CHICKEN SOUP PROVED AS “JEWISH PENICILLIN

Is the myth about chicken soup being a cure and known as “Jewish Penicillin” not a myth at all?  At the 4^th Annual Chicken Soup Cook-off, Harpell Pharmacy was declared the number one winner amongst the four judges.  Therefore if a pharmacy is willing to submit their chicken soup I guess it is a cure-all after all. The question is…would you need a prescription?

 

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Barry Packer shaped  the fundraiser event to an even larger success this year at Temple Beth Sholom located at 171-39 Northern Blvd. Crowds were the largest than any of the prior years knowing that each person would get a sampling of 14 different chicken soups along with bagels, ice cream, soft drinks and cake for less than $20.  The bakery that provided the cake, placed a photo imprint of the flyer listing the names of the judges, vendors of restaurants or caterers and donators for the raffle. 

Packer later said, “As far as the money that was taken in,…. We had the most people in the four years of the event. There were 17 tables that were originally set up, with 10 people at each, and all were filled. Then they had to set up another two tables; which also does not include the people who were standing, my volunteers who were also in attendance So there were more than 200.”

Judging this year was: Gregg P. Sullivan (Bayside tv); Chef Brett Reihchler; Adam Gandelman and journalist Merle Exit.  To no surprise, Chef Albert of Tropical Revival Catering and Elvis, both with their Caribbean style soup, took 2^nd and 3^rd place.  Attendees had the opportunity to judge as well, the only difference being that Ben’s Kosher Deli took first place.  

What appears to be the feature of Ben’s, Chef Elvis and Tropical Revival is that Ben’s bring in matzo balls and cooks up potato latkas;  Chef Elvis has spicy soup loaded with vegetables along with an accompanying sample of his macaroni and cheese; and Chef Albert with his spicy delight tantalizing your taste buds with his pudding-like corn bread that is more than delicious.  

So, what was so special about the chicken soup from Harpell?  Nicholas Aragonesi, owner of CBD Super Store prepared the soup for Harpell owner George Isaakidis.  Nick said that he got the recipe from his grandmother and no, there wasn’t any added CBD oil. However, I don’t think that his grandma went out of her way to use only organic contents.  Harpell is not your average pharmacy and more on that for another story in regards to their market. 

All of the donations were in the form of gift certificates except four framed and signed copies of Marlene Yu’s paintings, all of which depicted nature and global warming. They are valued at $200 each. Other donors included: Crossbay Seashell Fish Market with a $40 gift certificate; a “Corona package” of gift certificate to Lemon Ice King and a pizza from across the way; and Thai Rock forked over a $25 certificate to dine there. 

LATKES AND LAUGHS LEAVE AUDIENCE LIGHT-HEARTED

What can be better than having that craved deli meal at Ben’s Kosher Deli followed by a performance by three comics (and guest comic as well)?  David Dczegledi, manager of the location at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center, decided to incorporate the comedians with a short choice menu that began with three latkes per person (accompanied by apple sauce).  

It was a sell-out crowd for this second event of dinner and a show that even had former Manager, Hal Simon attending.  Dinner began at 7 pm with the usual rye bread, sour and half sour pickles and cole slaw.  Entrée choices were: brisket of beef, turkey or half of a roasted chicken. Perfect for the crowd attending.  Brisket was quite moist and did not need the gravy.  You then had a choice of a “side” of: kasha varnishkes, mushroom and barley, vegetables, mashed or French fried potatoes. Having attended with another person, we ordered the kasha and mushroom sharing he two.  Unlimited soda or coffee, I just had to have the cream soda, not drinking it since I lived in the Bronx back in the 50’s.  Dessert was rugalach. We each got one chocolate and one raspberry.  

Czegedi did not have to audition the comedians as he employed a company called The Wilshire Comedy Group, run by comic Alan Streisfeld, who hosts comedy shows such as this at restaurants in Long Island.

Upon reading this review, it is important that I share that I have a background of being a comedian, singer, and actress many years ago with theatre, films, and night clubs. I have also taught comedy workshops.  

First up was Alan Kimbarow, who was also introducing the acts.  With his large physique, he began talking about his nickname of “Big Al.”  He apparently was not getting the laughs that he expected and kept mentioning his nickname.  When that didn’t work, he went straight for the sex humor after pausing long enough to figure out what to say.  What is it about male comics not having enough material to not degrade their wives (whether they have them or not) or mother-in-law?  I was personally bored with him and did not find anything he said as being humorous. 

Next came Les Bayer who plays the banjo and delivers one-liners. It was like hearing a less professional version of Henny Youngman without the perfectly timed delivery.  Bayer was only a bit more humorous and still needed to poke fun of his ex-wife and dating with emphasis on the female looking badly.  Get with the times, guys. Women are fighting back this year!  I hope the two of you change your underwear more than you change your material! 

Did the trend end?  At this point I thought I was attending a “showcase” rather than a show. Thank goodness for Peter Bales, who is an Associate Professor of History and Political Science at Queensborough Community College as his “day job.”  In addition Bales teaches comedy with Stand-Up University at the Brokerage Comedy Club in Bellmore. 

Bales was given the longest amount of time and the audience loved him so much that they were not shy in throwing out their own funny lines. He not only had a great rapport but a pretty funny (but not hilarious) act without having to degrade anyone, taking every opportunity to engage the audience.  It all boils down to the response from the attendees and whether their time proved to be more than just “light-hearted.” 

