Ben’s 90th
When I saw Sid Cooper last night he mentioned that my Aunt Lynn Goodman hasn’t been well lately. I’ve never been very close to her and my Uncle Ernie but since its (almost) never too late I decided to go visit. Ernie is my Nana’s kid brother and I always thought he liked my brother better. Anyway, I bought some flowers and put together a Caplansky’s Emergency Pack (smoked meat, liver, tongue, turkey, slaw, etc…) and called on them this evening. They both looked great and I enjoyed every moment of our time together.
We got into a deep discussion about what I do for a living as more than just a restaurant. Deli’s are cultural institutions and I take that very seriously particularly having read David Sax’s wonderful book on the subject (signed copes available for sale at Caplansky’s). I loved telling Ernie and Lynn the story of Sandy Litman’s father Ben’s 90th Birthday a few weeks ago. Sandy called us to cater her dad’s bithday party up at the family cottage on Lake Simcoe. She said Ben wanted to eat all the things he hasn’t been allowed to have for the last 20 years: kishke, knish, chopped liver, smoked meat, lemon meringue pie and a boston cream pie too. The full schmear (spread). And we schmeared it up pretty good.
You see, Ben didn’t want just the food. He wanted a slice of his past. A shtickle of childhood. A forschpeis of memories. Its hard for me to describe the joy I felt watching them devour my food but let me try: it was fucking awesome. Yeah, that about covers it.
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:30 am
Zane, You had me at schmear! Thanks for putting some tears in my eyes. You brought me right back to spending some great times fressing with my late father.
Man, Switzer’s (Spadina) was the “joint” back in the 60’s and early 70’s as well as the original Red Pancer’s on Bathurst below the 401. Pancer’s had soda fountain Vernor’s and I can still smell the aroma from the bubbles as I put the glass up to my mouth and then as if on cue, I’d hiccup from the first sip every time.
L’Chaim, Sid.
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Hello Zane, just to thank you and your wonderful staff for that superb lunch last Saturday that my sister,niece,nephew,cousin and I had at your amazing deli. We’re still talking about the super-smoked meat sandwiches, those marvelous fries, the verst and eggs that are so delightful, the service which is so homey,joyous and full of warmth and great joy, your desserts which,even for a diabetic like myself are so worth the pleasure. Coffee continues to be fantastic.
You are a mench and it is a joy to call you a friend and a special keeper of a tradition in Toronto,smoked meat, deli.
I knew Sam Shopsowitz, as he was a part of my growing up in Jewish Toronto. You would make my father,Jack Bernstein proud, as he knew and loved great traditional Jewish delis. My cousins,Dan,Jayne and Josh Weiner,from Cherry Hill,New Jersey,are driving up to Toronto next Friday to stay with me and celebrate my mother’s and my 91st and 54th birthdays. I intend to celebrate my birthday with Dan,Jayne,Josh,my sister,Harriet,my niece and nephew Samantha and Michael Bobbi (Samantha is a really great poet,as she is the daughter of Irving Layton) at your wonderful deli. As a increased Chowhound hater,I wrote a post
“In Defense of Caplansky’s” if it doesn’t get banned,not that I care,majority of Chowhounds turn me off big time.
You are the king of delis,Zane!
If I can make it this week-end, (alone) I want to try lunch or dinner and other goodies from your really special deli. Verst,maybe, BB sandwich,soup.
July 24th, 2010 at 2:49 am
I can’t wait to host your birthday, Marc. I’m blessed just to know you and your beautiful family.