#like those bread slicer machines

[narendur]

Having someone work in the specialized job of food preparation is one of the ways societally that we trade off for having people with specialized jobs in not food production and prep. Buying prepared food is a reasonable trade off for doing a full day of work not making food for yourself.

Don't feel guilty about getting food you will actually eat, and don't shame others for doing the same.

Pre-cut fruit/veggies as an accommodation

I'm going to go on a rant that's been building up for a long time but needs to be said.

I just watched a video from How To ADHD where they finally articulated what I've been trying to explain to people for a long time; that buying pre-cut fruit and veggies is an accommodation.

Because holy shit, do people get angry at people who buy things pre-cut, like it's some kind of moral failing deserving of the vitriol and abuse that it gets. And it always comes complete with people smugly declaring that they take the time to cut their fruit and veg themselves, like somehow that makes them better than people who don't.

Lets get something absolutely clear.

Yes, we know it would be cheaper to buy produce and cut it up ourselves. Yes, we know that the added packaging is more wasteful. And we know that other people are judging us for it.

But here's the thing, starting with the fact that "taking the easy way" is not a moral failing:

Pre-cut produce is an accommodation.

I have ADHD, depression and seasonal affective disorder (seasonal depression). One of these by themselves makes taking care of myself difficult enough, but very rarely am I battling just one of these conditions at a time. And when it comes to cooking or preparing food, my options are very often either to spend a bit more to buy pre-cut fruit or veg, or not eat fruit/veg at all. Because if I buy produce I have to prep myself, at least one of three things will happen: 1) I'm going to forget it exists until it starts to make the fridge stink and it has to be thrown away. 2) I'm going to see it every time I open the fridge, feel bad that I can't bring myself to prepare it, worsening my executive dysfunction and depression, and making it even less likely I ever will prepare it. 3) I'm going to buy it, put it in my fridge, remember that it's there and beat myself up until it expires for being unable to bring myself to prepare it.

When people rail against those who buy pre-cut, what those of us who rely on it hear is that you don't think we deserve to eat healthily because we can't do it ourselves. Which sounds about as absurd as telling someone with glasses that they don't deserve to wear those glasses because they can't see without them.

Rant over. Leave people who buy pre-cut alone.

[therealblondebucky]

Chapter 6 of Not The Only One - A Winter Soldier Story

Rating: Teen to Mature

Word Count: 5.4K

Warnings: Canon-typical violence (with more specifics in the tags)

June 25, 2016

As the morning sunlight sifted into the Quinjet, the two super soldiers began to stir.

"Good morning," Steve whispered in a gentle tone.

Bucky groaned groggily.

"There should be a way to make coffee somewhere. Clint always had a pot of it," murmured Steve to himself as he got up to make breakfast.

Upon finding the coffee machine, Steve put it to work. The final product did not taste great, but it was strong, and that was all that really mattered.

Their breakfast of a cup of coffee, a slice of bread with peanut butter on it, and an apple each was soon ready.

After eating a bite of his peanut butter bread, Steve said, "Do you remember the ban-"

"on sliced bread?" Bucky finished.

Steve nodded and took a sip of his coffee.

Bucky rolled his eyes. "That was the dumbest thing! All it accomplished was making every housewife in America mad!"

Steve shook his head. "They were trying to save metal and paper, but people just couldn't seem to go without their sliced bread."

"Yeah, no one else had any problem buying and eating the 'illegally' sliced bread except you," Bucky pointed out.

"It wasn't legal! Not to mention unfair to the places that did stop selling sliced bread," Steve defended himself. "Plus, they were always talking about those 'stern measures' they were going to use against the bread slicers."

Bucky laughed lightly. "Gosh, that was a long time ago."

Steve hated to kill the lighthearted moment they were sharing, but now was just as good a time as ever to ask Bucky about her.

"Speaking of a long time ago, what's the history between the two of you?" Steve asked, motioning to the girl.

Bucky's entire demeanor changed along with the new topic. He took a deep breath before slowly beginning to speak about her.

"After the Starks' 'accident,' I went to this workshop to get her. She was a scrawny little thing but ran like the devil when she saw me. She ended up tripping on a cord, and this huge saw fell on her. She tried to free herself by pushing against it but accidentally flipped the switch and turned it on."

Bucky's voice was hoarse as he said, "The blade went completely through her arm like it wasn't even there." After collecting himself for a moment, Bucky continued. "I pulled her out and brought her back to the base. The next time I saw her, she had the metal arm and was bigger because of the serum. I taught her how to kill others and not get herself killed. Then they made us spar with one another. After that, we fought each other with no holds barred, and she beat me."

"The next time I saw her, she was in a paper gown with her legs spread for a doctor. He talked about getting her pregnant. But Karpov told him to remove her ovaries, which would sterilize her. I don't know which one they did to her if either." Bucky's tone made it very clear that his lack of knowledge in this area bothered him.

"And I was there when she was put under. Only Karpov and I knew where her cryo chamber was. Unless he used her for his own personal reasons between then and now, she's been on ice since '91," Bucky finished.

Steve sat there in stunned silence, trying to absorb all he had just been told.

"Do you think she's gonna be alright? Or will she be comatose forever?" Bucky asked anxiously.

"I think she's fine. I slept for a few days after coming out of the ice," Steve replied with far more confidence than he truly had on the issue.

Relief flooded Bucky's face but was soon replaced with worry. "What if she is pregnant?"

Steve knew he could not pretend his way out of this question. "I don't know, Buck. Whether she's pregnant or not and whether this possible baby is still alive or not, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that she's taken care of regardless."

"Thank you," Bucky said softly. "She was just a kid when I pulled her into all of this. I made her into the same monster they made me..."

"Buck, you had no control over that, and even if you had, they would have sent someone else to grab her or had you get another girl. We can't change what happened in the past. All we can do now is make sure we help her in every way we can," Steve explained gently.

Bucky nodded solemnly. "What's the plan?"

"We need to find somewhere safe to hide out. Sam, Clint, Wanda, and Scott are most likely in custody, and we're the world's most wanted fugitives. I'm going to reach out to some contacts of mine to see what they know," Steve replied.

"What about Natasha?" Bucky asked.

Steve chuckled. "They would only have Nat if she wanted them to have her. Plus, she signed the Accords. Since T'Challa learned the truth, I doubt he will be reporting what she did to him so we could escape."

The pair finished breakfast in silence until Steve stood up and announced, "We've got a lot ahead of us today."

~

"Not exactly first class," Bucky commented as he walked into the apartment Steve had found.

"I didn't know it needed to be," Steve replied from behind him.

Bucky turned around and raised an eyebrow. "My place in Bucharest was better than this dump."

"It's off the radar and within our budget, which is pretty much nothing."

"Why here, though?" Bucky questioned.

"Ukraine and the US don't have an extradition treaty, plus there's Ukraine's status with the UN. With all the unrest regarding Crimea, looking for us is not a national priority. And there's the fact that Odessa speaks predominantly Russian, and you know the city. I did my research, Buck. This is the best place for us right now," Steve concluded.

Bucky gave a resigned shrug.

"The Quinjet is well hidden. We have a place to stay. Our few belongings are here. Now, we need to secure her." Steve motioned to the unconscious girl he held in his arms.

Bucky's voice broke as he said, "Steve, tell me you're not going to lock her up."

"She might be combative when she wakes up. I just want to make sure that we're all safe when she comes to," Steve tried to assure him.

"She was handled like this by HYDRA," Bucky argued. "If we treat her the same way, how will she know that we are any different than them? If we don't trust her, how can she trust us?"

"Neither of us are in top shape right now. You told me yourself that she can overpower you at your best. We have to be smart about this," Steve countered before laying the girl down on the floor. "I'll be back soon. Keep an eye on her, will you?"

Bucky sighed angrily as the door shut behind his best friend.

How could Steve not see what was best for her?

With nothing but time and solitude ahead, Bucky allowed himself to study the girl. Even unconscious and in the ugly cryosuit and muzzle, she was beautiful. The steady rise and fall of her chest comforted him. Bucky felt if he quit watching her breath she would stop doing it entirely. The thought of her not waking up hurt him too much to even think about.

"Please don't die," he whispered to her.

Almost as if she had heard him, she groaned slightly and stirred.

~

Slowly opening my eyes, I blinked a few times, trying to pull my surroundings into focus. I seemed to be lying on the floor.

Someone else was there with me.

A man.

Zimniy Soldat.

Rushing to my feet, I prepared myself to fight him. A closer look showed that he had recently been injured. His face had several cuts and bruises, plus his metal arm appeared to be missing. None of this mattered, though. He was my enemy, and my mission was to defeat him.

I landed a swift punch with my right, followed immediately by my left. He managed to block the second one, but poorly.

"пожалуйс��а, я не хочу драться с тобой," the Soldat said. ["Please, I don’t want to fight you."]

My response to his mind games was three sharp uppercuts into his gut.

Despite that, he managed to gasp out, "ты знаешь меня." ["You know me."]

Driving my knee into his crotch and simultaneously slamming my metal elbow into his throat, I displayed my anger at his words.

"я не сделаю тебе больно," he moaned. ["I’m not going to hurt you."]

I jumped up and used both my feet to kick him squarely in the chest. The air was knocked out of his lungs as he fell back. To make sure he stayed down and I did not lose my advantageous position, I got on top of him and straddled my legs over his torso. Grabbing his clothing with my left hand, I repeatedly pounded his face with my metal fist. The Soldat coughed up a mouthful of blood and looked up at me with fear and sadness in his blue eyes. I continued beating him until he lost consciousness.

"Bucky!?"

I turned my head around to see a tall, muscular, blond man behind me. He pulled out a gun and shot me repeatedly.

"I'm sorry," he said with a sad grimace.

Pain tore through my body, and then everything went dark.

~

Steve rushed over to his best friend. Rolling the girl's limp body off of Bucky revealed his bloody and bashed face.

"Buck." Steve gently shook his right shoulder. "Buck!" The second shake was less gentle.

Bucky opened his eyes slowly as if even that small movement was painful.

Steve gave a small smile, but concern was still deeply etched on his face.

Unable to fight against the powerful pull of drowsiness, Bucky's eyelids slid close.

"Hey! Talk to me!" Steve said in a loud, panicky voice.

A startled pair of blue eyes stared back at Steve. After a moment, Bucky asked, "Where is she?"

"She shouldn't be causing any more problems for a while," replied Steve vaguely.

"What did you do?" Bucky breathed softly.

"Administered a sedative."

Bucky hesitated. "What?"

"I put her back to sleep," Steve clarified.

"You drugged her?!"

"All I did was pull the trigger. The dart gave it to her."

Indignant, Bucky asked, "You used a tranq gun on her?!"

"I had it just in case things went off the rails!" Steve defended himself.

"She finally wakes up, and you put her back to sleep!?" growled Bucky.

"She would have killed you!" Steve retorted.

Anger twisted Bucky's face. "You don't know that! What's next? If I act a little crazy, are you going to shoot me?"

"Of course not!"

