Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Under the Dome

The last book I read this summer before going off to work in my new high school library was Stephen King's massive latest offering. Under the Dome. This is not a book you can just trudge off to the beach with as it must weigh about ten pounds and comes in at over 1200 pages. In fact as a mean joke to someone I was mad at, I recommended they pack it in the suitcase as a vacation choice.
In truth I am not a big Stephen King reader this was only the second book of his I read. The first being the Green Mile when it was coming out in monthly installments. I have to say that I really loved this book as it was a story that was constantly moving in a violent dark meandering style that leaves you hoping for the best but expecting the worst.
Almost Dickensian in it structure, the story is about a small town in Maine that finds itself sealed off from the rest rest of the world by an impenetrable dome placed there by some unknown person or method. It is mid October when all this happens and soon the  townspeople of Chester's Mills reveal their true human nature to each other. Like Lord of the Flies or an episode of the Twilight Zone, things go bad very very quickly. Murder, meth dealing, necrophilia, and rape makes this a very very adult book to read. The main adversary (besides the dome) is Big Jim Remmie, a used car dealer/city selectman who sees the dome as an opportunity to get even with some of the town people he has disagreements with. Dale Barbara a short order cook and former Iraq war vet is the guy he really wants to hurt.
Highly recommended if you like an ultra-violent large novel.

Monday, August 30, 2010

New Deli




I grew up in West Los Angeles an area that was quintessentially suburban. The local jewish deli was a place called Kay's  located on National Blvd. I seem to remember going there on an almost weekly basis. It was here I would eat pastrami, corned beef, and even tongue sandwiches. At that age I didn't even think to relate that a tongue sandwich would have anything to do with a cow's tongue. (Ok, I was a little slow)

As I grew up I moved up to Junior's Delicatessen at Pico and Westwood. I don't really remember if the meat was any better, but they had great pickles and pickled tomatoes. Located right around the corner from the Apple Pan this was the height of culinary excellence for a pre-teen.

Into my twenties and beyond, I discovered the joy of Canter's. It was the 80's. Bad hair and clothes and the proximity of Melrose. Staying out late and then ending up here for some late night eats to soak up whatever happened previously. Another damn fine Pastrami on rye, mustard only. No accoutrements needed to make the sandwich better, just bread meat and spread.

With time and family in tow it was a move to "the valley". This meant finding Brent's. Not just a pastrami sandwich, but the Black Pastrami Reuben. This was it, I had found the best deli sandwich ever. Yes I would switch once in a while to the Ortega Brisket sandwich, but my heart and stomach belonged to that Reuben.

Yet this was not to be the end of my journey, I had heard that there was a better deli sandwich out there. Somewhere near downtown, with limited hours and parking and basically a pain to get to from the far flung suburbs.  Langer's was the name of this mythical place. The best pastrami sandwich in the world or at least Los Angeles. The wife and I ventured out on our quest to find the best sandwiches in LA. (more on that later) I decied to get the #19 which is pastrami, swiss cheese and cole slaw. Let me tell you, run, bike, hitchhike, whatever you do get yourself there ASAP. For this truly is a religious experience. The pastrami is hand cut and succulent and beautiful. I will go to Brent's as well (hey it is closer) but I will dream about #19.