TODAY IN NEW YORK CITY: BACK TO OUR FOOD ROOTS

The Goo Shoes family (Ms., Mr., Jr., and Aunt)

drove into Manhattan today to have lunch at a famous landmark, 

which has been serving the food of our ancestors since 1888.

Okay, maybe not the ones who lived in Russia - -

their diet consisted mostly of potatoes and borscht.

But our grandparents (Junior GS's great-grandparents)

who immigrated to the United States and ended up on the Lower East Side, 

could possibly have tasted their first pastrami sandwiches in this iconic eatery.

 Katz's Delicatessen has been an institution for New York Jews for generations,

and we wanted Junior Goo Shoes to experience it.

Jewish people aren't the only ones who dine at Katz's.

It has become a major tourist attraction, filled with visitors from all over the world

who want to enjoy a quintessential New York City food experience. 

Undoubtedly, many people became aware of Katz's in 1989

when the now well-known scene in When Harry Met Sally was filmed.

See that sign?

You know the one........

"I'll have what she's having."

The restaurant is huge.

You can either order at the counter........

or opt for table service.

Katz's is known for their pastrami and corned beef, 

which are cured for up to 30 days, 

as opposed to 36 hours for commercial versions.

Even Junior GS immediately noticed the difference.

 Is this corned beef beautiful, or what?

 The latkes (aka potato pancakes) aren't pretty, but they are dee-LISH! 

Do you like yours with apple sauce or sour cream?

Half-sour and sour pickles, and pickled tomatoes - yum!

I couldn't resist a New York egg cream, 

invented in this very neighborhood back in the late1800's.

Why it's called an egg cream is a bit of a mystery, 

but rest assured, there's no egg in it. 

It's a delicious mixture of milk, chocolate syrup and seltzer.

It's not "official" unless it has a frothy top.

Soooooooo good.

I'd love one of these old signs for my kitchen!

 The lower East Side is a mecca for Jewish cuisine.

The neighborhood is home to Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery,

operating for 100+ years (sorry, no photo),

and, just a few doors down from Katz's is Russ and Daughters,

another iconic food destination that's been around for over a century.

Look at all that dried fruit in the window!

As much as I wanted to sample delicacies from all three places,

a girl can only eat so much

(yes, even this girl).  

The only way to do that is to go on one of those walking food tours in lower Manhattan.

I'm going to look into that.

This picture has nothing to do with anything,

other than the fact that it's in the neighborhood,

and is a really cool sign. 

 It was a quick in-and-out of New York City,

and we did come home with doggie bags. 

There's no way Sadie's gonna get her paws on these leftovers, however. 

Now, if you'll pardon me, I'm going to research those walking food tours. 

 Who wants to come with me?

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