"Why? Because I only have one arm? Because I'm not a threat to you anymore?" Bucky raged.

"Because you're my friend," Steve said softly. "You're my best friend, Buck."

"You're my best friend, too," Bucky whispered. "Treat her like she is your friend too."

"We hardly know anything about her," remarked Steve.

"I know." Bucky paused. "But we are the only friends she's got right now."

Steve nodded understandingly.

"It's a good thing you brought the first aid kit with us from the Quinjet," Bucky said half jokingly as Steve carefully helped him sit up.

"You're just lucky you don't need stitches," Steve informed him.

Bucky quipped, "Maybe next time."

"I hope you're not going to make a regular habit of getting beat within an inch of your life," Steve teased as he began cleaning his friend's bleeding face.

"If I recall correctly, that was your pastime back in Brooklyn, not mine," Bucky replied sassily.

Steve laughed and finished fixing up Bucky's wounds before a thick veil of silence fell between the two friends for several minutes.

With a voice full of concern, Bucky said, "You do realize there are things she is going to need now that she is awake, right?"

"Like what?" Steve asked absent-mindedly.

"Well, I don't have any clothes or toiletries for her."

"I grabbed Natasha's backup outfit when we packed up the emergency clothes from the Quinjet."

Bucky commented, "That's a start. There are a lot more things she is going to need, though."

Steve pulled out a pen and piece of paper and wrote down toothbrush and toothpaste.

"How about a hairbrush?" Bucky suggested.

Steve scribbled it down along with shampoo.

Bucky added, "Probably needs conditioner, too."

Conditioner and soap joined the list.

"Lotion and lip balm?" Bucky requested.

Steve shot a questioning stare at him.

"What? I noticed her skin was dry. Siberia isn't the kindest place to stay," Bucky explained himself.

After raising an eyebrow, Steve put down the desired items. He also wrote razor but then scratched through it.

"On second thought, giving her that might not be the best idea," he said aloud.

"I think that's good enough for now," Steve remarked as he put the list away. "She is probably going to wake up soon."

"What are you going to do to her?" Bucky faltered.

"Restrain her in about the same way as Sam and I did you in Vienna. She's going to be okay, Buck," Steve assured him as he picked up the girl.

Steve laid her down again. "Almost forgot, this is for you." Steve handed Bucky a flip cell phone.

"Already has my number in it. I'll call you when she wakes up," Steve promised.

As the door closed behind Steve and the girl, Bucky stared at the phone and wished it would already ring.

~

I opened my eyes to a tall, muscular, blond man with broad shoulders sitting before me. He wore jeans and a blue shirt with a black jacket over top. I felt like I had seen him before.

"Hey!" His face lit up, and he seemed pleased that I was awake. He then introduced himself, saying, "My name is Steve Rogers. What's your name?"

I stared back at him blankly.

"It's okay if you don't know the answer." He smiled comfortingly.

I made no response.

"I'm here to help you." His face was soft, and his eyes kind, but they were likely not genuine or trustworthy.

"Do you understand English?" Steve asked. "Maybe you only know Russian?"

When I did not answer, he pulled out a device and looked worried as he spoke into it. "She's awake."

"How is she?" a muffled voice asked anxiously.

"She looks alright. I've tried talking to her in English, but she doesn't seem to understand..." Steve's voice trailed off.

"So you want me to come over and speak Russian with her?"

"No, not really."

"Why not?"

Steve clenched his jaw tightly together. "The last time she saw you, she nearly killed you. That's not a chance I'm willing to take."

"This is my choice, not yours. Besides, unless you speak Russian, how else are we going to find out if she understands it?"

Steve's facial expression showed that he knew that whoever was on the other side of the device was right, but he was still not happy about it. "Okay. I'll text you directions. See you in a few."

While Steve was typing away at his device, I began to analyze my surroundings. It was some kind of abandoned industrial building. My metal arm was held tightly in a huge piece of machinery that smelled of fish, and I sat on an old wooden slat crate. After a few attempts to pull my limb free, I realized it was futile.

Several minutes later a man with shoulder length brown hair came in. This man was missing his left arm. He wore jeans and a maroon shirt with a flannel on top, which were all a little too small for him. I knew him. From the shape of his face to the lilt of his voice to the way he moved, I knew him.

"Меня зовут Баки. Баки Барнс," he introduced himself with a sad smile. ["My name is Bucky. Bucky Barnes."]

I did not know him by this name. So he is using an alias, a wise decision on his part.

"Я знаю, ты умеешь говорить." ["I know you can speak."]

My silence challenged his claim.

He leaned in closer to me. "Я знаю, ты тоже знаешь английский." ["I know you know English too."]

The fact that he knew both of the languages I spoke disturbed me, but I did not give him the pleasure of seeing my discomfort.

"Вы помните меня?" he asked inquisitively. ["Do you remember me?"]

I wondered what angle he was trying to work by, seeing if I remembered him.

"Тебе сложно вспомнить, не так ли? Это просто кусочки и кусочки, разбросанные тут и там, и вы не знаете, что реально, а что нет?" ["It's hard for you to remember, isn't it? They are just bits and pieces scattered here and there, and you don't know what is real and what is not."]

I questioned whether or not this man could actually read my thoughts.

"Плохие люди сделали тебе плохие вещи. Ты помнишь это?" ["Bad people did bad things to you. Do you remember that?"]

Grimacing, I tried to get rid of the horrible images that came into my mind.

His voice broke with emotion when he said, "Те же самые плохие люди сделали и со мной плохие вещи. Они забрали мою память и заставили делать плохие поступки." Tears ran down his face. ["Those same bad people did bad things to me, too. They took away my memory and made me do bad things."]

Removing the long sleeve of the flannel from his left shoulder and pushing up the shirt's sleeve showed what was left of a metal arm just like mine. It even bore the same blood-red star.

"Они сделали это с нами обоими. Мы такие же, как я и ты." ["They did this to both of us. We are the same, you and me."]

His sad blue eyes met my own. "Я с тобой честен. Можешь быть со мной честным." ["I'm being honest with you. You can be honest with me."]

Somehow, I believed him.

Gently, he asked, "Как твое имя?" ["What's your name?"]

"Меня звали Солдат," I told him soberly. ["They called me Soldat."]

"She doesn't even know her own name. When I asked her, she said it was Soldat. All she remembers being called is 'Soldier,'" Bucky told Steve.

"We can't call her that. She needs a name," Steve replied.

Bucky countered, "We can't just give her a name either. She's a person and already has one."

"How about a nickname then?" Steve suggested.

"Doll would work and she could use Dolly if she has to give her name," Bucky offered.

Steve agreed. "That's fine by me."

"Мы достаточно долго продержали эту шараду, не так ли? Я знаю, он хотел бы понять, о чем мы говорим," Bucky said as he motioned to Steve. ["We've kept this charade going long enough, don't you think? I know he would like to understand what we're saying."]

"Отлично," I conceded. ["Fine."]

Bucky turned to Steve. "She knows English, apparently."

Steve frowned at me and then said, "Doll, you need to know some things before we let you out."

"You are a fugitive. If you go outside, you will be spotted and reported to the authorities. Every law enforcement agency in the world is looking for you and has orders to kill you on sight by any means necessary," Bucky disclosed.

"How do I know you aren't law enforcement?" I asked Steve pointedly.

He replied, "We're international fugitives."

"Ah. So you will turn me in to gain your own pardons. Smart."

"No, it's complicated," Bucky answered.

Sarcastically, I said, "Don't tell me. You're all innocent, right?"

"There was a disaster. Because we were not able to save everyone, people died. So, the United Nations drew up a document to prevent another such tragedy from happening. Only in doing so, they took away our rights as human beings and our freedom of choice. We chose not to sign the document. A lot of people weren't too happy about that and now here we are," Steve explained.

"Nice story. I need proof," I said skeptically.

Steve handed me a newspaper with the heading "КАПИТАН АМЕРИКА ОТКАЗЫВАЕТСЯ ПОДПИСАТЬ ДОГОВОРЫ СОКОВИИ И ТЕПЕРЬ НЕУДАЧА" and a picture of Steve on the front. ["CAPTAIN AMERICA REFUSES TO SIGN SOKOVIA ACCORDS AND IS NOW A FUGITIVE"]

"Captain America? The World War II hero?"

Steve smiled. "Yes, that's me. Steve Rogers."

"That's impossible. He's dead," I stated matter-of-factly.

"Well, not exactly," he chuckled. "I was in the ice for almost 70 years and didn't die because of the Super Soldier Serum."

"That can't be true," I remarked incredulously.

"You can look it up for yourself later, Doll. He's telling the truth," Bucky reassured me.

"There is also some personal incentive for you to stay with us. A king is going to contact us and extract us," Steve announced.

"What king?"

Steve said, "His name is T'Challa, and he is the King of Wakanda."

"Then why don't I recognize the name or nation of this said 'king'?" I asked dubiously.

"He just became king. His father, King T'Chaka, was killed in a terrorist bombing three days ago," Bucky explained.

"Hmm. Tell me about Whaka-na-da."

"It's a small, landlocked, third-world, isolationist, African kingdom. Landscape is mountains and dense forest. People are shepherds and farmers. Known for its textiles and cool outfits," Steve informed me.

"Perfect," I muttered.

"At least that's what they want the world to believe. We have reasons to believe that they have something incredible that they are not telling us about," Steve added.

"So I'm just supposed to take my chances with a pair of international fugitives and the promise of an African king whose nation is impoverished?"

The duo nodded.

"I don't like those odds, but there are also not many offers on the table." I sighed. "I'm in."

Steve came over and released my metal arm from the piece of machinery. Freedom tasted so sweet, but it was not long-lived.

"You need to get in there so we can safely get you back to our apartment," Steve told me as he pointed to a large black bag.

I reluctantly climbed into the duffle bag and watched Steve and Bucky disappear from view as it was zipped closed.

To say the duffle was cramped and stuffy would be beyond an understatement. I could not move at all, and every breath I exhaled only added to the rising temperature and increasing staleness of the air around me.

There was also the fact that I could see practically nothing. Steve could drop me at any minute without warning, and there would be nothing I could do to anticipate or break my fall. I was extremely vulnerable and completely at the mercy of these two men right now.

We proceeded quietly for several minutes before Bucky's voice broke the silence. "What about all those things on your list?"

List? What list? What is he talking about?

"Shoot! I forgot about that! Do you think that you can take her back while I go get this stuff?" Steve asked.

My mind reeled as to what the "list" and "all those things" could possibly be.

Bucky agreed. "Sure."

"Here are the keys," Steve offered, and a light jingle followed his words.

Steve then set me on the ground, and Bucky put the duffle's strap over his good shoulder and lifted me off the ground.

"Be back soon!" Steve said as we started moving again.

Bucky walked differently than Steve did. He balanced my weight against his right hip instead of slinging me diagonally across his back. I felt safer with him carrying me, which was completely ridiculous. He only has one arm, so logically, I should feel less safe with him carrying me. It was almost like Bucky could feel my pain, and he quickened his pace so as to end my suffering sooner.

