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SideDish Tasters Event: Zinsky’s Deli

Posted on June 15th, 2009 1:08pm by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Food On TV, Openings, Uncategorized

Mark Brezinski and chef Lex Berlin

Last night was the Friends and Family Official Tasting Party for Zinsky’s Deli. Thanks to owners Liz and Jim “Blue Mesa” Baron and Mark “Bengal Coast” Brezinski, a group of SideDishers were allowed to come to taste and judge chef Lex Berlin’s current recipes for the restaurant. The event was held at Brezinski’s Bengal Coast restaurant at the Centrum.

Liz and Jim Baron

The room was loaded with industry folks: Sharon Hage, Mary Kimbrough, Tina Wasserman, Bonnie Itzig, Robert and Meaders Ozarow (Empire Bakery did the bagels), and Texas Rangers radio broadcaster Eric Nadel and InsideCorner’s Evan Grant stopped by after the game.

Here is the photo gallery. Click on the picture below and then select slideshow:







SideDish Tasters Choice: Zinsky's

Jump for my tasting notes.

Most of my “Shiksa Tasting Notes” are captions on the slide show above. But here are some notes:

Voting system: Red bead (Yuck), Yellow bead (okay), Green (good), platinum (best you’ve ever tasted. You picked up the bead that correlated with you opinion and put it in the voting glass.

Class act: Last night was also the service for Norman Brinker. Before the tasting got underway, Mark Brezinski, who worked with Brinker for four years, gave a lovely speech on Brinker’s life and his impact on the Dallas restaurant scene. He the asked for a moment of silence.

There were around 100 people there and 100 strong opinions. Smartest comment: “The problem with deli’s is that people have very strong flavor memories from their childhoods,” said Jim Baron. “People will always compare every deli with what there memories that aren’t always accurate. The food can be great but not up to the standards they think they remember.”

I loved the Zinsky “For Two” Sandwich: three meats (one pound made up of pastrami, turkey, roast beef), three cheeses (American, pepper Jack, Muenster), three types of cole slaw (spicy with horseradish, regular, and pickle slaw), four breads (rye, white, pumpernickel, and wheat), and Russian dressing. The pickle slaw is great (Berlin uses shredded pickles instead of Napa cabbage). Bread was oh-so-thinly sliced so you didn’t feel like you just ate a ton of bricks. My pick of the night.

Zinsky’s will open in Preston Royal on July 20th. Or they may be a divorce (that is a joke).

Two dollars of every Zinsky Sandwich sold will be donated to Jewish Family Services in Dallas.

I met some but not all of the SideDish readers in attendance. If you were there, please leave your tasting notes in the comments section.

19 Comments to “SideDish Tasters Event: Zinsky’s Deli”

elena34 @ June 15th, 2009 at 1:21 pm

The food last night was amazing….maybe the best chopped liver that I have ever eaten in my life. I could have eaten a bucket of it!

Rating at the top: pastrami, corn beef ( lots of flavor), the pickles were delicious, just as good as the ones at the Carnegie Deil in NYC, home-made yummy potato salad, black and white cookies, and bar none, the best ever rugelah in the universe. From now on, all other rugelah will probably pale in comparison.

Rating at the bottom: the cole slaw had no flavor, and was soggy.

I did not see any chicken soup, or matzah ball soup, and these things are staples at many of the great delis. Will they be on the menu?
spoon18 @ June 15th, 2009 at 1:24 pm

I grew up in a home with great Jewish traditional cooking. The tasting was great and I am very thankful for the opportunity.

Favorites: potato salad (not too mayo-y), the bagels (great job Empire! the were fresh), the lox was delicious (fresh and not salty), cabbage rolls (taste just like my moms!), chive cream cheese was SUPERB! The deli meat (pastrami and beef) were very flavorful and made in-house. The mashed potatoes were heavenly! The rugelach were nutty and fruity, almost as good as my mom’s (but I am biased!). The beef and barley soup had a very good taste, mushrooms, barley and huge chunks of meat.

Things that could use improvement: kugel needs to be a little crispier and adding raisins could add to the flavor and texture. Overall, the flavor was great.
The egg salad needs some tweaking: chunkier, less creamy.
The cole slaw was quite creamy.
Evan Grant @ June 15th, 2009 at 2:23 pm

The lone silver lining to a lackluster Rangers loss Sunday was my ability to get to the Zinsky’s tasting. Mmm, Deli food.

Guess the first thing I should say: I was shocked there was no Matzoh Ball soup station and almost as surprised there were no knishes. Like Elena, I consider these things staples of a great deli. So, I’ll be real interested to try them once Zinsky’s opens.

I thought the meats had superb taste and were moist. I’m a corned beef man, myself, and found the corned beef and pastrami to be pickled and spiced perfectly. But like any good landsman, I can find something to kvetch about even in near perfection. I’d prefer a little thinner slices on the beef for sandwiches. Even if it dries out the meat a tad.

The signature Zinsky’s sandwich is something I wouldn’t be drawn to on a menu – too complicated for me. But when Nancy made me try it – Oy, vey, iz meer vas dat gut!

