Review: Fantastic -  Don't Miss This One!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 22, 2012
Many a day I've fondly recalled the stunningly good Reubens, served up with potato salad and all-you-can-eat dill pickles on the side, to be had at my favorite deli. That was years ago and far away.  These days, the closest I can come to a real deli is the grocery store counter or my own kitchen.  About a year ago someone did open an "Italian deli" not far from the state capitol in Montpelier, but I've never seen more than a single car in the parking lot. Thus, I was delighted to come acrossThe Deli Maven's Cookbook, stayed up late to read every word and even shared it with my friends on Facebook because it is THAT good!David Cowles is a cook after my own heart! He had my full attention the very second that he talked about buying a dozen or more corned beefs when they are on sale for St. Patrick's day.  I do exactly the same and am counting the days until corned beef goes on sale again.  My freezer is bare!  (No worries, I'll just pick up a brisket the next time I go to town and give David's recipe for making my own corned beef a whirl.)  I was further encouraged when I found that a fair number of the recipes that he provides are nearly identical to my own and that he thinks the best rye bread he ever made is the exact same one that I have ever made, found inSecrets of a Jewish Baker: Recipes for 125 Breads from Around the World, one of my Top 3 books of bread baking!This is an extensive book, full of information, stories and jokes that will keep you interested and reading from the first page to the last.  Wonderfully formatted, Cowles has even been thoughtful enough to include links to sources of things like mustard & spice jars and extra information, like the debate over the origins of curry powder.  If I have a quibble, it is that he has not discovered yet that the barley malt syrup so necessary for real, authentic bagels is cheaper by far here on Amazon, bothBarley Malt Syrup, 16 fl. oz.andEden Foods Organic Barley Malt.Highly recommended!