We must have climbed several flights of stairs because his gait morphed into a rhythmic upward motion a few minutes later.

I heard him fumble to get the keys out of his pocket and unlock something. The creak of what sounded like a door followed behind it. We walked a short way before the creak happened again followed by two very different sounding clicks.

I was set on the ground again. Bucky unzipped me from my prison. I sat up and took in a long, deep breath of fresh air before getting to my feet.

A quick survey of my surroundings showed it to be a run-down apartment. There were two doors and a couple of dirty windows. A few bags were over in one of the corners, but otherwise, the place was bare.

I turned to Bucky. "So Steve is 'Captain America,' but who are you?"

"A friend," he replied softly.

I frowned. "That's vague. What's your story, Bucky?"

He laughed nervously. "My story. I don't think you want to hear about all of that, Doll."

"I want to hear it."

"Trust me, you don't want to hear it right now," Bucky told me.

"Yes, I do," I insisted.

"Okay," he said with a resigned sigh. "I was born on March 10th, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. Met Steve and we became best friends as kids. Joined the Army in 1941 and fought in World War II until I was captured by HYDRA and experimented on. You know how Steve was also experimented on, and fortunately, he came and saved me. Steve and some of our friends and I ended up making this group called the Howling Commandos and we fought against HYDRA and the Nazis. On February 1st, 1945, we were on a mission, and I ended up falling off of a train into the river gorge below. Everyone thought I was dead. But I survived the fall because of the experiments HYDRA had done on me. Or most of me survived; I lost my left arm. HYDRA found me and gave me a metal arm just like yours. They brainwashed me, and I became their puppet. I did whatever they wanted me to do. After every mission, they would freeze me until they needed me again. I was theirs for almost 70 years. Two years ago, they sent me to kill Steve, and I almost did. But seeing Steve triggered my memory and broke the brainwashing. I've been hiding for the past two years trying to get all of my memory back until Steve found me and everything went down."

I stood there dumbfounded, trying to take in everything he had just told me. "uhh....wow...."

The poor man looked down at the floor anxiously.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. "Bucky, do you know my story?"

He looked up at me with pain on his face. "I know part of it."

I nodded slowly to encourage him to go on.

"HYDRA used you to test an experimental form of the Super Soldier Serum. They gave you the metal arm and brainwashed you. Eventually, they made us fight each other. Do you remember that?" Bucky asked gently. "Do you remember me?"

I knew what he was telling me was the truth, but it felt like there was more.

"Not really," I confessed. For a moment, my eyes met with his. "But I want to remember you."

Bucky turned away from me like I had slapped him. An awkward silence took hold of the apartment until my stomach growled.

Having been given the chance to try and change the subject, I ran with it. "Do you have any food? I'm starving."

He pointed to the bags in the corner. "There's apples, peanut butter, and bread in that top backpack. Help yourself."

Rummaging through the bag, I found the desired items. I did not realize how hungry I was until I started to eat.

A knock at one of the doors made me jump a few minutes later.

Bucky went over to answer it. "Это кто?" ["Who is it?"]

Steve's voice called out from the other side of the door, "Buck, it's me."

Bucky unlocked the door, and Steve came in with two plastic bags on his arms.

"How was shopping?" asked Bucky.

"Alright."

"Well, I think you're going to need to go to the store again tomorrow because Doll has done a number on our food supply," Bucky informed Steve.

I grinned sheepishly and stopped eating. What had been a partial loaf of bread was now completely gone, along with three apples and a good deal of peanut butter. I was not full, but at least I was not as hungry as I had been before.

Even though doing something as exposed as taking a shower is probably not advisable when you are staying in a strange place with two men you hardly know, I felt so gross that I did not care about the risks.

"I want a shower," I informed the boys.

Steve handed me the two plastic bags and gave me a towel and a wad of clothes from the bags in the corner.

"That should be everything you need," he told me.

"Thanks. Where's the bathroom?" I asked. Steve and Bucky pointed to the other door.

Before I got to set my things down in the bathroom, the lights flickered and then cut off. I readied myself for an attack. Yet Steve and Bucky both seemed calm in the darkness.

"The power here really does suck," Steve laughed.

"Hold on, I have an idea," Bucky offered from the other room. He entered the bathroom with a lit candle.

"It's not great, but you should be able to see enough to shower." Bucky set it on the high built-in ledge at the far end from the shower head.

"I'll leave you alone now," he said, closing the door behind himself.

I turned the lock on the flimsy door even though I knew it would not do much if someone really wanted in.

Peeking in the plastic bags showed a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, a hairbrush, a bottle of shampoo, a bottle of conditioner, a bar of soap, a bottle of lotion, and a lip balm. So these were the "things" they had been talking about.

My clothes were soon in a pile on the floor. My blonde hair was greasy and matted. I should probably be thankful that I can not see myself well in the cracked mirror above the chipped sink.

Turning the tap on, I tried to recall the last time I had bathed aside from the bloody shower that I could not forget, but nothing came to mind.

I grabbed the shampoo, the conditioner, and the bar of soap before stepping into the shower. The water was colder than I would have liked, but I made do with it.

As the water ran over my perfectly formed muscles, I had the strange feeling that my body had not always been like this. Uncomfortable with this thought, I tried to think of something else.

The candle Bucky had brought me was just a plain emergency candle. There was nothing special about it, but the gesture of him getting it for me made me feel special.

The drops of water on my skin sparkled like diamonds as the flame danced about. It was beautiful in a strange way. Water intermixing with fire. I watched the ring of wax around the wick grow as time went by.

I squeezed a bit of shampoo into my hand and rubbed it on my head. Scratching my scalp, I lathered up my hair. After rinsing out the suds, I worked a squirt of conditioner from my tips up to my roots.

Since I had no washcloth, I ran the bar of soap over my body. It had a light, clean scent that I could not quite identify.

I rinsed the soap off of my skin and the conditioner out of my hair. My skin was left smooth, and my hair felt like silk.

After turning off the water, I stepped out of the shower and put the candle on the sink.

Not wanting to be naked outside of the shower any longer than I had to, I patted myself quickly with the towel and pulled the clothes over my still-damp skin. The tight-fitting black tank top and comfortable grey sweatsuit were short on me. Whoever's clothes these were was also bigger chested than me, but a large bra was better than no bra at all.

I put the towel over my hair and twisted it up onto my head. After brushing my teeth, I put some lip balm on my chapped lips and exited the bathroom with the candle in hand.

I found Steve and Bucky both lying on blankets on the floor.

"It's been a long day for us. We're going to bed," Steve said sleepily.

I whispered, "Good night."

An extra blanket was spread next to Bucky. I put the candle down next to the blanket and lay down. I could feel the cheap, uneven, wood-like floorboards through the thin blanket. Trying to get more comfortable, I made the wet towel and my hair into a little pillow. I blew out the candle and closed my eyes, but I already knew I would not be able to sleep.

[avocado-frog]

hey! this is chance & here’s week 3’s prompt. share an excerpt that you’re very proud of from any of your wips.

The camera cuts to me frantically looking for something i like

Anyways. A bit of rosemary since i promise im working on it

Aside from that, walking through the aisles was... strangely normal.

Leo was on-edge, of course she was, but the groups of people around her didn't seem to notice any difference. They didn't know Leo was a killer and an arsonist, they didn't know she hadn't really been outside in months, they didn't know anything. She felt like she knew everything. Too much, in fact.

Leo felt justified in her paranoia, given the circumstances. 

She walked down the bread aisle. She read the ingredients out of instinct (Ryan was allergic to dairy, but that didn't matter, because Ryan wasn't there). She put the loaf in her cart. Someone's kid ran into her. The adult apologized. Leo said it was fine. She smiled. Normal afternoon shopping trip, something had to be wrong.

Her grip on the handle of her cart tightened, she made her way to the produce section, and wandered around, looking for fruit. Elliot liked apples. Leo put three into a bag; weighed them, into the cart. She got one of those weird slicer things for them, too. It should be enough for everyone...

Ham, turkey, sliced cheese, paper plates and bottled teas, six cereal cups. She wasn't accompanying Logan like she usually did when he went out, and she wasn't getting portions for eight people whose preferences she knew without thinking.

"Is that blood?" The cashier might've been her age, she looked concerned as she scanned Leo's stack of plates.

Leo raised her head from where she had been putting the card in the reader, staring the cashier in the eye.

"It's chocolate milk," Leo deadpanned, refusing to break eye contact, before typing Oliver's PIN into the machine and finally finishing.

[scottjackson9]

Take Your Homemade Bread to the Next Level with These Top Bread Machine Accessories Available Online in the USA

Are you ready to transform your homemade bread from basic loaves to artisanal masterpieces? Elevate your baking game with these top bread machine accessories available online in the USA! Whether you're a seasoned baker or starting, these must-have tools will take your creations to the next level. Let's dive into the world of bread-making accessories and discover how to enhance every kitchen loaf. Bread Machine Accessories For Sale Online USA

Dough Proofing Baskets

Enhance the texture and shape of your bread with dough-proofing baskets, also known as bannerols. These baskets are crafted from natural materials like rattan or cane, providing optimal conditions for proofing dough. The coils in the basket create a beautiful spiral pattern on the crust of your bread, adding an artisan touch to your loaves.

Dough-proofing baskets come in various sizes and shapes, allowing you to experiment with different bread-making styles. They help maintain the structure of the dough as it rises, resulting in a light and airy crumb once baked. Using a proofing basket also helps prevent sticking during the rising process, making transferring your dough onto baking sheets or stones easier.

Investing in a quality dough-proofing basket is a game-changer for any home baker looking to elevate their bread-making skills. Add this accessory to your collection, and watch how it transforms your loaves into professional-quality masterpieces!

Bread Slicers

If you love baking bread at home, investing in a bread slicer can take your homemade loaves to the next level. Bread slicers are handy tools that ensure uniform slices every time, making your presentation more professional.

With adjustable settings, you can choose the thickness of each slice to suit your preferences. Say goodbye to uneven cuts and hello to perfectly sliced bread for sandwiches or toast.

Bread slicers come in various designs and materials, from classic wooden models to sleek stainless steel options. Choose one that fits your kitchen aesthetics and storage space.

Whether slicing a crusty baguette or a soft sandwich loaf, a bread slicer will make the process quick and easy. Enjoy evenly sliced bread with minimal effort—because we all know presentation matters when it comes to delicious homemade baked goods.

Cleaning and Maintenance Accessories

Keeping your bread machine clean and well-maintained ensures delicious loaves every time. Investing in cleaning and maintenance accessories can make this task a breeze. Accessories like cleaning brushes designed for getting into those hard-to-reach places can help you keep your machine spotless.

Additionally, consider purchasing replacement parts such as kneading paddles or mixing pans to ensure seamless operation over time. These accessories are not only convenient but also extend the lifespan of your beloved bread maker.

Using non-stick oven liners is a simple yet effective solution to prevent buildup or residue. These liners catch spills or drips, making cleanup effortless. Don't overlook the importance of maintaining your bread machine—it's the secret ingredient to consistently great homemade bread!

