Kaufman's Rye and Pumpernickel Bread

LTH,

I've been going to Kaufman's for years, have been a couple of times in the last week, and thought I'd just post a short note about their pumpernickel and seeded rye bread. It's damn good.

While I am not a big fan of their bagels, my preference for bagel and bialy is New York Bagel and Bialy on Touhy, I do very much enjoy Kaufman's corn rye bagels. For the next couple of days Kaufman's also has the well known Jewish/Irish treat, green bagels.

While I am not all that keen on Kaufman's corned beef/pastrami, though it's among the best available in Chicago, which says more about what's available in Chicago than Kaufman's, I am hooked on their small pickled green tomatoes, half-sour and new pickles.

Kaufman's is a full bakery and Jewish deli, take out only.

Enjoy,
Gary

Kaufman's Bagel & Delicatessen
4905 Dempster St
Skokie, IL 60077
847-677-9880

New York Bagel & Bialy
4714 W Touhy Ave
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
847-677-9388

I agree that Kaufman's rye and pumpernickle's are quite good and the Kaufman's bagels are likewise rather mediocre. For most other stuff, especially meats, I prefer Chaim's across the street.

A fantastic new source for breads on the scene is the VERY re-vamped A&G Fresh Market at 5630 Belmont. I might do a whole report on this grocery, but if I do not, at least note the breads. A&G stocks breads from a wide variety of Chicago sources including about 5 Italian bakeries (including D'Amato's), they also carry some standard Mexican breads, but where they really excel is in Eastern European breads, ryes and pumpernickles especially. They have products from several local bakeries, north and south side, and the ryes include Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian.

Besides the breads, A&G has a fine and huge produce area, a very well stocked deli, outstanding dairy, and a wide range of canned goods. Right now, I would say that A&G is my favorite grocery store in Chicago.

Rob

Gary,

You and I are on the same page about bagels, rye, NYBB, and Kaufman's. I want to swim in their big barrel of pickled tomatoes.

A few other things that are great about Kaufman's:

--Excellent rugelach, and my diabetic relatives appreciate their sugar-free varieties.

--A pretty good selection of fish. Their lox is pretty standard pre-packaged stuff, but they always have good, fresh smoked sable (plain or peppered), whitefish, and chubs. It's no Russ & Daughters, but it'll do just fine.

--Some good soups in the cooler.

I wish Kaufman's had a couple tables or at least a standing bar in the window. I've eaten many corned beef on rye and pickled tomatoes in that parking lot.

Best,
Michael / EC

EC wrote:I've eaten many corned beef on rye and pickled tomatoes in that parking lot.

I drive east to McCormick Boulevard to park in the lot of the statue garden.

A stand up bar would be a wonderful courtesy to those of us who don't live nearby. Have you suggested it to them?

Cathy2 wrote:A stand up bar would be a wonderful courtesy to those of us who don't live nearby. Have you suggested it to them?

I have. More than once. If the owner is in a good mood, he'll laugh me off. If he's in a bad mood, he'll ignore me.

Best,
Michael / EC

Fig. 1-1. Reubens on Kaufman's pumpernickel (left) and seeded rye (right), using Fauxstrami (corned beef, soaked and smoked with a pastrami-style rub). Corned beef by Excel. Sauerkraut by Paulina Market. Mr. G's wardrobe by Botany 500.

Mike G wrote:Fig. 1-1. Reubens on Kaufman's pumpernickel (left) and seeded rye (right), using Fauxstrami (corned beef, soaked and smoked with a pastrami-style rub). Corned beef by Excel. Sauerkraut by Paulina Market. Mr. G's wardrobe by Botany 500.

Where's the beef?

Picked up some of the dark rye and pastrami at Kaufman's last week. Very good rye. I like the old world spartaness of the place, the friendly owner and the curt but cute Israeli counter gal. I imagine she learned that in the army.

