Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

My wife and I went out Mother's Day evening with another childless midde-aged couple (we would never go out for brunch on such a day, unless we were getting tacos or Chinese food). We went to Goldberg's Deli at Factoria mall on the Eastside of Lake Washington from Seattle, since our friends had given us a gift card. I'd been reading David Sax Savethedeli.com blog and just jonesing for some good Jewish soul food.

Nice space, little delicatessen shop in the front. My wife got a brunch special: bagels, omelet, hashbrowns, and an enormous piece of very nice smoked whitefish. She was very happy. My friend Suzanne had the stuffed cabbage, which looked very nice and she enjoyed it. My friend Jerry had the beef brisket dinner, which was a generous portion but the only DRY Jewish-style brisket that I have ever seen. I went very traditional -- potato knish, pastrami on rye with coleslaw on the side, and a generous piece of noodle kugel to follow. The knish was nice (the accompaniment of gravy was unfamiliar) but I think that it may have been zapped rather than oven reheated. The pastrami sandwich was very good, not oversized, tasty but a little dry but the Gulden's helped that (just French's yellow mustard and Gulden's -- no regular deli mustard). Heck, I like Gulden's. The noodle kugel was great, although obviously not as good as my mothers and mine.

So, a mostly positive experience. We got rugalach and Joyva halvah for the counter on the way out.

I remember an amazing leg of lamb dinner before Passover (so we'd have the lamb shank for the seder), with a sweet & sour glaze (probably just Saucy Susan(tm)), roasted potatoes, fresh spinach and apple pie for dessert.

It would have to be San Antonio (tho I'd vote for Albuquerque if it was on the list). This is a rather odd list to leave off Austin and Albuquerque.

Growing up in New York, we called it "soder." Moving to Boston (OK, Somerville) in 1988 to be with my girlfriend, I had to get used to "tonic" or "pop."

In 1990, I moved with my sweetie Andi from Somerville to Seattle. Here, it seems to be "pop," "soda" or "soda pop."

I'll have the house fizzy water, as I usually say.

Robyn, you've obviously never had the pleasure of having your hamburger delivered to you on a Lionel train (are any of those Old School gimmick restaurants still extant?) Or had your sushi come to you on a moving belt -- the Roads must Roll! (c) Robert A. Heinlein.

I hope the food is as cool as the gimmick.

Houston? What you have there is Tex-Mex. Chicago? I think not. I have lived in both cities. San Diego, CA which is 15 miles north of the Mexican border by far, has the best Mexican in the US. Old Town is dedicated to offering you one Mexican restaurant after another in addition to all the other Mexican restaurants and taco stands located around the city. Real Mexican food is found there.

Mom rarely puts her heart into cooking. About twenty years ago, though, she prepared meat fondue -- that was great fun! And most memorable. Loved cooking my beef and chicken in the hot oil at the table. She also allowed all of us to make our own assortment of dipping sauces. My brother mixed grape jelly with godknowswhat. We all laughed. It's a shame we never had it again.

My mother makes homemade ravioli and Italian spaghetti suace and meatballs to die for. She's Sicilian

Her beef and noodles are the best.

i always loved my moms beef stew