Responsible for eliciting gasps of happiness from me were these three NYC delicatessen-style delights that graced our table at the recent BurppleTastemakers meet-up.
Top pic: "Sasha's Toast" is a thin slice of dark bread topped with rendered chicken fat (a.k.a. Schmaltz), fresh green herbs, translucent pink slices of baby radish and the most fabulous crispy bits of chicken skin.
Bottom left: "Chopped Liver" may not exactly excite everyone from the get-go but even if you aren't a liver fan, do give this classic deli specialty a try. The one here is exceedingly smooth and creamy with a fragrant peppery taste. Adding extra dimensions of flavour and texture are a hard-boiled egg and chopped pickles.
Bottom right: "Knishes" may be tricky to pronounce but they sure slip down my throat with the greatest of ease. Each roll of buttery puff pastry is stuffed with juicy pastrami and is awesome enough to make me grin with greed. But no, a mini jug of gravy swimming with tiny cubes of pastrami decides to tag along. It's enough to reduce grown men and this grown woman to tears (of joy).