Essential Accessories for Bread Making

When making delicious homemade bread with your bread machine, having the right accessories can make all the difference in achieving that perfect loaf.

One essential accessory for bread making is a quality digital kitchen scale. Accurately measuring ingredients by weight rather than volume ensures consistency in your recipes and helps achieve optimal results every time. Another must-have is a dough scraper. This tool helps you easily handle sticky dough, shape loaves, and clean up any residue.

A good-quality silicone baking mat is also essential for lining baking trays or countertops when kneading dough, shaping loaves, or proofing bread. Investing in a quality serrated bread knife will make slicing through crusty artisan loaves a breeze without squishing the bread's soft interior.

These essential accessories will elevate your bread-making skills and ensure that each loaf you bake is perfection.

Elevate Your Baking Game with These Essential Accessories

Investing in top-quality bread machine accessories can take your homemade bread to the next level. From dough-proofing baskets for that artisan touch to bread slicers for perfect cuts every time, these accessories are designed to make your baking experience easier and more enjoyable.

Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting, having the right tools at your disposal can make a world of difference in the outcome of your bread. So why not enhance your baking skills and treat yourself to these essential accessories today? Your taste buds will thank you!

[mariatellsstories]

Liverwurst

Newark, NJ – 1966

Located on Branford Place in downtown Newark, New Jersey, Finkler's Delicatessen was run by Hal Finkler since 1942. It's now 1966 and Hal still pickles his own legendary corn beef and his potato pancakes are a must.

The deli's interior has always had a sparse appearance because after all, this isn't some foo-foo restaurant. Customers come in for the serious business of pastrami on rye, matzah ball soup, and the best liverwurst in town. There's a poster of Shea Stadium next to an autographed photo of Jerry Lewis:

To Hal

From one nutty Jew to another.

Thanks for the liverwurst.

Jerry Lewis 1954

On the opposite wall, hangs a framed newspaper article with the headline: Father And Son Serve Up Deli-cious Brisket. The photo depicts a much younger, beaming Hal with his arm around a young boy. The resemblance is stunning. Both wearing their stark white aprons.

The photo had not aged well. It was dated March 1, 1951 and had partially turned blue from ten years of afternoon sun.

Today, what hair Hal does have around the sides is winter-white. His head conveniently

has a bald spot where his yarmulke fits perfectly. One can assume that the yarmulke is worn for religious reasons and definitely not to cover a bald spot.

Hal's eyes are kind. His mustache is complicated. His face is wrinkled in all its happy places. It serves as a road map to a happy life.

Hal is surprisingly quick on his feet. He brings a level of urgency to helping those who need him; even if the need is a corned beef on rye.

Two of his fingers are crooked from the arthritis he ignores.

Hal sees his place behind the deli counter as a stage to perform. Being quite animated, he speaks dramatically in loud often melodic tones yet can cut one to the quick if they give him attitude.

Hal is training a new counter girl. She listens intently and smiles at Hal with Santa-like appreciation.

“Don't ever forget” he explains to the girl. The way to judge any deli is by the liverwurst. If they don't have good liverwurst then they don't have bupkis!” declared Hal. “Come with me....Nancy is it?”

The girl nods, “Yes Mr. Finkler.”

Nancy Gold is a smart, talented and shy girl. Secretly, she fantasizes about studying French cuisine at the Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France. She feels shoe-horned into a pre-ordained life by her father's expectations. Working at Finkler's is her rebellion and right now and she's loving it. Nancy is twenty-four and is pretty in a flawed, accessible way. She doesn’t stop the party when she walks in, but you’d like to get to know her. Her golden eye-color, olive complected skin, and coffee brown hair gives the effect of a warm cinnamon roll. Her vulnerable quality masks a strength even she doesn’t know exists. Once Nancy let someone in, she was impossible to forget. There was something about her that crawled inside a person and built a nice comfy home there.

Hal opens the refrigerator case and scoops out a tiny portion of liverwurst onto a wooden spoon.

“Here. Taste this” Hal said handing Nancy the spooned precious cargo. She spoons herself the portion and clearly savors it in her examination.

Wide-eyed Nancy says, “I didn't think I liked liverwurst but this is delicious!”

Hal puffed his chest and beams. “A girl with good taste!” he laughs.

Nancy hands him an order that had just come in over the phone. Hal leans over the meat slicer to make a corned beef sandwich. As, he talks to Nancy the slices of meat fall from either side of the machine. “Slicing is the most important part of the sandwich” he explains. “The slices have to be thin and tender. The sandwich has to have a certain feel when you bite into it. That's how you can tell it was made by a genuine Jewish deli!”

Hal finishes slicing the meat. He lays it on top of a slice of the dark rye bread. “Then here is where the artistry comes in.” he said as he spreads a thin layer of mustard, a slice of tomato, a sprinkle of salt and pepper and closes the sandwich, not forgetting to pack the sandwich with a small order of fries , two sour dill pickle halves, and a side of coleslaw.

Looking over at Nancy, he twinkles, “This is what I sell to my customers. Quality, authentic Jewish food like Jews have eaten for years.”

Hal's son Jerry enters the deli as the little bells above the door ting-a-lings. “Hey Pop!” he says as he navigates his way behind the counter and peruses bread selections. “I thought you'd be watching your Bonanza about now.”

Jerry has a woolly mustache like his father, bushy hair, and round glasses. He always wears a tye-dye shirt. He thinks they're hip. Growing up with the last name of Finkler, many people feel compelled to share their Finkler's Delicatessen memories with him which helps develop his sense of community. However, on some level, he resents the responsibility that comes with the name. Although Jerry is bright, warm, witty and loves to listen. He also is passionate about his own opinions.

Hal turns on the small black and white television set on top of the refrigerator where the sodas are kept.

“No. It comes on in about twenty minutes but thanks for reminding me. I'd hate to miss it!” said Hal.

Jerry shakes his head as he squirts mayonnaise on a slice of rye bread. “I don't know why you even watch that show, Pop. It idealizes men in our history that weren't always ideal.”

“Well, well, well I guess the money I spent on Berkeley wasn't wasted after all!” said Hal. “I'll tell you what, Son, when you take over the deli you can watch whatever you want!” Hal laughs.

“I have a shop, Pop.” Jerry reminds his father, “I sell posters.”

Hal hands Jerry a small tin bowl of lox. “Here. This is fresh. Eat.”

Jerry takes the bowl. “Thanks Pop.”

“I'll have you know that Hoss was a mensch last week! There was this badly injured Indian that was hurt by a bunch of goyum so he starts a fight with Hoss.” Hal says as he hands Jerry a plate of sliced onions. “But then Hoss tries to help teach the Indian not to be angry at the white man. You should've seen it, Jerold! It was beautiful!”

Jerry stands frozen in indignation.

“Come on, Pop. Do you have any idea how racist that is?” Jerry says as he sits at one of the small tables with his plated sandwich. “I mean Pop, you do know that Indians have plenty right to be angry and mistrustful of the whites, right? These white people came in and stole their land, destroyed their reservations, raped their women and their land for that matter. And where does Hoss get off thinking he can teach anything? Besides, he's as dumb as a bag of rocks, Pop. Everyone knows that.”

Hal rebuked, “No. Hoss is a Men....”.

“And by the way Pop, these goyum still have never been held accountable.” Jerry emphasized as he watched his father wiping down a neighboring table.

“Well, maybe.” Hal relents. “I just thought Hoss was being real nice is all.”

“Okay Pop.” Jerry smiles and looks away.

Nancy enters from a back room wiping her hands on her apron.

“I'm done folding the boxes Mr. Finkler. Is there anything...” She looks up and notices a man with black curly hair, wearing a blue tie-dye shirt sitting at one of the tables.

“Nancy!” Hal shouted. “Have you meet my son Jerold?”

“No Mr. Finkler. I haven't.” Nancy replied sheepishly.

“He's a bit meshuggeneh but he's a Finkler.” Hal gives her a Santa wink. “Come over here Jerold! Where's your manners?”

Jerry gets up and walks over to Nancy.

“Nice to meet you Nancy!” Then he leans in just over her left ear, “Is he treatin' you right?”

“Oh yes Mr. Finkler. Mr. Finkler is a very nice man!”

Jerry smiles. “Just call me Jerry. Welcome to Finkler's. If you need anything let me know.”

“He should be so lucky.” said Hal.” Okay now let's see what we can do about those boxes.”

Hal disappears to the backroom and Nancy follows. She stops and turns around.

“It was nice meeting you Mr....uh Jerry. Goodbye.”

Jerry smiles as he waves, “You say goodbye, I say hello.”

Nancy blushes and returns to the backroom.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling went the brass bell above the door as a man enters and walks up to the counter.

Jerry meets the man from behind the counter.

“Can I help you with anything?” asked Jerry.

“I want a turkey and cheddar on white with every vegetable you got, and mustard.”

“Gladly!”

Jerry quickly makes the sandwich exactly as the man requested. The man pays, finds a table, scarfs down the sandwich in three large bites.

“That was disgusting!” the man bellowed. “I want a refund!”

From behind the counter, Jerry tips his head toward the door.

“Door's to your left.”

“I said I wanted a refund!”

“Door's to your left.”

“I want a refund right now!”

“I want to be a billionaire. Door's to the left.”

“You know....I happen to know the owe...”

Hal returns to the counter, stands aside his son, “No you don't. Door's to the left.”

The man gives a scornful snort and kicks the door on the way out of the deli.

Hal and Jerry look at each other.

Jerry says, “But he loved the hell out of that sandwich!” Jerry puts his hand on his father's shoulder, they both toss their heads back and let go of a big belly laugh.

Jerry and Harry have been friends since the third grade at Lafayette Street Elementary School in Newark and have been roommates for the past five years. About two years previously, Jerry started to complain how his father was putting a lot of pressure on him to be a partner with him at the deli and then ultimately take over.

“That's not my scene, Harry” he complained. “I love my pop but I gotta do my own thing, man.” Then he asks Harry “You can relate, right Harry? I mean you don't want to be an ad man on Madison Avenue like your pop, am I right?”

Harry often didn't answer him. He was listening on some level but because he smoked a lot of pot and was always more interested in drawing and sketching, one might assume he wasn't paying any attention. But Jerry knew all this. This had always been their dynamic. The way it usually goes is that Jerry does all the talking, decision making, and dreaming for the both of them. Harry would smoke pot and be creative for the both of them.

Harry Hendricks has such a typical hippie look that he could blend in and disappear inside a R. Crumb poster. He is extremely tall and has long stringy brown hair. Wrapped around his forehead is a bright red headband. Harry's eyes are hidden behind gold-wired sunglasses shaded with the iridescent colors of an oil slick. Although his multi-colored shirts are hip and groovy, he wears the same one for a week. He comes from wealth but neither embraces it or rebels against it. Instead he takes the road of complacency.

But the funny thing about Harry is that out of nowhere, he'll bring up something Jerry said a week ago which would confirm that he indeed was listening.

