Two words I never thought that I would ever utter in the same sentence: KOSHER and CAJUN! But that all changed when Steve and I discovered Kosher Cajun NY Deli and Grocery in Metairie (a New Orleans suburb).
One of our bags full of yummies from Kosher Cajun Deli in Metairie
Kosher Cajun NY Deli and Grocery
Suddenly I was craving some really good Jewish deli, shortly after we arrived in The Big Easy. So I did some online research and eureka, there it was – Kosher Cajun NY Deli and Grocery – in Metairie, where we tend to do most of our grocery shopping. Think Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Fresh Market and Whole Foods.
We did all of our other marketing and planned on finishing up at Kosher Cajun. The only thing we forgot was that it was Saturday. Since the deli is truly kosher, they are not open on Saturday. It’s shabbat (sabbath)!
So the very next week we decided to go food shopping on Thursday. I was salivating just thinking about what we were going to have for dinner. I had pastrami and corned beef sandwiches dancing in my head.
The second we walked into Kosher Cajun NY Deli and Grocery I could smell the aroma of all of the great food they prepare on site. Suddenly I was starving. But we knew that we weren’t going to sit down and eat there. We wanted to make our own sandwiches back inside Ladybug. So I had to be patient.
Our sandwich fixings with pastrami, corned beef and seeded rye bread from Kosher Cajun Deli
Not only does Kosher Cajun have amazing New York style deli food, but there’s table service and a complete kosher grocery store. So while they were cutting our meats, Steve and I wandered the aisles.
We were thrilled to discover true New York bagels in the freezer along with beautiful potato knishes that we thought would be perfect for a couple of lunches. Of course we had to buy them. And to our cart we added a thinly sliced seeded rye, some gorgeous lox and a couple of Joyva Halvah bars we threw in for dessert.
The drive back to the RV was torture because the aroma was driving us nuts!
A bit of history
Before opening Kosher Cajun NY Deli and Grocery, owner Joel Brown did a lot of research to find the best tasting kosher specialties that the Jewish community needed and wanted. Then, in 1987, the native New Orleanian opened his business in a 900-square foot store facing the Metairie business district. Slowly but surely, and quite lovingly, he grew the business with his wife Natalie.
The Browns moved to their current location in 2000 because they had totally outgrown their former space. In the new, 5,000-square foot space, in addition to groceries, they offer a 70 seat restaurant and full service catering.
The food is so good that when the Joel goes to New York City to visit his daughters, he brings the deli with him!
My honest opinion
Pastrami, Corned Beef and Swiss on Rye with Coleslaw and Russian Dressing. Served with a side of potato salad that I made.
This was the food I was dreaming about!!! The corned beef and pastrami with well seasoned, very lean and yet still very juicy and succulent.
The rye bread took me back to my childhood. I can remember my Mother, Bubie and me sitting around the kitchen table in our summer home in Ventnor NJ, eating fresh rye bread still hot from the bakery as we dipped into icy cold tangy sour cream. Mmmmwah!!! Simple pleasures.
A perfect Sunday Brunch
Those New York bagels were perfect. And we devoured the lox in one sitting.
But we tried to make the halvah last by cutting small pieces. Problem was, we kept going back and cutting more pieces, until it was all gone.
I can tell you this: whenever we are in New Orleans we will certainly return again and again for more of Kosher Cajun’s delicacies.
