[ExtraMSG]

Well, Ken's gone at like noon, so that shouldn't be a problem.

Jewtine anytime. CFP only on Wednesday evenings after it slows down.

[Twitch]

Can someone give me a quick run down on the pastries K+Z offers? I've tried digging the thread and doing some googling on Jewish pastries + cookies, but am not sure what I'll find at K+Zs. Are the rugelach there filled with nuts or fruit? How about the hamantashen? Poppy seed or otherwise? What would someone recommend as a less-sweet option without jumping to the bialies and knishes?

[CiderHouseBBQ]

There was an earlier post in these archives about the differences in rye bread between K&Z and elsewhere (Los Angeles, I believe). Anyway, wife and I finally made it in to try the food and I am now convinced I do not have to travel south to get the best darned rye bread for pastrami!!

As I told Nick, the crust was perfect-crunchy, and the dough stayed intact even when in contact with dressing and juicy juicy meat for a good 15 minutes. Previous experiences with rye bread usually does not stand up to that abuse.

Our hats are off to the baker at K&Z-everything else was great too, but, that rye bread-WOW.

Dale and Marg

[SauceSupreme]

I'm looking forward to trying out some of Jewtine. Mmm... cheese curds...

[Amanda]

Happy Hour at the deli was a delight last night. I got stuffed off a Caesar and lox bagel and cream cheese. John had the Reuben Sliders and an order of fries. The fries rock there!!! The sliders are about the size of a normal sandwich at other places, so it's a real deal! We also had beer and wine and really enjoyed ourselves. We got to BS with Nick a little. He was having fun with a lazer pointer (some folks are so easily amused).

We think that the Chicken Fried Pastrami should be little bite size nugget-like doo-dads with Russian dressing or ranch for dipping. Maybe 6-8 per serving. It would be the perfect little happy hour snack! We're excited about that creation and look forward to trying it...someday.

I love the deli, I love the deli, I love the deli. I hope I get to eat there one more time before our trip.

Best regards,

Amanda

[asherdad]

Twitch, on Dec 27 2007, 10:31 PM, said:

Can someone give me a quick run down on the pastries K+Z offers? I've tried digging the thread and doing some googling on Jewish pastries + cookies, but am not sure what I'll find at K+Zs. Are the rugelach there filled with nuts or fruit? How about the hamantashen? Poppy seed or otherwise? What would someone recommend as a less-sweet option without jumping to the bialies and knishes?

Hi Twitch

Of the many great desserts, I really like the Babka. Although traditionally Babka is a Czechoslovakian "sweet" bread (or sometimes called a "coffee cake") , it is really not that sweet. While it does have some chocolate in it (hence "chocolate" babka), it is light and not too sweet. The hamantashen is IMO just about as good as anything I have tasted. Traditionally it is poppy seed, but I also grew up with an apricot filling as well. There are others including chocolate which I have seen at K and Z as well.

Perhaps another less sweet option would be a diet coke float?

[dretceterini]

asherdad, on Dec 28 2007, 01:15 PM, said:

Twitch, on Dec 27 2007, 10:31 PM, said:

Can someone give me a quick run down on the pastries K+Z offers? I've tried digging the thread and doing some googling on Jewish pastries + cookies, but am not sure what I'll find at K+Zs. Are the rugelach there filled with nuts or fruit? How about the hamantashen? Poppy seed or otherwise? What would someone recommend as a less-sweet option without jumping to the bialies and knishes?

Hi Twitch

Of the many great desserts, I really like the Babka. Although traditionally Babka is a Czechoslovakian "sweet" bread (or sometimes called a "coffee cake") , it is really not that sweet. While it does have some chocolate in it (hence "chocolate" babka), it is light and not too sweet. The hamantashen is IMO just about as good as anything I have tasted. Traditionally it is poppy seed, but I also grew up with an apricot filling as well. There are others including chocolate which I have seen at K and Z as well.

Perhaps another less sweet option would be a diet coke float?

Why not just serve Mandelbrot?

[mczlaw]

Ikealutefisk, on Dec 28 2007, 07:08 PM, said:

Why not just serve Mandelbrot?