It all started one day at their apartment when Harry looked up from his sketch pad at Jerry and said, “So, if you don't dig the idea of working with your old man, why don't you just just go off and do your own thing?” Then Harry returned to his sketching.

The very next day, Jerry bursts through Harry's room and announced, “Harry! I think we should go into business together!”

Silence.

Harry inhales the joint that's pinched between two stained fingers until its embers start to glow.

“Dude,” Harry said. “What would we do? I mean are you making all your nowhere plans for nobody? ” Harry laughs at himself.

“Does it even matter, man?” Jerry asks. Then he stands over Harry, smiles and says, “We don't have a point of view, know not where we're going to – sounds a bit like you and me.”

“Yeah man!” Harry agreed. “But you're trippin' if you think we can just go out and start something. Besides, I'm doing my own thing right here.”

“Well, let's start something, man. Something where you can draw and get high all you want!”

Silence.

“Hey Jerry, I ran out of papers. Do you have any?”

A frustrated Jerry sighs. He burred his hand into his right jean pocket, pulled out a package of Zig Zag rolling papers and had a revelation.

“HARRY! I got it!”

Jerry holds the Zig Zag rolling papers up toward the ceiling.

“LET'S OPEN UP A HEADSHOP!”

Just gimme the papers, man.”

“It's perfect! Just think about it, man. We can sell your artwork and pot paraphernalia, play Beatles music all day and make money while we're doing it!”

Silence.

“Harry, can you maybe talk to your pop about putting up the bread?”

“Yeah maybe. My old man keeps trying to bribe me to do something...you know, outside of this apartment.”

“Well dude? Whaddya say?”

Harry places his sketch pad on the plastic milk crate in front of him.

“Okay man, but not just Beatles, man. Jethro Tull too.”

Now, two years later, they indeed have a headshop on Ferry Street less than a mile from Finkler's Deli. They named it The Glass Onion. The Glass Onion has it's own unique sights and sounds. There is also a pungent, smokey blend of combined odors from ongoing burning incense, cigarettes, and Thai stick. Maybe as a nod to his father, Jerry put a little rope with bells on it on the front door to signal the when customers enter the shop. But because of the headshop music is played so loud, no one has ever heard the bells.

They sell the usual headshop wares such as “tobacco” paraphernalia, glass “art”, comic books, candles, incense, and sketches by “local artists” (Harry). Most of all, The Glass Onion is known for their collection of posters. Most of the shop's square footage is used to display posters. One section is dedicated to rock band posters and t-shirts. Another, is more for bohemian style posters. In the front window,in an elaborate display are the coveted R. Crumb Fritz the Cat and Keep On Truckin' posters.

Jerry's favorite part of the shop is the black-light room within an alcove at the back of the shop where they displayed the psychedelic black-light posters. The psychedelic posters there explode with bright purples, oranges, neon greens and yellows.

Most of the time, Harry can be found behind the glass display cases filled with pipes, bongs, roach-clips, rolling papers drawing with colored pencils. Next to him, the turntable plays Thick As A Brick over and over.

It's morning and no one is at The Glass Onion except for Jerry and Harry. A high Harry is eating an Abba Zaba bar with utter facination. His drawings are spread across the glass casings. He holds up the last remaining bite.

“How come something that has a taste that is perfect to only have the peanut butter inside make you so thirsty?”

“It's probably just cotton mouth.” teases Jerry.

“Hey, ya wanna go to lunch?” asks Harry.

“It's ten-thirty.” cautions Jerry. “You just got here!”

“Okay then. I'll catch you later dude.” With that, Harry was out he door.

Once again, Jerry finds himself alone. Alone with the work.

Jerry is closing up the Onion. The phone rings. Jerry wonders who would want rolling papers at 10pm. He laughs at obvious.

“May I speak with Jerold Finkler, please?”

“Speaking.” she doesn't sound like a stoner.

“Yes, Mr. Finkler, I am nurse Jenifer Hennessy from Newark Beth Israel Hospital.” Jerry's hand tightens around the receiver. The nurse continues. “Unfortunately, your father was brought into the emergency room. We believe he's had a stroke. He's in room 323. Please stop at the nurse's desk on the way so we can give you a hospital pass.”

Pause.

“Is he gonna be okay?” his voice cracks.

“Your father's doctor, Dr. Segal, will be here until 11:30 this evening if you would like to talk to him. He's with your father now.”

“Thank you.” Jerry hangs up the phone.

He looks at the watch his father gave him for his bar mitzvah. It's 10:30pm. The Waterbury Men's wristwatch has been running for the last thirteen years. Every night before bed, Jerry thinks of father as he winds the watch.

Jerry sees the approaching cab through the rain from under his leather jacket. As he rides to the hospital. He feels completely unprepared. Pop was always there when the world was upside down. Through JFK's assassination, race riots right outside the deli and even Mom's death – Pop was always there for a hug, for a lecture, for a sandwich.

Jerry arrives at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. With a ding, the metal elevator doors split open to a long narrow stark white tiles hallway. There is a slight echo of his shoes walking on the marble floor as he approaches the nurse's station.

“Excuse me, My pop is Hal Finkler....I think he's in room...”

“Mr. Finkler! Over here!”, Nancy waves him over.

Jerry nods to the nurses and approaches Nancy. She still has her deli apron on with the usual mustard and pen marks. A tear-stained face looks up at Jerry. She proceeds to explain to him a rough timeline of what happened. A dreamlike state washes of Jerry. He tries to stay in the moment. His mind falls. He was only able to get a few words: yelled, rushed, dropped, and wouldn't move.

He thanks her and heads to room 323. The room is dimly lit. The glow for beeping machines casts a soft light upon Hal's face. Jerry is struck by how fragile his father looks. This isn't Pop. This looks like a mannequin of Pop. He moves closer to the bed and wraps his hand around his father's. It's not cold but it is not warm. On the side table is his father's spectacles. Suddenly, Jerry is reminded of when Finkler's won the coveted award for being the best delicatessen in New Jersey. He had never seen his father so happy.

“Jerold! The newspaper will be here in an hour to take a picture and I can't find my glasses anywhere!”

Jerry remembers he and his father panicking and looking all over the deli only to find them smack-dab in the middle of a bowl of liverwurst.

“Pop! I found them!” cheered eleven year old Jerry. Hal came over and put his arm around his son. Hal put the liverwurst covered spectacles on his face just to make Jerry laugh. “Thanks son! How do I look?” They laughed. After Hal rinsed of his spectacles he returned them to his face. “Oy! Now you've got schmutz all over you. Go put on a clean apron on for the picture.”

“Me? You mean I get to be in the picture, Pop?”,

“Of course, Jerold. Without you organizing the spices and slicing the rye we'd be have bupkis!”

Hal rubs the top of young Jerry's crew cut.

BEEP

BEEP

Now, the sight of his unconscious father cuts right through Jerry. Pop was always there.

“I'm so sorry, Pop.”

Later, Nancy joins Jerry in the hospital corridor as he is leaving his father's room. He shares the update the doctor had given him.

“The doctor is in there with Pop. He told me that Pop will survive but that he's not out of the woods. He has a long road to recovery.”

In addition to his fear and sadness came a small measure of hope and relief. They decide to go to the deli to clean up and evaluate whatever next steps should be taken.

It's raining mercilessly as they scurry into the deli. There is ten minutes of quiet. Nancy gets each of them a towl to dry off themselves from the night's rain. They both wonder around trying to find their mental footing. Jerry goes behind the counter. He stands there in his father's hollowed ground. On the back table he recognizes the ingredients to his father's liverwurst. There are scattered spice canisters of black pepper, marjoram, thyme, and mustard seed. Jerry's throat catches as he almost stumbles over the upturned bowls of diced onions and pork livers on the floor. This is where is happened. Jerry kneels down and starts to pick up the bowls. He starts to break down.

Nancy's heart breaks for him. She approaches him from behind. Saving his pride she tells him that she needs a hug. He stands and turns to her. He hugs her tightly. She felt his fear and sadness shutter through him. She cries quiet tears.

He releases her and says that he will be staying upstairs in his father's place until he can igure out what to do with the deli until his father returns.

“That's a good idea, Mr. Finkler,” agrees Nancy. “I'll be here to help if you'd like. Are you going to be okay?”

“Yes. I''ll be fine.” He had no idea if he'd be fine. “Can I get a cab for you? It's raining pretty hard out there.”

“I already did, Mr. Finkler. But thank you.”

“Call me Jerry.”

“There's my cab.”

Jerry opens the door for her. The door chimes its ting-a-ling. He takes her hand, looks into her little face. “Thank you, Nancy.” She looks down. “No I mean it. You barley know me but you've helped me through a dramatic and personal situation. Pop will be proud of you.”

She nods and tears start to come, she moves quickly outside and into a waiting cab. Jerry watches the back of the cab become small and distant. The pouring rain expresses Jerry's sorrow, the thunder his anger, and the lightening his guilt. The blurry street lights run down the window like tears. Jerry shuts off the deli lights. He seats himself on one of the plastic chairs, puts his face in his hands.

“I'm so sorry, Pop.”

It's 10am. Jerry wakes up in his father's bed. For a moment he forgets where he is and why. Then the earth falls as he remembers last night's events. Too soon, the phone rings. It rings again. Jerry picks up the phone and says nothing.

“Hello? Mr. Finkler?”

He takes a deep breath, “No. I mean yes I am but I'm his...”

“It's me, Nancy, Mr. Finkler. I'm downstairs at the front door.”

“Oh! I'll be right down.” He almost hangs up but then returns the receiver to his ear, “Nancy?”

“Yes, Mr. Finkler?”

“You have to stop calling me Mr. Finkler. Mr. Finkler is my Pop. Can you do that for me?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Call me Jerry.”

“Okay, Jerry.” Nancy acquiesces. “Now please come downstairs. I think you will be quite pleased.”

Jerry makes his way down the back stairs. The deli hasn't changed in forty years. But this morning, it was missing it's deli smells; corn beef, fresh baked bagels, matzah balls, and chicken fat. Sunlight floods the front of the deli. Jerry sees Nancy waving from outside the glass front door. He opens the door for her.

“Wait!” she takes his hand and guides him out onto the rain-washed sidewalk. “Look!”

Jerry lifts his head for the first time that morning and is overcome with what he sees.

Half of the block in front of him and half of the block behind him are covered with rows and rows of flowers, get well cards, and balloons. Various photos of Hal's smiling mustache face with each of his regulars are peppered throughout this colorful garden of love for his father.

More and more people come to put more flowers. These are people Jerry has known all his life. They were all there; old ladies that babysat him and shop owners that his father would fight, laugh and play checkers with. There were people there that Jerry went to school with, and all their children.

One by one they would come and hug Jerry.

“Your Pop is going to be just fine.”said Mrs. Feingold.

“Your Pop is such a mensch! God is watching over him, Jerry.” consoles Mr. Greenblatt.

“Miss Nancy? Will you be having Finkler Friday this week?” asked Mrs. McDaniels.

“Maybe next week, Mrs. McDaniels.” assures Nancy.