Dinner goers left happy and with doggy bags. No one cried, “Where’s the beef!” Dczegledi said that he will be scheduling another dinner/show in a few months. I certainly encourage him to do so. We need this type of local evening activity.  Hey, and parking is free.   

 

PRE-CHANUKAH AT BEN’S KOSHER DELI WITH A TWIST

Eight affordable gifts are just around the corner for each day of Hanukkah or Chanukah (we have been wandering for many years in search of the answer) with the Jewish holiday beginning on Tuesday, December 12 and ending Wednesday, December 20.   Known as the Festival of Lights, and commemorating the defeat of Greek emperor Antiochus by the Maccabees, the celebration is about lighting candles, playing with a dreidel and eating as if you are transferring the oil directly into your body.   The best thing to remember about Jewish holidays is...”we fought, we won, we pray, we eat.”

There is a long standing tale regarding Jewish people’s craving for Chinese food with several purported reasons, one being that Chinese restaurants were the only ones opened on Christmas day.  Another is that Chinese cuisine and eating at a kosher deli have one thing in common: no dairy.   

What better way to turn the tables than invite Yeou-Cheng Ma and her husband Michael Dadap to join me in sampling the food at Ben’s Kosher Deli at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center.  Yeou-Cheng was born in France where she and her brother Yo Yo first learned to play their instruments. While YoY o took up the cello, Yeou-Cheng was given a violin. It was in their early years that the family came to the US.  Michael is from the Philippines learning music and playing various stringed folk instruments.  Taking it more toward the present, Michael and Yeou-Cheng own and run the Children’s Orchestra Society.  Yeou-Cheng, now an accomplished violinist teaches while Michael is responsible for being the Artistic Director and Conductor.  Oh yeah…Yeou-Cheng is also a pediatrician.

David Czegledi is the General Manager at this franchise.  I met him at the recent annual Chicken Soup Cook-off where the deli took second place.  He became the GM at this location this past September.  “I started in 1989 as the manager in the Ben’s Deli Express located at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville. Over the years I have worked in Greenvale, Carle Place and helped with the locations in Kings Plaza, Freeport and Roosevelt Field.” Alex is the chef at this Bayside location. Can David prepare any of the foods?  He can but “since I don’t work in the kitchen every day it would take me a lot longer.”

Back to the tables where my friends bring in their own ceramic soup spoon and chopsticks. Say “what?”  Due to Dr. Ma working at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine since 1980 and it being a part a Yeshiva, she had become the keeper of the Jewish Holidays since she had to work those days.  Yeou-Cheng gained a knowledgeable background of kosher laws.  She told me that she first boiled and buried the utensils.  Come on…let’s have fun with this.  Yes, she even brought utensils for me and that is how we dined. 

David was now all on board with what we were doing.  Table first gets set up with dishes of half sour and sour pickles and another of Ben’s made-on- the-premises cole slaw.  A take on having wonton soup is the chicken soup with kreplachs.  

As we await a plate, Yeou-Cheng hands me a Hanukkah gift saying that this is the first of eight.  It is a can of olive oil not necessarily for cooking but for the burning. Having conquered, Judah Maccabee obtained a menorah to serve as a memorial. A small amount of olive oil was used, and expected to burn for one day. Instead, the menorah burned for eight days and declared a Miracle.  Although most menorahs are made to burn waxed candles, there are many that use oil. 

A platter arrives with three signature dishes.  Stuffed cabbage Hongroise: “a generous cabbage roll filled with lean ground beef, a little rice and our special seasonings, in a sauce that cries out for rye.”  We were already given breads to accompany the food.  Hey, but why dip in bread when you have a spoon? 

Chicken Fricassee: “succulent chicken pieces and meatballs in a flavorful grown gravy.”  When I was growing up my mother made this but using only the wings of the chicken.  It wasn’t an expense in those days.  Delish!

Hungarian Goulash: “cubes of lean beef, gently spiced and simmered with peas and fresh garden carrots. Served on a bed of egg noodles.”  David had told me that he is of Hungarian background and therefore a maven on this savory item. 

Chanukah’s most significant fried food is latkes noted for using potatoes with a consistency similar to hash browns.  Potatoes are usually grated adding onions, eggs and matzo meal.  We each had a bountiful sized served with apple sauce.   I have personally never figured out why it is served this way since we don’t top any other potato dish with this nor dip French fries in it.  It works, and is a “tradition.” 

Latkes can be prepared with other added vegetables such as zucchini, spinach or sweet potato and will be available only for the eight days.  

Being at a deli, we have to sample the deli meats all prepared on the premises.  Ben’s Kosher Deli is known for their pastrami and having their sandwiches “stuffed.”  We sampled: brisket, corned beef, pastrami and tongue which has become a “delicacy” the way chicken wings have emerged.  Years ago cows still had only one tongue and chicken two wings.  Nu?

Just like derma we were stuffed.  For me, a meal is not a full meal until I have dessert.  Mini-rugulachs of raspberry and chocolate. 

What I enjoyed about these was the soft texture.  I noticed some bars of chocolate covered halvah in the dessert display.  Another item that has become a “delicacy.”  

Incidentally, Ben’s Kosher Deli has a bright new party room as well as a special Chanukah family dinner for 6.  Call: 718-229-2367 or check out the menu on their website www.bensdeli.net.   They are located at 211-37 26^th Avenue. 

Note: I later found out that Esther and Eunice came by for food to go. 

Party room