Now the matzoh ball soup omission was mitigated by the beef barley soup. You simply can’t get good barley soup outside of New York. I’ve tried the frozen (Tabatchnik’s) and the canned version (Streit’s) Mushroom Barley and they are edible, but this was good stuff. Thick, just salty enough, lots o’ barley.

As for misses, I was disappointed in the cole slaw. It lacked a lot of stuff that I like, sugar and a little vinegar and it had too much mayo for me. My little table of meshuganahs agreed with me.

Wasn’t blown away by the lox or the chive cream cheese, but by that time I’d ingested a whole lot of smoked meats, so may taste buds may have been pickled.

Let’s put it this way, though, Zinsky’s tasting made me anxious for Zinsky’s opening so I can go and try all that stuff all over again and sample the Matzoh Ball soup and a knish.
Sandra Newberg @ June 15th, 2009 at 2:33 pm

Evan, I have bean & barley soup in my freezer – feel free to drop by…
terry kafka @ June 15th, 2009 at 2:41 pm

Oy, such experts – all. Sounds like Dallas is about to get a great deli at great location. Lets all return often so it stays great! I wasn’t there on Sunday night but, I thought the cole slaw was a bit too mayo-y too. If there’s another tasting or a soft opening – I want in!!!
Terry Kafka
TLS @ June 15th, 2009 at 2:42 pm

I had so much fun last night. The food was incredible and I enjoyed finally meeting Nancy love your hair!). It was also great to meet some of the other posters on this site and the other food blogs. If Lisa Petty hadn’t insisted I try the chopped liver I would have missed out on true excellence.

Ok…so the food:
I loved the Beef and Barley Soup, the rugulah, the hot dog with sauerkraut(and that bun is freaking fantastic!), the Zinsky’s sandwich is A++, the potato kugel was perfect, wonderful potato salad, the most tender and flavorful pastrami and corned beef I’ve ever had, and the stuffed cabbage was very nice. The Bagel and Chive Cream Cheese….OUTSTANDING!!!

Oooh, I hate to complain in this case but I did not care for the Egg Salad. It needs bigger pieces of egg and more Dijon and pepper. It was too smooth. I imagine eating an egg salad sandwich and the egg flying out between bites hitting your table mate in the face. The Coleslaw was certainly fresh but very salty and blah. Maybe add some celery seed and some vinegar? And lastly, the Black and White was a big no. It needs to be more cakey and soft, with a hint of lemon. This was more of a sugar cookie.

I am very excited for Zinsky’s to open. Besides my large family going there, my husband’s office of 100+ employees will be ordering lunches after I told him how great the food was. The Baron’s and Mr. Brezinski were so welcoming and Chef Berlin seemed appreciative of my comments so I’m pulling for the good guys to win here! Great Job!
terry kafka @ June 15th, 2009 at 2:42 pm

Enuff with the m.i.a. matzoh ball soup already.
Mike @ June 15th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

$2 of every sandwich sold to be donated? Really? Sounds great, but they’re risking only getting customers who are combining charity with consumption decisions.
borntorhone @ June 15th, 2009 at 3:20 pm

The food was great – I ate so much, I still have not yet eaten today at 3 p.m. I loved the corned beef and the brisket. I don’t normally like creamy potato salad but this had wonderful flavor. The chopped green salad also made a refreshing break from some of the heavier and fattier foods.
The beef and barley soup – I confess, I didn’t just taste, I went back and had a second bowl ! The chopped liver was awesome and the lox was silky, firm and not too salty.
The hot dogs were good even though they were almost the last thing I tried – the sauerkraut was a perfect balance between sour ans sweet, the best ever but I would never again let them put that chili on my dog, way too sweet for Texan taste.
Black and white cookies were good – I am not a rugelah fan so it was the only thing there I did not try.
The only thing I did not much care for was the kugel; bland and lacked texture.
Michael @ June 15th, 2009 at 3:48 pm

Well…first of all my thanks to Nancy and the owners for letting us partake. It is a bit unfair to try to judge food this early and it is hard to cook in someone else’s kitchen without everything you would normally have. Ok, with those disclaimers onward.
The meats (corned beef and pastrami) were very tasty and tender. I am used to them being thin sliced against the grain…certainly for a sandwich that is my preference…too crumbly otherwise. Great flavor without too much salt. The “For Two” sandwich (club?) was very good and our favorite of the night. The lox was great…although there will be comments that these are not New York bagels (actually my favorites are from Montreal) they are good as any I have had here fresh…that includes Bagelstein’s at its prime. The rugelach were good although chocolate is still my favorite and I will withhold judgment until I can try that iteration. The black and white cookies were sublime. Lots of butter in the cookie and frosting…no shortcuts were taken there. The barley soup was tasty but the true measure will be matzo ball soup or even if they want to scale the heights of true Jewish cooking…kreplach soup. The rye bread and challah were both fresh and a perfect accompaniment to the meats. I like rye bread that has more “rye” flavor but that might be too intense for the Dallas palate. The egg salad was not our favorite. It was without a lot of seasoning and also chopped too finely. The cole slaw was just average and too salty. The hot dogs were surprising tasteless although we were told the brats were better. The sauerkraut was perfect as was the egg bun.
Overall, great potential and they have picked a very good location. We wish them the best!
Michael @ June 15th, 2009 at 3:52 pm