Jerry steps out from the sidewalk so everyone could see him., I want to thank each and everyone of you. Your love and prayers will have him back in no time. I will have the deli back open for you in a couple of days. I'm not my Pop, but it'll have to do. Again, thank you all for all of this.”

Jerry feels a tug on his pant leg. He looks down and it's Mrs. Solomon's little girl, Hannah.

“I made this for Mr. Finkler. He's real nice. Can you give it to him? My mom said it will make him feel better.” She skips back to her mother.

Jerry took the large paper and sees two stick figures: one very small and the other with a large mustache.

“What about this, Jerry?” Nancy whispers. This community loves your father.

Jerry shakes his head. “I knew, but I didn't know. I wish I would have spent more time here with Pop.”

“It's okay Jerry. You're here now...when he needs you.” They go inside.

Jerry smiles at Nancy, “Did you arrange all that?” he asks suspiciously.

“Mr. ….uh...Jerry, I just got here. Don't you realize that these people feel very connected to you and your father?”

Jerry shakes his head, “I just don't know what I should do. I don't even know what to do first.”

“Why don't we start by sitting down. I'll make us some coffee.” Nancy goes behind the counter.

Jerry takes a seat at one of the tables.

“In the last few years, I've only been here ever month or so. I don't know what his routine is.”

“Don't worry about all that right now.” assures Nancy. “I know your father's routine backwards and forwards. Cream? Sugar?”

“No. Just black thanks.”

Nancy brings over two steaming Styrofoam cups and hands one to Jerry. He holds the cup with both hands as the aroma comforts him. Nancy takes a seat next to him.

“I know everything is happening so fast and all at once. But if it's okay, I'd like to help in any way I can.”

Jerry is quiet.

Still looking down into his coffee, “I'd really appreciate that. Thanks Nancy.”

There is a rat-tat-tat on the front window of the deli. A tiny white haired woman with a walker waves at Jerry. It's Mrs.Rosen. She blows him a kiss and goes on her way.

Jerry worries aloud. “What if Pop doesn't get well enough to be able to run the deli? Do I sell the place? What if he doesn't come back at all?” his voice cracking.

Nancy puts her arm around him. “Whoa! Let's just take this one bagel at a time, eh?”

It's been a week since Jerry woke up at his own apartment. He stayed overnight just to reset himself. But now morning has broken and he feels he needs to figure out how he can help his father and what he's going to do with the deli. He called the hospital and his father is not any worse. He has been in and out of consciousness for the last couple of days. They say it is still too soon for him to have visitors. Jerry finishes up cooking his eggs when Harry comes home.

“Dude! I can't do it anymore.”, Harry protests. “You just left the place and I can't do everything.”

“Harry, you just need to hang on. Call if you have any questions. We just got to hang on. I next a couple of weeks or so to sort everything out for Pop.”

“A couple of weeks! No way!”

“Harry, you have to understand. I know you like my Pop.”

“Yeah, he's a better dad than the one I have. Maybe I should sell the Onion, Dude.”

“Whoa! Wait a minute, Harry! Hold on. Let's talk about this. Come on, let's sit down.”

Harry flops down on the couch. Jerry moves Harry's laundry of the chair and onto the dining table and sits down.

What is it exactly that bothers you about the Onion?'

Harry squirms a bit. “Well, it's not the store. I mean it's a cool place. The people come in and dig my art.”

“Harry, if it's all the accounting and ordering I can still do that. Is it selling things to the customers?”

“Truth is, I just want to do my art, Dude.”

I know. I know. Tell you what, Why don't you close up the Onion for one week so you can think about it. At that time, we'll talk and see what happens. Okay?

“Okay. That sounds good.”

Harry, just promise me that you won't do anything until then, okay?”

Harry smiles at Jerry. “You know that I already don't do anything” He offers Jerry the glass bong.

Jerry waves off the offer and pours ketchup on his eggs.

“I got to get back to the deli.”

“Okay man, I really do think it's cool how you're coming through for your dad.”

“Thanks Harry. I needed that.”

It's noon by the time Jerry gets back to the deli and Nancy is finishing up wrapping up a loaf of rye bread for a customer. She's anxious.

“Oh, I'm so glad you're here. I need your help. They're all going to be here at about 3:30”

“Who?” asks Jerry.

“Jerry, it's Finkler Friday!” Nancy is putting colorful plastic tablecloths onto the tables.

“So, what is this Finkler Friday all about?”

“You mean you don't know? Mr. Finkler never told you?”

He feels a little sad at the idea of his father not telling him something.

“Listen, “ explains Nancy. “It all started a couple of years ago. Your father would offer samples of different bagels, or a taste of lox or liverwurst. So he started to add a little bit more to his inventory. Then, Mr. Stanton came in with his little boy Raymond. You know them, right?”

Jerry nods his head no.

Nancy continues, “Well, anyway, Mr. Stanton was laid off from the steel mill and times were tough. Especially since his wife died. That day, Mr. Stanton came in like always and ordered a cinnamon bagel for his boy. As he was paying Mr. Finkler for it, your father noticed that poor Mr. Stanton had lost a lot of weight and had sunken eyes. He asked Mr. Stanton when was the last time he had eaten. Mr. Stanton said that they would be eating a big breakfast that next day at a local mission. So, your father told Mr. Stanton to wait where he stood for two minutes. Your father went to the back and came back two small paper bags. Each packed with pastrami sandwiches, pickles, bagels, and cream cheese. He gave them to Mr. Stanton and his little boy and wouldn't accept any payment for the cinnamon bagel. He told them to come back next Friday and he may have a little more for them.

“So, is that how Finkler Friday happened?” asks Jerry.

“Nope. Not yet. The next day, he asked me if there were any other people coming in that were suffering from the steel mill lay off, I told him that there were a few. But some of them stopped coming in because they could afford to buy anything. Your father twisted up his face and pulled on his mustache, you know, like he does when he's thinking.”

Jerry nods.

“Oh yes. I know it well.

“Well he told me to give him a list by the end of the week of anyone I noticed that was really hurting. Fast forward a month later and Mr. Finkler had a dozen families come in to which he would distribute that week's leftovers between them.”

“And then it was called Finkler Fridays?”\

“Yes.”

“So, how many are we expecting today?”

Nancy looks at her list, “Twenty-two. Mostly children.”

“How do you have enough food?

Nancy brings Jerry a big blue box with his father's face on it. Written on the box was:

Taking Donations!

To Provide Food For Families On Finkler Fridays!

The is a slit on the top for donation.

“Mr. Finkler also made a deal with Jim, the grocer on Mulberry St. to provide each Finkler Friday family with on bag of groceries that can be used to cook and clean at home.

In exchange, Finkler's Delicatessen would feed them every Friday afternoon.

“I can't believe I never knew about any of this.” Jerry mutters.

Promptly at 3:30 five families are seated at tables with paper plates, paper cups, paper napkins, and filled paper bags. For the children Nancy had scattered dreidels, ring whistles, yo-yos, and rattles for the babies.

Nancy steps into the middle of the deli floor,

“Thank you all for coming. I hope you all enjoy the food. We a are missing Mr. Finkler and wish him a complete and speedy recovery.” There is a smattering of clapping and sympathetic nods.

Nancy continues, “Today, marks the one year anniversary of the first Finkler Friday. We started out just wanting to feed a few hungry friends and their families. But now, thanks to a lot of generous customers, we were able to add care packages for those that cannot come to Finklers but are hungry at home. I'm sure most of you know Mr... uh Mr. Finkler's son Jerry.” she waves Jerry over. He comes and takes a bow. Nancy whispers something in his ear.

“I've known Jerry from second grade through high school!”, said Mr. Preston.

“He use play tiddlywinks with me when I was little,”, brags nine years old Sylvia.

“Yes. He's a good boy.” responds Mrs. Goldberg. “But he still needs a haircut!”

Nancy is passing out colored construction paper, little bowls of paste, raw noodles, pipe cleaners, scissors and colored markers.

“Nancy and I thought all of you would all enjoy making some get well cards for my Pop...Mr. Finkler. I'm sure when he is ready, he will read all of them and will surely lift his spirits!”

“Jerry, can you please turn on the record play behind the counter?” asks Nancy. Jerry gently puts the needle down on the record and suddenly they all feel the joyful punch Sinatra with Come Fly With Me.

“Your idea?” Jerry asks.

“Nope. Your father's because...of course..” then they both say. “Hoboken!” They laugh. It is a joyful day, Finkler Friday. Jerry feels proud of what his father had started. The night had sneaked up on them. Nancy Takes off her apron and sets it in the deli 's hamper.

“Jerry, you should be proud of yourself. You did good. You really did.”

Jerry closes the deli front door and turns its sign from

COME IN WE'RE OPEN to SORRY WE'RE CLOSED

“Nancy, if you weren't here helping me, saving me, I'd just be walking around bumping into things.”

Nancy laughs. “You'll be fine Jerry.”

The deli's mounted television set floats out the theme from Bonanza. When it hits Jerry's ear, he clearly get anxious yet he laughs.

“Pop sure loves this show. God knows why.”

“Because Hoss is a mensch, Jerry! Hoss is a mensch!” Nancy teases as she puts her coat on.

“Oh you heard!” Jerry acknowledges.

“Don't forget to put the roast beef back in the case before you leave.”

“I'll tell you what, I'll run and do that right now.”

“Okay. I have your father's keys. So, I'll be here early tomorrow.”

“You taking a cab tonight?”

“No. I only do that when the weather is bad.”

“I'd like to walk you home, if that's okay.”Jerry asks nervously.

“Are you sure? Aren't you too tired? Is it out of your way?” Nancy responds just as nervously.

Jerry tips his head to one side and smiles. “Yes, no and yes.” He puts the roast beef into the chilled case, grabs his coat and opens the front door for Nancy. Ting-a-ling-ling went the bells on the door.

“You know, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings!” Jerry says with a wink.

Nancy smirks, “Whadya talkin'? You're Jewish!” They both laugh as the door closes behind them.

Once they start out their walk on Branford Place, their conversation was easy, warm, comfortable. Nancy stops.

“Here I am.”

Jerry looks up at he two story Tudor style home at which they have arrived.

“I'm very impressed.” Jerry comments. “I don't have any friends who could afford to live here in South Ironbound. It's the nicest part of Newark.”

Nancy smirks. “That's why my father bought it. So people can be impressed.”

“Wow!” remarked Jerry.

Nancy looks down and giggles.

“Are you blushing?” He gently lifts her chin with his finger.

“Jerry?” Nancy asks while Jerry is still holding her face.

“Yes Nancy?

“Are you going to kiss me right now?”

“I was hoping to, yes. Is that okay?”

“Yes. That would be fine.” she closes her eyes and prepares herself.

Nancy's awkward nature whether calculated or organic endears Jerry even closer to her.

So, right thereThere, on Mulberry St. under the streetlight, he kissed her.

