AlwaysHungryNY: CitiField’s Pastrami Dog

Arthur Bovino — May 20, 2009

Much has been written about the food at the Mets’ new ballpark, CitiField. AlwaysHungryNY has made a thorough investigation of the food both on the field-level and in the Acela Club. But one item, served at several Kosher Grill stands, seems to have been overlooked in all the fuss over “DannyMeyerField”: the Pastrami Dog, ($6.50).

You’re wondering if the dog is made with pastrami— it’s not. It’s a regular hot dog but it’s the best one in the ballpark. Under the watchful eye of Rabbi Katz (right, white beard), the hot dog is slipped into the bun and layered with a generous portion of pastrami which has been cooking on the flat top. The thin pastrami shavings add salty flavor and the ends that have slightly hardened while cooking, add texture. It’s a tasty combination, especially when loaded up with onions and mustard.

Discounting the Yanks’ Lobel’s Steak Sandwich, the Pastrami Dog is just another example of the superiority of the food at CitiField over what’s on the offer at Yankee Stadium.

AlwaysInvestigating: Bagel Boss Invades Manhattan

The Gluttoness — April 23, 2009

We know, there are plenty of places to get great bagels in New York City. You’ve got the famed H&H, Ess-A-Bagel, Pick A Bagel, the under-appreciated Bagel Bob’s (near NYU), and a slew of Murray’s Bagels and its spinoffs. So what’s the big deal about Bagel Boss coming to New York City? Well, many Strong Island natives claim these as New York’s best. (The fact that it did not get a shout out in DJ Lubel’s life-changing power ballad Ode To Murray Hill can only be attributed to human error.) The argument isn’t entirely crazy. If you’ve ever had a Bagel Boss bagel hot from the oven with a schmear of cream cheese, you know the deal. Even the structure of these crusty bad boys is impressive— they scream homemade. A quick twist breaks open the outer shell revealing a moist, soft center.

These archetypal bagels are worth a trip to 15th and 1st Ave., just don’t look for the Bagel Boss sign you’d find outside any one of the twelve Long Island locations. Bagel Boss has taken over what was once La Bagel and the awning hasn’t been changed yet. Loyal Bagel Boss devotees will instantly spot the store’s standards: the heralded Mushroom Egg Salad (peppered with fried onions like Sammy’s chopped liver), their creamier-than-thou Baked Salmon Salad, and a fabulous Tuna Salad, chock-full of dried cranberries and chunks of apple. Sure, you can enjoy your bagel just as much with Cream Cheese on a Cinnamon Raisin or Scallion Spread on an Everything, but at Bagel Boss the top-notch salads are as integral to the overall experience as the bagels themselves.

Though business would have probably already been bumping had they opened up in Murray Hill, as word spreads, this Kosher establishment will quickly gain steam amongst Long Island imports and city folk alike. Weekend mornings are sure to be dating gold if you’re looking to meet a nice Jewish girl with an affinity for Smoked Salmon on Pumpernickel. We wouldn’t say it’s the new boss of New York City bagels, but the bagelry’s Egg Salad is definitely throwing elbows and it is a welcome addition to the East Village.

Bagel Boss is located at: 263 1st Avenue