Just noted that I forgot about the chopped liver. It was wonderful…I haven’t had it in years. If they really want to bring back memories for us they need fried onions, schmaltz (clarified chicken fat) and pumpernickel bread for a perfect storm of eastern European cooking.
Lisa Petty @ June 15th, 2009 at 4:37 pm

What a wonderful event! Not only was the food delicious (and *plentiful*), but the company couldn’t have been better. So great to put faces with names!

TLS – glad you like the chopped liver! I was totally channeling my Dad when I insisted on “Just one bite, young lady.” That was my second favorite dish of the evening, after the beef & barley soup. Bagels were tops, and the chive cream cheese absolutely rocked.

I also share TLS’s thoughts on the cole slaw, however – it lacked character. Other sampled items including the stuffed cabbage, tossed salad, egg salad and corned beef were all great. More to come on DallasEats – and why did I forget to take pictures???
arthur sank @ June 15th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

Cannot offer opinion as I was not invited to tasting party but intend to visit Zinsky’s as soon as they open as I am from New York City
and love deli food. It always tastes great to me !!!!.
Twinwillow @ June 15th, 2009 at 7:19 pm

First, I want to thank Nancy Nichols for the invitation.
I had a wonderful time, fressing and, kvetching with a lot of fellow posters and friends. For the most part, everything was very good. Not, NYC good but, good enough to put Zinsky’s at the top of the small heap of NYC style Jewish deli’s in Dallas.
I actually liked everything with the exception of the lox.
Too salty and, a bit dry. Could it have been pre-frozen?
My guess it was.
Hopefully it will be served “fresh” when the restaurant actually opens.
And then again, it was lox. Not my favorite, “nova”. There’s a huge difference! I missed seeing other smoked fish dishes like, kippered salmon, whitefish, sable, and my very favorite, Sunday go to brunch food, smoked sturgeon.
The pastrami and corned beef was very good. And, hand sliced like at world famous, Katz’s in NYC! But, I doubt the pastrami and corned beef will be hand sliced in the restaurant after it opens.
The rye bread and bagels were excellent. TG we have Empire bakery in Dallas!
Real standouts and very much talked about (at my table) were the hot dogs and knockwurst. They MUST have gotten them from NYC. That’s how good they were!
The chopped liver. Ahhhh, that chopped liver. All it really needed was a little shmear of shmaltz on it to make it, perfection.
I loved the NYC style potato salad. No mustard and no eggs! That’s way God intended potato salad to be made.
The beef barley soup was a winner. Everyone at our table agreed
I did not like the “black and white cookies”. But that’s OK. I never was a great fan of this iconic NYC cookie, anyway.
The rugelah on the other hand was, delicious!
And of course we must not forget the Dr. Browns sodas. Especially the Cream Soda. They have it regular and, “diet”.
What would deli be without Dr. Browns soda. After all, deli is not exactly, “wine friendly” food. Mark Brezinski, personally assured me there would be a (limited) supply of Dr. Browns, Cel-Ray tonic at the restaurant. But I’m sure, ONLY the ex-pat New Yorkers like myself will ever order it.
So, all in all, A wonderful evening filled with great food, and lovely, friendly people. All fressing and kvetching!
Glenn Campbell @ June 15th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

$2.00 donation — PER SANDWICH???!!!???

No thanks. I’ll eat where I want and donate to whom I choose when I choose to do so.

Sounds like an interesting idea, but it will fail (see also Cafe Patrique).
Twinwillow @ June 15th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

What fail? The restaurant or, the sandwich. True, the sandwich may not be the biggest hit on the menu but, the restaurant, fail? I hardly think so. It is the right restaurant in the right location for the right time.
I think It will be very successful!
luniz @ June 16th, 2009 at 9:16 am

the way I read it, it’s only a $2 donation on that particular sandwich. Not every sandwich.
TLS @ June 16th, 2009 at 9:44 am

Yes, it is just on the signature “Zinsky” sandwich and let me tell you it is a great sandwich. I want one now.
Matt S @ June 16th, 2009 at 9:47 am

I was at the tasting too – could not be more excited to have a real deli in this town for the first time. Pastrami and corn beef were outstanding – among the best I’ve ever had, NY and otherwise. Pickles were also outstanding. Hot dogs were straight from a Midtown street vendor. Agree with the coleslaw, it was the only thing that didn’t blow me away. Matzo ball soup will be on the menu, but didnt make the tasting. From what I understand, Zinsky’s will be donating $2 from every purchase of that particular sandwich (which was also insanely good). The lox are from Acme – first rate stuff. This place can’t open fast enough, particularly after how disappointed I was in Roasters.