Hmmmm. . .maybe because it has the taste and texture of compacted saw dust? Same goes for biscotti.

FYI. . .from Zuke's After Hours Loony Kitchen--you must order your slice of chocolate babka a la mode (after you've finished your "pastrami fingers," aka chicken-fried pastrami, with grated Swiss on top and a little hot mustard dipping sauce on the side)

--mcz

P.S.: Is this the right place to bitch about Mikey Hebb? Despite months of intensive therapy, I just can't let it go

[Mr. Lomo]

Does Extra Msg and "Chef" Ken pay people to post responses on this site??? I swear, the only people I hear speaking good things about Kenny and Zukes is by people on this site. I am a cook in town, from my two experiences eating there and from talking to other cooks and chefs around town, I have not heard good things about Kenny and Zukes. It blows my mind.

[ExtraMSG]

Yes, in small packages of gelt left on their porches in the dead of night. We also paid Liz Gadberry and Matt Davis -- the latter in ketchup fries since he's a Brit.

Personally, I have a list of 50 names of people who say that you're such a bad "cook" that you can't make ice. This is what we're doing, right, popping up with useless flames, confusing this site for shamelessblather.com?

If you want to comment on the food, tell us that you hate the place, have fun. But if you want to accuse people of being shills or if you want to disrespect someone who has successfully put 30 years into his craft, you're probably in the wrong place.

[Cat Lancaster]

ExtraMSG, on Dec 29 2007, 01:28 AM, said:

But if you want to accuse people of being shills

I go out to eat *a lot* and don't post reviews on where I've been most of the time because 1) I'm lazy, and 2) I have a pretty active social life and as such, I'm out a lot and just can't find the time to write up the quality of reviews that I want.

But as far as K&Z's is concerned - I think there are a couple of people that post about it too much. And I think that has an impact of diminishing their opinion as it comes across as 'too much, too often' but at the same time some of these are people whose point of view I trust and care about reading. But to say or think that anyone on this board is a 'shill' for the restaurant doesn't make sense to me. I just see them as being 'enthusiastic!'

I personally have eaten at K&Z's many times, and have been thrilled with the food. For a deli type restaurant, they do exactly the type of meals that appeal to me. I think their quality is top notch and they seem to care very much about what is put in front of their customers. And besides the fact that the owners seem to put their heart into what they are doing, the wait staff also comes across as wanting to do the best they can as well, and seem happy doing just that.

I've enjoyed my meals at K&Z's since they have opened and I eat there on average about once every two weeks, and if I was one of the owners I would be sleep very soundly each night knowing the high level of product that is being produced there.

Cat

[chefken]

ExtraMSG, on Dec 29 2007, 01:28 AM, said:

...you're such a bad "cook" that you can't make ice.

That's pretty good!

[StMaximo]

Cat Lancaster, on Dec 29 2007, 02:50 AM, said:

ExtraMSG, on Dec 29 2007, 01:28 AM, said:

But if you want to accuse people of being shills

I go out to eat *a lot* and don't post reviews on where I've been most of the time because 1) I'm lazy, and 2) I have a pretty active social life and as such, I'm out a lot and just can't find the time to write up the quality of reviews that I want.

But as far as K&Z's is concerned - I think there are a couple of people that post about it too much. And I think that has an impact of diminishing their opinion as it comes across as 'too much, too often' but at the same time some of these are people whose point of view I trust and care about reading. But to say or think that anyone on this board is a 'shill' for the restaurant doesn't make sense to me. I just see them as being 'enthusiastic!'

I personally have eaten at K&Z's many times, and have been thrilled with the food. For a deli type restaurant, they do exactly the type of meals that appeal to me. I think their quality is top notch and they seem to care very much about what is put in front of their customers. And besides the fact that the owners seem to put their heart into what they are doing, the wait staff also comes across as wanting to do the best they can as well, and seem happy doing just that.

I've enjoyed my meals at K&Z's since they have opened and I eat there on average about once every two weeks, and if I was one of the owners I would be sleep very soundly each night knowing the high level of product that is being produced there.