The next few days, Jerry along with Nancy try to get the deli on its feet, he would spend many late nights trying to figure out his father's unique bookkeeping practices. Jerry had approached his accounting for the Glass Onion very clearly and very simply; with a ledger, pencil and paper. Very slowly , and with time. Not Hal. First of all, it took two days for Jerry to even find that Hal kept all his paperwork in the trunk of his car.

There was something called a general journal where all transactions were recorded. Then there were account ledgers where the transactions were supposed to be entered into the appropriate accounts. Jerry notices that nothing had been added in eight months. There is a lot of lose paperwork as well as many empty folders. The folders that are filled were mostly mislabeled. The bakery invoices are mixed with the plumbing invoices and his Money Owed folder had nothing in it but Finkler special sale fliers.

Last week, Jerry took solace in making an improvement on his own. There was hope. After getting tangled and untangled in all of Hal's numbers, he realized that Hal hadn't raised his prices in ten years. Yet, the cost of doing business had, of course gone up. The answer? He has to create a whole new menu. He leaves some pricing the same but raised prices on what sold the best.

Jerry raises the over prices 10%. Just that alone gave the deli some breathing room. That, and the fact that in spite of Hal's accounting not being current, he was evidently paying his bills. He owed nothing.

Jerry feels more hopeful about his father's deli with each obstacle he overcomes. But he is overwhelmed. Everything is contingent on what happens with his father. Jerry is constantly fighting off feelings of anger and frustration. This is his father's life, not his. But he is increasingly realizing what his father means to the community and more important, to himself.

Nancy has the day off. This gives Jerry a chance to think about her from a distance. Where does she fit into his life? Is she interested in him being a bigger role in her life? He decides, at least for now, to enjoy the sweetness that comes from a budding romance. Besides, Jerry really needs her help in the deli. She seems to be in step with how his father ran things.

Jerry leans over and kisses Nancy gently and sweetly. They spend the next moments in the quiet except for the sounds of slurping as they smile and watch each other eat their matzoh ball soup.

It's the third week Jerry has spent in his father's bed. He lays there thinking of good times with father as well as the times they would butt heads. Lately, the most frequent thoughts of him took the form of a question Jerry would ask himself over and over again. What would Pop do?

This was about to be put to the test.

Jerry gets up in the middle of the night to the sound of rain. In his father's bedroom just over the bed is a skylight from which the moon glows; no rain. He gets up and looks out the window on to Branford Place. The street is dry and quiet accept for two cats chasing on another. But it sounds like rain. He goes to the bathroom down the hall and everything is the way it should be.

Then he hears a splash! It was coming from the deli! Jerry ran downstairs and slipped on the way down. Everything was wet and the floor of the deli was three feet underwater

What would Pop do?

As Jerry waits for the plumber to show up, he sits at the only place he can sit; a high stool. The deli chairs are floating around in the water, passing each other like cargo ships in the Atlantic ocean.

Jerry tries to go around to assess the damage the best he can so he can at least establish some dialogue with the plumber.

1. A clog in the sink had backed up

2. The dishwasher is still shooting water out of itself

3. Had a clog that backed up

4. Woke up to a flood. Dishwasher flooded.

5. Toilet evidently had flooded

“Nancy?” Jerry holds the phone receiver in his dry hand. “You wouldn't happen to know where the shut off valve is to the water, would ya?”

Jerry waits in front of the deli for Harry to pick him up. The sign he had put in the front window mocked him as a failure.

SORRY WE WILL BE

CLOSED FOR ONE

WEEK FOR REPAIRS

He can already see Harry a couple of blocks down at a red light. Jerry really liked Harry. With all his father's money, he could drive any car he wanted. So, of course, Harry prefers not a mustang, not a Corvette, not even a VW bus but a brown 1962 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spyder.

“Get in!” orders Harry after reaching over to open the passenger door. “Hey what's going on with the deli, man?”

“The place flooded.” Jerry sighs. “Last night I woke up and the downstairs was under water.”

“Oh wow. That's a bummer, man. You gonna tell you dad?”

“No way, man.” I think I got it taken care of. It'll cost and the deli has to be shut down for a week but after that, I think we'll be fine. How's the Onion doing?”

“Yeah man, I've been meaning to talk to you about that. I might have to sell the place.”

“Oh no, Harry! You just gotta hang on until I work all this out with my Pop.”

Harry parks the car.

“I know you're going through a lot right now. I won't do it right away but it ain't working out so well right now.

“Harry, I think I have and idea. I can't tell you yet but I think it will solve everything for you and maybe even for Dorrie. But you gotta keep the place. Give me one month.”

“Sure Dude. Okay.”

“Now let's go up and see my Pop.”

Jerry enters Hal's hospital room. He is surrounded by cream colored tiles and white walls. He is hit by the typical hospital smell of disinfectant, urine, and bleach. The curtains are closed and the air is dense and depressing. The television mounted on the wall is murmuring out the news. Hal lays in the bed in the middle of the room. Jerry slowly approaches the bed. Hal's eyes are closed. He has oxygen traveling up his nostrils through a thin hose. Jerry stares at his face. This man seems so small and frail. His father is a fraction of the man in Jerry's childhood memories. He remembers when the Newark Chronicle came to do a piece on the deli. Jerry had no idea. The back story was of a neighborhood delicatessen owner and his nine year old son winning the title of 1951 Best Newark Delicatessen. Before they arrived, his father had made him comb his hair and get on a clean apron. All at once flash bulbs were bursting in his eyes. They were asking his father a lot of questions. But most of all, he recalls the look on Hal's face. He was beaming with pride. Jerry tries to imagine that face on the face before him but fails. Jerry notices the hospital chart at the foot of the bed.

He picks up the clipboard and is trying to decipher it's chicken scratch and typewritten hieroglyphics when Jerry hears, “Is that my obituary? I hope it says that died after finding me underneath an avalanche of naked ladies.”

“Pop!” Jerry rushes to his father's side and gives him a gentle but long hug. It brought a tear to Hal's cheek that he didn't even try to hide.

“Is the deli out of business yet?” Hal teases.

“Of course not, Pop.” Technically true. Jerry notices Hal's speech pattern has been slightly affected by the stroke. It has left his father with a very slight paralysis on his left sides.

“How are you son? I hope I didn't worry you.”

“I'm just glad you're here, Pop. You look good!”

“Just so you know Jerold, that when my time does come, I'm not afraid to die and be with your mother again.”

“I wish Mom was here.”

“She is. She is.” comforted Hall. “By the way, is Nancy helping you at the deli? She's a nice girl, Jerold. You should be so lucky.” Hal said with a wink.

“I'd be lost without her. She knows everything about how you run the place. You taught her well, Pop.”

“Well, if you do run into any obstacles with the deli, you know what I always say....the only way out is through.”

“I know. I remember. Oh and by the way, Pop...Santa? Really? You're Jewish. Knowing you, you left your yarmulke under that Santa cap.”

Hal winks. Then his face falls.“I let them down this year.”

“You didn't Pop. But I may have cuz I couldn't be you.”

Hall slowly reaches out a shaky fragile hand up to his son's cheek.

“You're a good boy, Jerold. Your mother would be so proud.”

The television plays the theme from Bonanza. Hal perks up.

“My show! It's Bonanza! Help me sit up, son.”

Jerry adjusts the pillows for his father. The nurse comes by and moves Hal's IV and oxygen hose aside so he can better sit up.

“I see you're feeling better Mr. Finkler.”says the nurse as she looks at her watch and takes Hal's pulse.”

“This is my son Jerold. He's single.”

“Nice to meet you Mr' Finkler. I'm married.” she gives a little laugh. “You may want to step out. I have to check your father's catheter.”

“Jerold, you go back to the deli. I got my Bonanza and the nice nurse here. Try not to burn the place down okay?” teased Hal with a shimmer of a grin under his mustache.

Jerry approaches Harry in the waiting room who looks like a fish out of water.

“With his vitals stabilizing they said that Pop can come home in about six weeks. But he'll have to keep getting physical therapy.”

“Oh man, that's great Jerry!”

Jerry is so relieved about all that. Pop is going to be okay. But at the same time, the reality of his return drops like a bomb. With his father’s physical and possible mental challenges that his father's home and deli are not ready for, at least yet. How am I going to take care of him at home? Who is going to monitor him 24/7? What if something happens at home? All these questions flooded his brain.

As Harry turns down Branford Place, they see police cars and bits of the neighborhood in front of the deli.

“Oh shit! What now?” exclaims Jerry.

“Oh wow man, You got the pigs at your place! You holdin'?”

Jerry looks annoyed. “Come on Harry, park the car somewhere and let's see what the hell is going on.”

The next two weeks of newspapers read:

Finkler's Delicatessen in Newark was vandalized Sunday with a spray-painted message intended to be anti-Semitic, deli owner Jerold Finkler said Monday. “This is the first time in the deli's twenty-seven years that anything like this has occurred.” Finkler said. “Finkler's is one of the only Jewish delicatessens in the area, and we are proud to support the local Jewish community and all members of our community."

“It’s not about what they painted, it really is about the fact that somebody targeted an American Jewish business in Newark, New Jersey, and it was purely intended to be anti-Semitic,” Mayor Leo Carlin told Newark Community Television.

A Jewish deli in Newark, NJ was vandalized on Sunday – its walls spray-painted with anti-Semitic remarks, a window shattered to pieces. Police discovered the words "Jewish pig" could be seen on one of the supermarket's walls as law enforcement searched for the perpetrators.

Jerry looks up at the stars above his father's bedroom skylight feeling naive. He had never experienced anti-antisemitism before. He lied. Jerry thought, Pop lied. He said I that it would never rear it's ugly head in my lifetime. It's so ugly. He sighs deeply. A tiny feminine hand threads itself through the hair on Jerry's chest.

“You okay?” whispered Nancy. She's a bit groggy and snuggles her nose between Jerry's neck and shoulder.

“Yeah Babe. We're gonna be okay.”

Nancy wakes Jerry up with a kiss. He smiles.

“You are the only thing that makes sense in all this chaos.”

“Jerry, you have got to see what is going on downstairs.”

He sighs. “I don't think I can take anymore. I'm going back to sleep.” Comically, he pulls the sheet over his head.

“No, seriously Jerry,” she pulls down the sheet to expose his face. “you're going to love this.”

They arrive at the bottom of the stairs into the deli.

“Look at all this Jerry.”

There is a crowd of people, sweeping, wiping things down, hammering, and such; some he recognizes, some he doesn't. Through the front window, he sees two men carrying a large sheet of glass coming over from across the street. Mrs.Feingold and Mrs Greenblatt are replanting the geraniums that were out front. Nancy and Jerry stand in the doorway.

Nancy puts her arm around his waist. “You are not alone in all this, Jerry.”

Mr. Jones steps up to Jerry with a broad smile.

“My daughter and I are sweeping up glass. Mr. Haskell is puttting up boards to stop people from going inside. Is there anything ele we can do for you, Mr. Finkler?"

“No. I mean you guys are amazing! Thank you. How can I ever re-pay you?” Jerry responds humbly.

“No need, Mr. Finkler. What these punks did was wrong. We take care of each other around here.”

“Wow.” Nancy whispers to herself.

