Let My People Eat!

One of my great laments since moving to the Bay Area is the dearth of anything resembling a decent deli. There are few things I miss about Los Angeles, but one of them is Canter's, which I virtually used to live at. The last good deli I went to was Katz's in Manhattan in December, and I have had a serious Jones for some juicy pastrami ever since. I've asked every Jew I know around here if there is good deli to be found in the Bay Area and they all respond "no." I've always found this odd, since San Francisco is known as foodie central. I have been advised to stay away from David's on Geary, as most consider it an overpriced joke. On a recommendation, I went to Saul's in Berkeley once, and found it woefully lacking. Others have told me about Moishe's Pipick in San Francisco, but I've heard mixed reports.
One place mentioned to try was Miller's East Coast Deli on Polk Street, and I am pleased to report that this picky deli maven is happy with the results. While not extraordinary by New York or Los Angeles standards, the food was far better deli fare than anywhere else I've found. Their menu is large and chock full of the standards like pastrami, corned beef, lox, whitefish, kugel, cabbage rolls, kishka and kasha varnishkas. I couldn't decide between pastrami and corned beef (the eternal struggle), so I went for "The Chief": pastrami, corned beef, russian dressing, and cole slaw served on rye. This generous sandwich was just right, with lots of steaming meat, wet cole slaw and the bread just the right thickness and slightly hard texture. I was a happy man. They also scored points for having Dr. Brown's Cel Ray, my favorite deli drink. Yes, it really tastes like celery, and it's refreshing accompaniment for corned beef or pastrami. Next time, I'm trying the matzo ball soup, which looked good and perhaps a Reuben (they have seven different varieties).Then again, maybe the fish platter, a feast for two for just $18.99. Overall, their prices are reasonable, with most basic sandwiches running $7.49 for 6 oz of meat and $9.49 for 9 oz. Another feather in their cap at Miller's: the serve H & H Bagels from New York, considered my many to be the best. Every time I visit Manhattan, I bring back a dozen, and brought one home with me for my next morning breakfast.
While not the perfect deli experience (no crabby waitresses), Miller's is pretty darn good, and by Bay Area standards for a deli, great. You'll be seeing me there lots!

Miller's East Coast Deli
1725 Polk St. (between Clay and Washington)
San Francisco
(415) 563-3542
www.millersdelisf.com

Work at last!

It's been a long six months, but I finally have a job!

Editing vs. Sausages

You know there's something wrong with the world when you can make more money frying sausages and putting them on toothpicks than you can being a newspaper editor.
As I was perusing the job boards tonight, I came across an ad for an editor's position for a tri-weekly newspaper. The salary offered was $25,000-$30,000—an insulting amount. Then, while checking the retail jobs (yes, I'm thinking of going back into retail), there was a job advertised for a "sausage demonstrator," which paid $15 per hour (plus mileage allowance). That equals $31,200 per year!

Yes, you can earn more by frying up sausages, slicing them, putting them on toothpicks, and distributing coupons than if you "have experience in Quark, front-page layout, AP style and be ready to lend a hand in writing stories" and can produce a three-times-a-week community newspaper. The message: we value sausage slicers more than wordsmiths.

New Outlet

Be sure to check out my new food columns at www.novometro.com

Bubbalicious

When my friend Richard Moss told me that Bill Clinton was appearing in Oakland, I jumped at the chance to get some pics. I'd still vote for Bubba if I could, although I'm supporting Obama.

Bye Bye Carl, Hello Lou

Seeing the obit for Carl Karcher (Carl's Jr.) made me think about Lou Sheldon. I remember back in the late '90s, when I first became a gay activist and was involved in battling Shedon and his Traditional Values Coalition www.traditionalvalues.org that Karcher was a big suporter of Sheldon's. At that time, Sheldon was a small-time anti-gay bigot involved in stopping the first Orange County gay pride celebration (he didn't succeed, but that's another blog). I don't know if it's still true, but back in those days, no self-respecting gay or lesbian would be caught dead eating at Carl's Jr. The boycott even went on for years after Karcher had nothing to do with the company except for being a figurehead.
Anyway, seeing Karcher's obit made me want to check in with my old nemesis Lou, so I went on his site. The only thing I found were the "TVC Comics," which once again prove that conservatives have no sense of satire, they only know how to attack.
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/comics/index.php

Gonzo Foodism

I have a new Web site: Gonzofoodism.com. The site will serve as a repository for links to Web sites and blogs that deal with eating on the edgy side. I currently have a blog up, where I'll be posting some of my "different" food writing. There's also a link to Anthony Bourdain's blog. Please forward anything you feel is worthy of inclusion.