Late to this feast. What a treat. Haven’t been inside Schwartz’s for too many years. The smell of the smoked meat as you enter is what I recall most vividly. Love Anna’s painting!! Perfectly captures Montreal. Thanks for reminding me to plan a trip asap. Adair
Alice Goldbloom: This is my first experience of your prose.
You bring to life all around you with your pen, and I am so happy with the Substack community that enabled me to meet you and be enriched with your thoughts.
Also, understand it is now owned by Celine Dion. She and her husband decided to buy it to make sure that the institution stayed the way it was, the way it is anyway stayed.
Alice, thank you for this elegiac tribute to an iconic institution. My father always quoted Sam Levene, who said, "If I had my life to live over, I'd live over a delicatessen". In a time of perpetual sociocultural flux, the constancy of the Schwartz's menu and quality is an anchor. And your personal graduation from lean to medium-fat smoked meat is a sign of emotional maturity and radical acceptance - what's the point of a smoked meat sandwich if it can't be seen on an angiogram?
I don't like pop but I love fries. Now if they had a beer that would be perfect. Montreal is definitely on the list to go to as we've never been there together (both for work at separate times). I am certain it will be worth the line!
What staggers me is the sheer size of the sandwich! I’m in Melbourne, Australia and went to the Bakery for a fabulous pastrami sandwich and fries and it fed 3 of us. I tried one in New York and it also fed 3 of us in 1984! How on earth do you eat the lot?
Yes, a very generous sandwich. Truth be told I bring half home. The whole place is quite the experience. Thanks for reading and commenting from Melbourne.
Late to this feast. What a treat. Haven’t been inside Schwartz’s for too many years. The smell of the smoked meat as you enter is what I recall most vividly. Love Anna’s painting!! Perfectly captures Montreal. Thanks for reminding me to plan a trip asap. Adair
Alice Goldbloom: This is my first experience of your prose.
You bring to life all around you with your pen, and I am so happy with the Substack community that enabled me to meet you and be enriched with your thoughts.
Your words paint the village!
Thank you, thank you!
And now I'm planning a road trip from Ottawa for lunch! Thanks for this lovely memoir and review.
A mouthwatering memoir!
Most beautiful painting and piece!
Schwartz's is eternal and thank the deities for that (especially now that The Main is gone).
Alice, This is simply gorgeously written, and like most everyone else, I'm hungry even though I'm not hungry!
Good one, Alice! Of course, I am now craving a smoked meat sandwich- bug time!! 🤦♀️
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Also, understand it is now owned by Celine Dion. She and her husband decided to buy it to make sure that the institution stayed the way it was, the way it is anyway stayed.
I I could not have told the story any better than you did. Schwartzes is an institution in this town. Thanks for reminding us.
Thoroughly enjoyable and I don't even like deli. I felt like I was able to vicariously be part of the taste and the scene without the actual eating.
Susie. You need help!
I would if I ate one of those sandwiches. But really the writing is a delight.
Mouth-watering!
Alice, thank you for this elegiac tribute to an iconic institution. My father always quoted Sam Levene, who said, "If I had my life to live over, I'd live over a delicatessen". In a time of perpetual sociocultural flux, the constancy of the Schwartz's menu and quality is an anchor. And your personal graduation from lean to medium-fat smoked meat is a sign of emotional maturity and radical acceptance - what's the point of a smoked meat sandwich if it can't be seen on an angiogram?
I don't like pop but I love fries. Now if they had a beer that would be perfect. Montreal is definitely on the list to go to as we've never been there together (both for work at separate times). I am certain it will be worth the line!
What staggers me is the sheer size of the sandwich! I’m in Melbourne, Australia and went to the Bakery for a fabulous pastrami sandwich and fries and it fed 3 of us. I tried one in New York and it also fed 3 of us in 1984! How on earth do you eat the lot?
Yes, a very generous sandwich. Truth be told I bring half home. The whole place is quite the experience. Thanks for reading and commenting from Melbourne.
My pleasure. I enjoyed the trip down memory lane! And I miss the Pastrami - there's none in Hobart - yet!
Now I’m hungry and want to visit Montreal! Sounds like a delectable meal.