The pastrami was really, surprisingly, very good. I was distressed to see that it started as a Sy Ginsberg product, as I have been under-impressed with it in the past (see, Zingerman's). But this batch was really fatty and meltingly soft. I figure I was lucky, based on the comments from more experienced noshers here. Had some sable, too. Good, but not nearly as good as what Dirk's got.

Per the request, here's a picture of the Fauxstrami, hot off the smoker. It's a little tough, unlike a boiled corned beef, but it's sure got a lot of flavor.

Mike G wrote: It's a little tough, unlike a boiled corned beef

Mike,

Not the chunk-o-point point you brought over to my house.


Made a ruben or 4 with Mike's smoked corned beef and also corned beef I had simmered the day before.


Made my own 1000-Island dressing from a recipe Evil Ronnie gave me just off the top of his head. Mayo, catsup, relish, hot sauce, I used Texas Pete, salt, pepper and a dash of Worcestershire. Evil said he sometimes adds capers.

Enjoy,
Gary

Gwiv wrote:

For the next couple of days Kaufman's also has the well known Jewish/Irish treat, green bagels.

Kaufman's has another seasonal treat -- Hamentashen. I quite like their poppy seed version which freezes well. It should be there until Purim which is March 24th.

A & G thread started in October, 2004. There is also a CH thread from December, 2004, with some familiar names.

We have shopped there several times with pleasant results even though the location isn't really convenient. Note that the location in the 5600 block of Belmont is roughly a standard block from the restaurant noted in Cheating on Halina.

Vital Information wrote:Besides the breads, A&G has a fine and huge produce area, a very well stocked deli, outstanding dairy, and a wide range of canned goods. Right now, I would say that A&G is my favorite grocery store in Chicago.

Rob, I just went to A&G for the first time this past weekend and I was working on a post myself. I agree that the bread selection is top notch and the deli was great but I had a ton of problems with their produce and dairy. I'll get my thoughts down on paper and post em...

I should probably move this over to the A&G thread.

HI,

I don't go to Kaufman's very often. Rattling around my head I have the impression it is old guys in white aprons behind the counter impatiently taking your order. This may not be your experience and maybe it isn't quite mine, though it has been my sense of the place.

Walking into Kaufman's on Tuesday, I felt I was visiting the equal and opposite Kaufman's out of a Twilight Zone episode. Taped to the door was the employment sign:



Friendly, kibbitzing workers who not only work but get along with each other. It vaguely reminded me of Mary Poppins when Jane and Michael Banks proposed an employment ad to their Father. I later learned this creative spark was provided by the baker at Kaufman's.

I ordered my sandwiches, then did my usual poking around. My order was already in full production when I noticed they had these lucious looking Reuben sandwiches:



I asked the cashier if this was a Tuesday-only special. She said actually it was the third time they had ever offered Reubens. Could I get a Reuben if I came back next week? She said possibly, but I can always get one if I call in advance. The guy next to me immediately changed his order to the Reuben.

There was yet another sign posted offered homemade Whoppie Pies consisting of two oatmeal cookies with their buttercream sandwiched inside for 98 cents. There is no photo because it simply disapeered with no regrets. I asked the cashier when did they begin offering Whoppie Pies. She said never before today, it was the baker's idea.

All these fresh ideas, I had to ask the cashier, "Whose on vacation or retired?" She just laughed her silly with that question.

Unless I walked into the equal and opposite Kaufman's, there is a creative spark present I never witnessed before. The next time I go I want to meet the baker.

Regards,

I guess having some inside info, the tables and lunch counters are being made as I write this. After Passover, you will be able to eat in Kaufmans. My idea (OK, I stole it from the old Wolfy's Deli in FLorida) is to put a pickle container, and maybe pickled tomatos also on the lunch counters so people can help themselves as they enjoy the sandwiches! By the way, we boil our corned beef daily!!!!

I love working there, its like family!
Herb the Baker