THE 11TH COMMANDMENT states: "If you marry a Jewish girl, you must have dinner in a Chinese restaurant once a week for the rest of your life." In 2006, Las Vegas has many good Chinese restaurants, but very few good Jewish delicatessens. Maybe we need a few more Chinese girls eating in Jewish delicatessens.

A kosher style delicatessen is a memorable Jewish eating experience. From the wonderful smells as you first walk in, the aggressive waitress, to the bountiful servings of the best meats you have ever tasted, you know this is a special place. The word delicatessen draws it's meaning from the German language, which means delicacies; the word not only describes the restaurant, it also describes the food served.

My buddy Ronnie Katzman was in town from Detroit, and he wanted a fatty Corned Beef Sandwich, with potato salad. My favorite is lean Pastrami and cold slaw. But, where to go? A few of the hotels have passable delicatessens, but who wants the hassle of the strip? Downtown, the old Horseshoe Hotel had a very good delicatessen snack bar, now it's Binions Hotel; they got rid of the deil, but they do have a new Chinese restaurant.

I asked again, where do you want to go? Ronnie heard of a delicatessen in Summerlin, The Bagel Cafe. I said, "let's go." I live on the East side of town, to me; Summerlin is in a different time zone. The long drive was worth it; we walked in to great smells, a bakery on the right, and a hostess with chutzpah. Looking good. The sandwiches were huge and only $9.95. My Pastrami sandwich was delicious, although a little bland. Just like today's Chinese food, they cook Pastrami for the Goyim.

The pastries in the bakery were very good, but I can't say the same for the breads. No Jewish Corn Rye Bread. There is something un-holy about a Jewish delicatessen without Corn Rye, although they would make it with a three-day special order.

Why am I so critical? My mother is Jewish and my father is Italian, food is MY field. Despite a few flaws, I really liked The Bagel Cafe, so…"GO, Nosh," bring the whole mishpacha, and like my mother said…"EAT, EAT."

The Bagel Café
301 N. Buffalo
Las Vegas, NV / Phone #255-3444

Southwest side of the Summerlin Parkway at the Buffalo off ramp.