Bernstein’s Deli
Winnipeg has a number of excellent delis that I predict could hold their own when stacked up against Montreal’s or New York City’s. Many of the cities’ best are in River Heights where I am content to reside, with its glorious elm-lined streets, character homes and lots of quaint shops and restaurants. Bernstein’s Deli has been around even before I moved to the neighbourhood and that was close to 20 years ago. I suppose this is why a friend of mine was shocked to learn that I had never had a meal at this convenient location. I have shopped at the deli counter and especially enjoyed their homemade frozen soups over the years but had never sat down to enjoy a good old fashioned deli plate.
On this day, I had an equal hankering to try their reuben sandwich as I did to taste their freshly cut, never- frozen french fries. Luckily for me, I didn’t have to be embarrassed by my indulgent order as my lunch mate ordered the exact same thing.
The sandwich was piled high with top quality corned beef and what we detected was home-made sauerkraut. I typically prefer Thousand Island Dressing on my reubens which answer the call of my sweet/salty cravings. Bernstein’s uses a special mustard which is delicious but just not preference. As I think back, I can’t remember anything about the cheese and then it occurs to me that it was not served with cheese, which I guess means that it was a kosher reuben. Perhaps that also explains the dressing-maybe someone with more knowledge of kosher law could send me a comment. The mound of fries were perfectly crispy on the outside and potatoey on the inside-yum!
I knew the people at the booth sitting behind us and thought to myself how nice it is to live in a city large enough to have all the amenities and yet small enough to know and often connect with your neighbours.
Kath’s quote: “I am not a glutton — I am an explorer of food.”-Erma Bombeck