Cat

This review that isn't a review looks like it cost'em about two reubens and a piece of cheesecake

For what it's worth most of the folks I know have never looked at this board or any other Dining/Food Board. When I mention K&Z's they've already been and want to know when we can get together there for lunch because they're ready for another go.

[Angelhair]

I am similar to Cat here. I eat out a lot, and I don't think I have ever posted a review about K & Zs either. I have also eaten there numerous times. I think I have only had maybe one, sub-par experience and that was the first week they were opened...eggs were a wee bit overcooked for me, which is an easy thing to do if everyone else around you is eating lunch. But every other time it has been blow your mind spectacular. I mean, really really good meat. FWIW, it's not like I have always had Ken or Nick at my table so that the servers knew I was a friend of theirs. But the service has always been really pretty good.

To be sure, when the 'deli' was first serving at the farmer's market, I didn't really care for it. Initially, the cut of meat they were serving and the way it was carved were not my cup of tea. But smoked meat triumphs over sensibility. When I first had it again, after not having it since the summer they were at the Hillsdale market, it was like some kind of bomb went off in my head. Holy fuck that is some good shit. This is one of those places that truly is as good as they say it is.

Not to get too OT here, but I disagree with the majority of this board as for the best pizza in town and the best Thai in town (I like Ken's and Baan Thai better than Pok Pok and Apizza; not that they are bad, I just prefer the others).

But there are how many 'core' people on this board? 50? 60? How can that possibly account for the vast numbers that crowd the place at lunch and brunch? Most of the times that I have gone in there, I have not seen other people that I know from the board, and I think I have met a lot of you.

I wouldn't normally speak out, but I think it's a ridiculous assumption to make that we as a group are shills or sheep. Personally, I am neither.

[Angelhair]

P.S. The only people that I have 'introduced' K & Zs to (that didn't already know about it) were my elderly neighbors. They loved it.

[duck833]

I admit it, I am a K&Z pimp!

I recommend it to all my pastrami deprived friends in Eugene that simply have not had any great food in a long time. I recommend it to my Portland clients, they have sent me thank's later for the tip.

I recommend it to all my jewish friends and clients as the real deal in Oregon. They have all loved it.

I will continue.

Just made a couple of appointments in Portland in January, never again will I come there on a Monday. But will see you for a couple of Tuesdays and Wed.

Hope K&Z have a great new year, they have made Portland and Oregon a better place.

[chefken]

That's really sweet. All of you. And your checks are in the mail.

No, really, I think I can speak for Nick and say that we really appreciate the support. We bit off a pretty big nut with the Deli, but we knew that with the location and concept, if we were at all successful in delivering the quality we wanted to, we'd make it. We're not quite there yet, but I think we're making progress every week.

This whole thing about blogs and the "real" press and shills and all that is pretty stupid, and so divisive. It's not like we're some exclusive, clubby establishment started by some big corporation with a PR firm working for us. We're just a couple of independents putting out some food that people seem to want, the best we can.

Even if every post was positive, and every one contributed by a different blogger "shill," that's total about the same number of people that come through the deli on a decent Saturday. I'm thinking there are likely a few "real" people out there who like what we're doing.

[polloelastico]

I brought some out-of-town guests there for happy hour last Wednesday and they liked it so much they snuck back yesterday afternoon when they were supposed to be having dinner with me later that night. The fuckers were too full eat, but I got back by ditching them early at Doug Fir and walking over to Biwa's late night happy hour.

[concreteoatmeal]

hey all, been MIA for awhile now but just wanted to say hi.......and throw my .02$ in about K&Z.....good, really really good......ive been probably 8 times and have never been dissapointed! the best had to be when i was eating with the GF and nick walked by and asked " exactly how many people are eating here?".....too funny .......keep up the good work guys!!!!!!

[Flynn]

Mr. Lomo, on Dec 29 2007, 12:56 AM, said:

Does Extra Msg and "Chef" Ken pay people to post responses on this site??? I swear, the only people I hear speaking good things about Kenny and Zukes is by people on this site. I am a cook in town, from my two experiences eating there and from talking to other cooks and chefs around town, I have not heard good things about Kenny and Zukes. It blows my mind.