Egg cream
I've never had an egg cream (although I have had a few creme eggs), but having read this story about the war of Uncle Hymie's egg cream, I wish I had.
Similarly, I wish I had been at that meal at Barney Greengrass with Smilesburger and Philip Roth (or his alter-ego). An encounter that the Amateur Gourmet kindly retells for us.
I do not think the stereotypes of New York Jewish life could be summed up any better than in these two articles.
Mushk steak anyone?
OK, so what exactly is an egg cream?? I first heard about them on (wait for it) a vinyl record of stand-up comics calels "You don't have to be Jewish" - it was a whole bunch of jokes delivered largely in wonderfully broad New York accents and from there I gained all my knowledge of Jewish cliches (and my use of the phrase oi vay which I employ to this day...) But I have never found out what it actualyl is!
Posted by: Jeanne | 21 July 2006 at 03:09 PM
Neither have I. I think it's a NY tradition rather than Jewish per se.
Posted by: Silverbrow | 21 July 2006 at 03:35 PM