Reuben Sundays

Good Morning Sunshine! Finally the sun has decided to make an appearance, and will be sticking around at least until midweek. Nice change from "London".

For some reason, I really enjoy a Reuben on Sundays. I thought I might devote this mornings Blog to the "Reuben Sandwich".

Courtesy of Wiki..."The origins of the Reuben are from Germany. One account holds that Reuben Kulakofsky a grocer from Omaha, Nebraska, was the inventor, perhaps as part of a group effort by members of Kulakofsky's weekly poker game held in the Blackstone Hotel from around 1920 through 1935. The participants, who nicknamed themselves "the committee," included the hotel's owner, Charles Schimmel. The sandwich first gained local fame when Schimmel put it on the Blackstone's lunch menu.

Other accounts hold that its creator was Arthur Reuben, owner of the once famous but now no longer existing Reuben's Delicatessen in New York, who, according to an interview with Craig Claiborne, invented the sandwich around 1914. A version of the story is related by Bernard Sobel in his book Broadway Heartbeat: Memoirs of a Press Agent and claims that the sandwich was an extemporaneous creation for Marjorie Rambeau inaugurated when the famed Broadway actress visited the Delicatessen one night when the cupboards were particularly bare."

Either way you spin it, it's a WICKED GOOD sandwich. Your typical Reuben consists of Corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing or Thousand Island dressing and rye bread. I particularly LOVE pumpernickel bread, so if possible I try to get my Reuben on pump.

Around town, my favorite Reubens are from: Bluegrass Kitchen, First Watch and Penn Station (not in any particular order). Side note: First Watchs' website has some really 'feel good' audio. Back to the moment at hand.....Slim and I had an easy Sunday morning this past Sunday. We woke up fairly early, considering we were on 'the porch' until about 4 am whoop-n-it-up with the friends. We spent most of the day working on the house, however, we started the afternoon with a Reuben....excellent choice. This particular Sunday, we chose Penn Station for our Reuben location.

We ordered a 13" Reuben to split with Thousand Island and their fresh cut fries, complete with Malt Vinegar and Ranch for dipping.

By the way, I didn't know this B.C.S. (Before Culinary School) Thousand Island is: Mayo, Ketchup, Vinegar and Relish. I swear it tasted different before I knew that.

Anyhow....Penn Station has an AWESOME Reuben. Quite different from Bluegrass and Firstwatch (specifically because it's on a hoagie roll instead of Rye Bread).

Oh WOW, was it good....and messy, but oh so worth it. It was thoroughly enjoyed by both of us. Another successful Reuben Sunday!

E