Serious Sandwiches: Junior's Latke Sandwich
Well, today is the last day of Hanukkah. The eighth and final candle was lighted last night, and the only question that remains is what to do with any leftover latkes. To solve this one, I will go back to my time-tested formula. Item of leftovers + the word sandwich + exclamation point = delicious treat. Put this one through the machine, and voila: latke sandwich!
Hey, if waffles and fried stuffing can be used as bread, why not potato pancakes, right? The concoction is pretty simple and requires only a few ingredients. Leftover latkes? Check. Leftover brisket? Check. Dipping sauce (i.e. gravy, applesauce or sour cream)? Check. And, if you are Ed Levine, maybe even some prosciutto. (I'm with you Ed! Of course, my unnatural love of pork possibly makes me the worst Jew of all time.)
Missing some of the ingredients? Don't have any leftovers? Don't celebrate Hanukkah but are intrigued by the sandwich? Then head to Junior's in New York City for the Something Different Sandwich. Junior's may be known for its cheesecake, but it makes a pretty mean latke sandwich.
No sense in getting fancy with this one. A huge pile of Junior's homemade brisket, sandwiched between two pretty large and crisp potato pancakes—apple sauce and au jus on the side for dipping of course. It's like a Jewish Monte Cristo! With most delis serving some sort of brisket dish with potato pancakes on the side, it wouldn't take much ingenuity to assemble one of these sandwiches yourself. But there is something about a restaurant that will actually put it on the menu and do the work for you that warms my heart. Hannukah may be over, but they serve the Something Different at Junior's year-round. And don't forget a slice of the cheesecake. Have some leftover the next day? Cheesecake sandwich!
Junior's
Address: 386 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, New York 11201 (at Dekalb Avenue; map)
Phone: 718-852-5257
Also located at: 1515 Broadway, New York NY 10036 (at West 45th Street; map)
Phone: 212-302-2000
About the author: Zach Brooks is the proprietor of Midtown Lunch, where he blogs about affordable lunchtime eats in Midtown Manhattan. The guy knows his sandwiches.
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17 Comments:
I have just over an hour before lunch and you've put my stomach to grumbling over this picture. I can't say how incredible this sandwich looks. You bad!
Colorado Jim at 12:41PM on 12/12/07
So what do they charge for this wonderful invention?
jonfoxx at 12:51PM on 12/12/07
Hey, Zach. I recently discovered another Brooklyn joint with a similarly wonderful creation: knish panini! They split a knish, fill it with any variety of fillings, and then press it in a panini grill. Nothing about that can be bad. The place is called Press 195 (on 5th Ave, between Douglass & Union Sts), and it just so happens to be a mere door or two down from one of the best beer (and cheese) stores in the city, Bierkraft.
Amanda Clarke at 1:03PM on 12/12/07
@jonfoxx - They charge a tourist-tastic $14.95.
@amanda - oh my lord. that clearly needs to be added to the canon of serious sandwiches (adam kuban has already signed up for the trip...)
Zach Brooks at 1:34PM on 12/12/07
I will have to file that away until next Hanukkah, since we finished all of the leftovers yesterday. Or maybe that is an excuse for latkes and brisket at some other time of year. I would add fried onions to remind me of the brisket sandwiches of long long ago....Hmmm..now there's an hors d'oeuvre idea for next year, tiny latkes, topped with thinly sliced brisket and fried onions..Maybe I will make a finger food Hanukkah..
izzy's mama at 1:54PM on 12/12/07
I've had that. It is insane. Good... really hard to eat (in sandwich form) and extremely filling.
jpolk at 2:31PM on 12/12/07
@Zach - me too!!
Lauren Krueger at 3:26PM on 12/12/07
ZOMG
Erin Zimmer at 3:34PM on 12/12/07
I've had it many times. Awesome. Yes, Junior's is kind of overpriced but that is an great sandwich. Press 195 is cool too.
bobbob at 3:53PM on 12/12/07
I took my leftover latkes in a different direction. I had some leftover japanese broth (dashi) to which I added some long noodles, chopped up ham, watercress, and LATKES! Somewhat reminiscent of a tempura udon. It worked out nicely.
Kerosena at 4:23PM on 12/12/07
That is some SERIOUS food porn. Thanks for sharing!
(And go figure...Jewish food porn. What would my mother say?!?)
Curlz at 5:17PM on 12/12/07
That looks DELICIOUS!!!! Where can I get one in Chicago?
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 6:20PM on 12/12/07
leftover latkes????
cybercita at 8:44PM on 12/12/07
WOW!!!!!
seyo at 11:12PM on 12/12/07
I have to wonder as well - you had leftover latkas?!!!
In the house I grew up in - and now my house as well - latka's the next day are gold, not leftovers. Whoever gets the last one wins.
And FYI, Corky and Lenny's In Cleveland has served a latka/corned beef sandwich for passover for decades. Not an Atkins/South beach menu item, but handy...!
ohiogal at 12:57AM on 12/13/07
Perhaps the 'Luther Burger' has finally met its match?
http://static.flickr.com/39/99334082_f2118d63d9.jpg
MarkO at 9:34AM on 12/13/07
Finally had this tonight. Shared it, along with a side of spicy fries (which, by the way, taste delicious dipped in the "jus" that comes with the sandwich), with my better half. We were both pleased (and thoroughly stuffed, despite sharing). Thanks for the rec!
Amanda Clarke at 11:55PM on 01/26/08