guilty of playing tourist and have been to some less-than-stellar places to eat due to it.  However, I don't make any apologies as it is my trip and really, I can do whatever I want!  But it is true that the visit to Carnegie (now closed) yielded predictably sub-par results for far too much money.  Also, in Montreal, we've been to Dunn's and Schwartz's which are both popular with the tourists.  So on our last day before returning home, Viv and I decided to trek all-the-way-out to Snowdon Deli, which is more of a local eatery.

Some have argued that it is the place for smoked meat, even better than Schwartz's, Lester's and Rueben's.  Well, we were going to be the judges of that starting with the hot Smoked Meat Sandwich.  I asked for medium and it was tender, fatty and aromatic.  I found that it was soft, but still retained a meatiness while being not overly salted or peppery.  For me, this was better than any smoked meat I've had so far.  As part of my combo, I also had a bowl of Matzo Ball Soup which was also very good.  The chicken soup portion was pretty typical, but I enjoyed how it was not overseasoned where I could taste actual chicken.  However, the best part was the matzo ball as it was fluffy and soft with a springiness.  It was so good, I had to get another just for my son.

Of course he couldn't subsist on soup alone, so he got the Hot Beef Brisket with gravy and a side of fries.  Okay, I hate to compare, especially since Carnegie is in NYC and Snowdon is in Montreal (and this one was hot as opposed to cold), but this was far superior.  The meat was moist (due to the salty onion gravy) and melt-in-his-mouth tender.  He loved every bite, which were few because he completely devoured.  The side of fries was absolutely massive where it was practically falling off the plate.  These were on point being crispy while still retaining some tender potato texture inside.  We got an order of Latkas as well which were served with sour cream and apple sauce.  As much as I enjoyed the golden brown crispiness of the outside, they were a bit denser than what I generally enjoy.

Viv ended up sharing a Smoked Turkey Sandwich with our daughter and although it wasn't the sexiest thing to order, it was solid.  The meat was sliced thin being slightly smoky, tender and lightly salty. There was enough of it to achieve balance with the medium-firm rye.  I ended up getting one last item with the Full Strip of Karnatzel.  For those who are unfamiliar, this dried beef sausage is as much of a Jewish deli experience as smoked meat.  I found this one to be really good with an appealing firmness and packed with enough flavour to warrant the slices of rye.  There was a light pepperiness and definite saltiness that was on point. As much as everything food is subjective, for me at least, Snowdon was my best deli experience of the trip by a long shot.  Totally worth the trip out there.

The Good:
- Not that touristy
- Solid eats
- Well-priced

The Bad:
- Service gets very sparse as it gets busier
- Need to make a trip out there if you are a tourist  

Schwartz's Deli & Rotisserie Romados

So far for this trip, certain lineups at popular restaurants have eaten up much of our time.  For instance, we wasted almost 2 hours in the ridiculous lineup at Carnegie Deli in NYC for mediocre food (yes, this wasn't lost upon me, but whatever).  Then we waited and waited at Momofuku as well (also not as good as we imagined).  Let's not forget the almost 3 hour wait at Neptune Oyster in Boston too (but that was tasty).  So we were not willing to stand in the Schwartz's lineup in Montreal.  Rather, we got take-away and went around the block to Romados and did the same.

What we ended up with was the classic Smoked Meat Sandwich that was modest in side, yet at the same time, modest in price (under $10.00).  I found the rye bread to be on point for the sandwich as it was soft, yet still stood up completely to the mustard and meat.  Since it was a leaner cut, the smoked meat was a bit chewier and drier.  As for the flavour, it was really good with many different layers including a noticeable pepperiness.  I also decided to get the Smoked Meat Poutine as well.  This was a large portion of crispy fries (with a soft potato centre) smothered in a saltish gravy with a modest amount of squeaky cheese curds.  It was topped with plenty of smoked meat that featured a lot of the bark which meat it was even chewier and more peppery.

As for Romados, I got the 1/2 Chicken Combo that was completely stuffed with a large and meaty 1/2 chicken, salad, rice and a tonne of fries.  I got the peri sauce in mild as the kiddies were sharing the food.  I thought the chicken itself was nicely marinated and completely tender including the white meat.  The sauce added a nice sweet saltiness as well as a mild spice.  The fries were also very good, being even better than the one from Schwartz's with a crispier exterior.  Lastly, I had a Portuguese Tart which sported a crispy and thin shell where the custard in the middle was on the thicker side, but still smooth and creamy with a purposefully amount of sweetness.  Even though there were 4 adults and 4 kiddies, there was still a ridiculous amount of food (2 chicken combos, 2 smoked meat sammies and the poutine).  Good value eats with the only negative being the lineups.

