...when I made a trip to Glendale and Ridgewood, NY. First I stopped at Rudy's Bakery on Seneca Avenue but have to admit that was a waste of time. They wanted $3 apiece for Linzer tarts that I was going to buy but I just walked out the door probably never to return. That is unless she who must be adored wants them badly enough; yesterday I checked with her via a text msg and she told me to forget them at that price but today it seemed she wished I had bought some (they are heavenly delicious)..
My next stop was Queens Wines & Liquors on Myrtle Avenue. I picked up three bottles of Nurnberger Gluhwein for the wife. It's a German spiced wine and is pretty good, especially when you warm it up a bit on a chilly winter's night. It's too bad I had to pay about the top dollar I have ever seen asked for it but this is the only place I know of convenient to me to buy it. It was likewise for the bottle of Schladerer Kirschwasser, it was way too expensive but it was convenient at the moment so I got one bottle. It's for me and for whomever else will drink it with me. Schladerer Kirshwasser is absolutely the best commercially made hard spirit that has ever passed my lips.
Then I hit up Morscher's Pork Store on Catalpa Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens (part of NYC). This place is a pork lover's treasure chest. If you like smoked pork, pork deli meats and fresh pork - this is the place to get it. Of course, they have beef too (and I think even some lamb and chicken). They have everything you might want to go with your main dish of pork too like Light Lithuanian bread, dumpling mixes, Bowers mustard including horseradish mustard, various krauts, and lots of other European (German, Gottschee and Polish) delectables. They also have very courteous, genuinely nice, folks working there who are honest too. In fact, I handed the guy behind the counter $20 too much and he promptly told me I had given him the wrong amount when he told me the price was 'one hundred dollars and thirty eight' and I thought he had said $138.00. What he meant was $100.38. That was a big plus for me, it also is a plus for them as it assures I will be going back again and again when I get in that way, just as I have been doing for many years. (Now, I cannot wait for the wife to cook the schweinefleisch tomorrow, it's a fresh pork tenderloin roast - and I bought two of them, about 2.5 pounds more than she had wanted, to assure we could literally pig out.)
I made one more stop at a commercial establishment and that was at Zum Stammtisch Restaurant in Glendale. While there, I enjoyed a hefe-weissbier and a shot of kirschwasser. Then another bier followed by a huge portion of boiled beef under horseradish sauce that was accompanied by red kraut, two potato dumplings and my last bier. I was actually grateful that the bartender, Pat, did not think of bringing me the usual bread and butter before the entrée, there was so much food as it was that I could not finish it. It was so delicious that regardless of how much there was on my plate, I almost go it all down; I probably left only a mouthful or two at most behind. After that, I finished off what was left of my last bier and headed out but not toward home.
My next and last stop was at a dear friend's home in Glendale. I visited Joe Y and his mom and as a bonus for me his sister I-I-I was there (inside joke). We had a nice time just BS'ing and I cracked open the Kirschwasser for me and Joe. The ladies did not want a drop although Joe's mom tasted just about that much of it. Joe was about to open a bottle of Jack, but I insisted we have the kirschwasser and told him it reminded me much of the booze a friend's dad used to make. Joe had a shot and was duly impressed and agreed with me, it indeed tastes like the nectar that our friend's dad used to make and that he also insisted we imbibe back in our earlier years. Joe liked it so much he had three nice dollops of it. I had two small ones that I made sure to keep well below the amount I gave Joe. After all, I had to drive home and Joe was already home. Anyway, it was a nice time seeing Joe and his family, and it was a visit that was way overdue on my part.
In all, I had a great afternoon and evening in the old neighborhood. I look forward to my next visit there which I plan to make sooner than later.
All the best,
Glenn B
My next stop was Queens Wines & Liquors on Myrtle Avenue. I picked up three bottles of Nurnberger Gluhwein for the wife. It's a German spiced wine and is pretty good, especially when you warm it up a bit on a chilly winter's night. It's too bad I had to pay about the top dollar I have ever seen asked for it but this is the only place I know of convenient to me to buy it. It was likewise for the bottle of Schladerer Kirschwasser, it was way too expensive but it was convenient at the moment so I got one bottle. It's for me and for whomever else will drink it with me. Schladerer Kirshwasser is absolutely the best commercially made hard spirit that has ever passed my lips.
Then I hit up Morscher's Pork Store on Catalpa Avenue in Ridgewood, Queens (part of NYC). This place is a pork lover's treasure chest. If you like smoked pork, pork deli meats and fresh pork - this is the place to get it. Of course, they have beef too (and I think even some lamb and chicken). They have everything you might want to go with your main dish of pork too like Light Lithuanian bread, dumpling mixes, Bowers mustard including horseradish mustard, various krauts, and lots of other European (German, Gottschee and Polish) delectables. They also have very courteous, genuinely nice, folks working there who are honest too. In fact, I handed the guy behind the counter $20 too much and he promptly told me I had given him the wrong amount when he told me the price was 'one hundred dollars and thirty eight' and I thought he had said $138.00. What he meant was $100.38. That was a big plus for me, it also is a plus for them as it assures I will be going back again and again when I get in that way, just as I have been doing for many years. (Now, I cannot wait for the wife to cook the schweinefleisch tomorrow, it's a fresh pork tenderloin roast - and I bought two of them, about 2.5 pounds more than she had wanted, to assure we could literally pig out.)
I made one more stop at a commercial establishment and that was at Zum Stammtisch Restaurant in Glendale. While there, I enjoyed a hefe-weissbier and a shot of kirschwasser. Then another bier followed by a huge portion of boiled beef under horseradish sauce that was accompanied by red kraut, two potato dumplings and my last bier. I was actually grateful that the bartender, Pat, did not think of bringing me the usual bread and butter before the entrée, there was so much food as it was that I could not finish it. It was so delicious that regardless of how much there was on my plate, I almost go it all down; I probably left only a mouthful or two at most behind. After that, I finished off what was left of my last bier and headed out but not toward home.
My next and last stop was at a dear friend's home in Glendale. I visited Joe Y and his mom and as a bonus for me his sister I-I-I was there (inside joke). We had a nice time just BS'ing and I cracked open the Kirschwasser for me and Joe. The ladies did not want a drop although Joe's mom tasted just about that much of it. Joe was about to open a bottle of Jack, but I insisted we have the kirschwasser and told him it reminded me much of the booze a friend's dad used to make. Joe had a shot and was duly impressed and agreed with me, it indeed tastes like the nectar that our friend's dad used to make and that he also insisted we imbibe back in our earlier years. Joe liked it so much he had three nice dollops of it. I had two small ones that I made sure to keep well below the amount I gave Joe. After all, I had to drive home and Joe was already home. Anyway, it was a nice time seeing Joe and his family, and it was a visit that was way overdue on my part.
In all, I had a great afternoon and evening in the old neighborhood. I look forward to my next visit there which I plan to make sooner than later.
All the best,
Glenn B
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