The Good:
- Lots of food for the money (both places)
- Chicken was tender and flavourful
- Fries were on point (both places)

The Bad:
- Stupid lineups
- The lean smoked meat was rather chewy (should've asked for medium)  

Carnegie Deli

You'd think after eating so many different things, I wouldn't go back to a tourist trap of sorts right?  Well, there were 2 reasons we made our way back to Carnegie Deli on our recent visit to NYC.  First, we were travelling with Elaine and Costanza (yes, we visited Tom's Restaurant too...) and they've never been to the place before.  Second, I never blogged about it.  This visit almost never happened because Carnegie Deli was closed for a year due to the "gas stealing" fiasco.  In fact, Carnegie is scheduled to close at the end of this year, for good.

Just like last time, we waited stupidly in line for about an hour to pay large amounts of money for sandwiches with far too much meat in them.  Yup, we had the Woody Allen again with equal portions of corned beef and pastrami.  However, it seemed smaller than we remembered it.  Don't get me wrong, it was still a lot of meat!  I liked the pastrami more as it was buttery and nicely peppery on the outside.  The corned beef was pretty dry and rather bland.  Was the sammie worth $29.99?  Certainly not, but I guess it is the touristy thing to do.  To relive every moment, I once again, got a Tongue Sandwich (no, not from Viv...  LOL) and it was good. The slices of tongue were tender and buttery with a nice rebound.  It was also well-salted also (and went well with the mustard).

To round out the meat sammies, we got the Beef Brisket which was definitely meaty.  However, we found it to be incredibly dry and bland.  Sure, that is what the mustard was for and it certainly made a difference.  This was our least preferred of the sammies.  My daughter went for the Tuna Melt and nearly dusted off one of the 2 really enormous mounds.  The tuna was lightly dressed, hence it was on the drier side.  However, that also meant it wasn't overly wet nor greasy.  There was a considerable amount of melted cheese on top which added the necessary flavour as the tuna itself was rather plain.

For my son, he just had to get something boring like the Burger with American cheese.  Nothing really interesting, but decent nonetheless.  The burger patty was large and fairly moist while nicely seared on the outside. There was enough melted cheese on top to hide the entire patty. Costanza's youngest son went for his standby being the Mac n' Cheese.  It was actually not bad being creamy and Velvetta-like.  The pasta was not overdone, but again, nothing to write home about either.

For dessert, we once again got a slice of NY-Style Cheesecake with strawberries.  I can see how many people wouldn't like this as it was super heavy and rich.  For me, this was just right since a cheesecake is not a cheesecake unless every bite is cheesy, rich, creamy and thick.  Since Costanza likes his desserts lighter, he got the Banana Cream Pie.  I'm not sure if this was exactly less rich, but it certainly was airier and creamy.  I thought it was okay, but nothing particularly special.  Sadly, Carnegie is really a tourist trap and I've had better deli-meat sandwiches elsewhere.  It's sad to see it go, but at the same time, not really either.

The Good:
- The touristy thing to do
- Large sandwiches that you can take an IG photo of and brag about it
- Efficient service

The Bad:
- The sandwiches are actually sub-par
- Expensive
- The lineup is ridiculous

Rocco's Deli

Usually, I am pretty up-to-date on new movies and generally their story line. However, I had no clue whatsoever as to what Zootopia was about.  It was a kid movie and I vaguely remembered a trailer with animals walking upright and a bunny shooting a fox with a tranquilizer gun.  That was good enough for me as I dragged the kiddies and Viv out to Silvercity.  But it was also a great excuse to grab some quick eats prior to the movie at the nearby Rocco's Deli (and grocery store too).

After a quick scan of the display case, we settled on 3 sammies including the Roast Beef with provolone, roasted onions and horseradish.  As you can clearly see, the thinly shaved beef was house-made which meant the texture was meaty while still super tender.  The onions added a sweet sharpness to the sandwich, but the horseradish was not very apparent.  So much so, my son didn't even notice it!  For my daughter, she quickly picked out the Turkey with spinach, brie, cranberry and mayo (on cranberry bread).  This featured plenty of creamy melted brie and the tartness (and sweet hits) of the cranberries.  We found the turkey on the drier side, but the sammie ate well nonetheless.

For myself, I opted for the spicy Cappicollo with chipotle mayo, roasted red peppers, tomato, arugula and provolone (on ciabatta).  This was my favourite of the bunch as it was spicy and zesty.  There was enough filling that was impactful and varied so that all the different tastes were present.  I felt the choice of bread was spot on too being substantial enough to stand up to the ingredients while not being too dense either.  We also got a side of Penne Pasta with chicken just to change things up.  It turned out to be a bad decision.  As with any pasta that has been sitting in a chaffing tray, it was overdone and a bit hard in spots.  The sauce had been soaked up by the pasta which meant there was some flavour, but it didn't eat very nicely either.  Well, that really didn't matter as the sammies were good and the service was friendly.

The Good:
- Solid sammies
- Lotsa filling
- Reasonably-priced

The Bad:
- Didn't like the pre-prepared pasta