Randal Lewet, Jerry's childhood friend from the boy scouts, puts his hand on Jerry's shoulder. "Jer', I don't know what to expect next if anything but we'll back here tomorrow morning.

You're Pop has been to all of us since we were kids, Jer'.”

“I know. Believe me, I have a new appreciation for my Pop. And thank you, Randy.”

The next day, three days after news of the vandalism broke, more than two dozen residents meet at the deli to continue the recovery process. Jerry and Nancy are handing out sandwiches, Cokes, and cream sodas to everyone that wanted them. Jerry shakes his head in continuing disbelief at the outpouring of generosity, kindness, and decency in his community.

Jerry reports to Nancy, “Mr. Pyle owns the M & M Glass Company, he came all the way from Philly! He actually asked me if he could donate the windows in an attempt to 'make a wrong a right.'” Harry comes to offer his help by painting over the graffiti and A middle aged woman wearing black cat-eye glasses under her tight shiny black bun approached Jerry from behind and taps him on the shoulder.

“Hello, Mr. Finkler?”

Jerry spins around, “Yes, that's me.”

“My name is Mrs. Winter. You probably don't remember me.”

Jerry squints and tips his head trying to jog the memory loose. “I'm sorry...”

“I'm from the community center. You played Santa for us. That was such a great thing you did for Hal...your father.”

“Oh yes! I do remember. I have to confess, I didn't think that was your real name considering the context at the time.”

“Completely understandable.” she offers her gloved hand.

Jerry shakes he hand. “It's so nice to see you...again.”

“Can we go somewhere and talk?”

“Well, there are still a few unbroken tables and chairs inside.”

Stepping over the vandal's debris, they go inside the deli.

It's two weeks later and the anticipation of Hal's return is palatable. Jerry and Nancy along with parts of the community have done everything possible to make the senior Finkler feel as welcome, loved, and taken care of as best they can. Jerry spent a week blocking off the back third of the deli floor space to basically recreate everything Hal had upstairs. It was almost as if they were preparing to receive a newborn child. Everyone was buying gifts, blankets, and flowers Jerry knows there is no way his father wanted to be stuck up stairs away from the action, more important, away from his people.

Jerry and Nancy are having dinner at The Leviathan Grill on Springfield Avenue in Newark. Jerry reaches across the table and puts his hand atop hers.

“Thank you so much for getting me through this. I'd truly be lost without you. I can see why my Pop adores you.”

“Jerry, the truth is, you're father was the father I never had. It's the least I can do.

They're treating themselves to a lobster dinner. They have a lot to talk about. Mainly, they are excited about their plan to open up a community center with the grant they received. Mrs. Winters give Jerry the idea that day she came in the middle of chaos. Jerry and Nancy had learned do much in the last few months. Something about constantly putting pieces back together again ignited benevolence from both of them. They want to create a place where families can feel safe and valued – a place where kids can come to learn, laugh and play, and a place where parents can connect to jobs and food if they need it. Nancy and Jerry independently had always wanted to do something like but never expressed it to each other until now. Now they are making their plans. They are realizing that things will fall into place quite nicely. A lot of hard work but gratifying. They will call their community center: LIKE MINDS

All of Hal's neighbors got together and bought Hal a La-Z-Boy rocking recliner upholstered with mustard colored burlap. Jerry rented Ford Country Squire in the form of a 1964 four door station wagon that can accommodate his father's wheelchair.

Jerry parks the car and after filling a few release forms, seats himself in the waiting room waiting for the the orderly to bring out his father. His mind wonders to when Hal taught him how to drive. Jerry found himself in the coveted driver's seat behind the huge white steering wheel of his father's 1949 Pontiac Chieftain. At first, Hal drove them to a large supermarket parking lot about a mile away from home. He parked the Pontiac between two parked cars. “Okay, let's switch seats!” he ordered Jerry. After they switched, his father is slowly had Jerry go through all of the checks (seat belt, mirrors, etc). As soon as Jerry turned the key, it just so happened that both cars on either side of him began pulling out, giving him the sensation that he was rolling backwards. Jerry begin frantically stomping the brake and screaming “Pop! I can't stop!” Hal just threw back his head and had a big belly laugh.

Jerry smiles at the memory just as they roll out Hal. “Pop! You look good!” He had much better color and more spark in his eye. Hal reaches out, in requesting a hug. They embrace.

“I missed you, son.”

“Me too, Pop.”

Jerry and the orderly puts the folded up wheelchair and walker into the back of the station wagon. The orderly hands Hal a cane and helps him into the passenger seat. Hall waves at him through the window. With the window rolled up, the orderly can see Hal miming, “You're a good boy!”.

On the drive home, it was quiet at first. Jerry anticipates his father being worried about the deli.

But instead, “Did I ever tell you how I met your mother?”

“No...I don't think so. Ma may have told me when I was young but I don't recall.”

“I first saw her sitting in the window of her sister Tillie’s grocery store in Brooklyn and was quite taken by her beauty.” Hal looks younger as he relives those moments. “I pursued your mother whenever I saw her in town but she was dating someone else; Murray the Hook. One day I saw her with her sister and I asked her for her phone number.

Jerry's father stops, grins and stares straight ahead.

“Well Pop? Did she give it to you?”

“You're sitting here aren't you?” Hal gives a laugh.

It's quiet for another moment. Jerry's father looks out at the Hudson River. He starts to laugh hardily.

“She gave me a fake phone number and a fake last name!” They both laugh. “But...” Hal puts one victorious, arthritic finger in the air.“I figured it out and tracked her down. Your mother was so impressed with me that she agreed to let me take her out.”

“You're somethin' else, Pop.”

“Yes. Yes, I am something else.”

A large crowd of cheering friends, neighbors, and fellow store owners obscure the deli from view.

“What's this? Such mishigas!”

“Pop, This is all for you. Just be patient a little longer.” Hal is caught off guard at the people rushing to the car as Jerry parks in front of the deli. As the Country Squire wagon approaches the parking space left open for them, Jerry tells his father to close his eyes.

“Why? Is the place on fire? Or maybe you turned it into a Hippie house?”, Hal teases.

“Okay, Pop. I'm getting out now and coming around to get you. Keep your eyes closed! You promise me you'll keep your eyes closed?”

“Okay, okay already.”

Jerry gets the walker out of the trunk of the wagon brings it to the passenger side door. He slowly opens the door and instructs his father that he can open his eye but can only look at his feet.

“My feet? Oy!”

Jerry carefully takes hold of Hal's knees and rotated them toward the open door. He brings the walker a little closer as Nancy comes running over from the crowd.

“Okay Pop. Let's stand you up now.”

Nancy and Jerry slowly and gently pull Hal up to his feet.

“Can I open my eyes now?”

“In a minute, Pop. In a minute.” Jerry winks at Nancy. She giggles.

“Who's that? I know who that is!” Hal, with closed eyes and a large grin., grins and tips his head.

“Okay Pop, open your eyes.”

Hal looks up to see new lettering on the front of the building. “Finkler���s Delicatessen” Everyone applauds. He turns to Jerry and say with a mustache smile,”You've got Chutzpah, my boy. I love it!”

The Finklers head to the front door when Jerry's father sees the caricature of himself painted on the front window. Clearly touched, he stops.

“Harry did that for you, Pop.”

Hal is getting choked up. He carefully turns to the crowd. “Where is he?”

“I'm here Mr. Finkler. You like it?”

“Harry! You're telling me that there's an artist under all that hair! Who knew? I should be so lucky to look this good!” says Hal, playing to the crowd.

“Pop, let's go inside.” Jerry guides his father closer to the door. “I have things to show you and things to tell you.”

The front door is flanked by produce stands with wooden bins full of fruit on one side and vegetables on the other.

“This is a really good idea, son!”

Inside, Hal is shown all the new changes such as the wooded booths with tan colored upholstery, the ice machine, the custard machine, the condiment holders, and drinking glasses with “Finkler's in printed in white. He is happy by what he sees but even more, by what he feels; the essence of what he had built all these years not only still exists but is somehow enhanced by loving hands.

Jerry's father sits in his new Lay-Z Boy recliner as he sees the new menu with his own face caricatured on the front. On a large chalkboard on the wall is written the deli's menu, specials, Bar Mitzvahs, and catering information.

Jerry once again sees the beaming face of his father as he explains how these things came to be.

“Pop, I couldn't have done any of this if it not for Nancy. Nancy? Where are you?”

The crowd of about fifty or so murmurs. Nancy steps from the crowd next to Jerry. She has happy tears in her eyes and kisses both Finklers on the cheek. The crowd is surrounding Hal in his recliner.

Jerry turns to Nancy , “Oh no! We forgot to write something on the board!”

Nancy is worried and can't imagine what she forgot. She had went over everything over and over so this moment would be perfect for Hal.

Everyone watches as Jerry gets up on a milk crate and with chalk in hand writes:

Nancy Gold, will you marry me?

The room fills with gasps, squeals, and whispers. Nancy is stunned as Jerry kneels down before her and offers her an open gray velvet box. In it is a modest but tasteful engagement ring.

A hush spreads through the crowd.

Nancy reaches out and holds Jerry's face in her hands.

“Yes, Jerold Finkler. Of course I'll marry you!

The crowd cheers! Friends, neighbors, fellow shop keepers jumping

Jim the grocer and Harry pass out glasses and fill them with Manischewitz.

Hal calls Jerry over. He whispers, “Your mother would love her. I'm so proud of you son. Help me stand up, will you?”

Hal gets to his feet. He raises his wine as high as he can reach, “To love, to good friends and neighbors. This community has been good to me. I want to thank you all. And most of all, I want to thank my son, Jerold. MAZEL TOV!”

“MAZEL TOV!” the crowd roars back glasses high in the air.

“L'chaim! Says Mrs. Hong.

The people applaud, cheer, laugh and cry. Jerry has one arm around his father and the other around Nancy. He pulls her close and whispers in her ear, “Thank you for bringing my Pop back to me. They all celebrate until Bonanza comes on at 6pm; the moment when Hal Finkler truly is at home.

[dishtothedeath]

MAPS | MALWART

Back to Maps

Malwart: The World’s Megastore™

Dish to the Death’s first official sponsorship with the world’s fastest growing Megastore - Malwart™!  This is a supermarket, a huge building with various departments inside. Malwart™ at its core, however, is a grocery store. Assured quality products at your convenience - if for some reason your kitchen or pantry is lacking in ingredients, you can head on down to Malwart for groceries. 

Not only are you spoiled for choice for food and produce, but there are aisles dedicated to healthcare, toiletries, and beauty! Running out of your favourite clown make-up? Are your roots showing or just fancy a new hair colour altogether? Need some more sunscreen after all that time on the beach? Malwart™  has got you. 

Have you ever been to a store after 12am? This Walmart seems to have those vibes no matter what time of day it actually is. To say that this store is unsettling is… an understatement. Aside from the outdated pop music echoing around the giant store, you could swear you saw a shadow stocking the shelves, or a shopping cart suddenly rolling away down an aisle all on its own. Anything that’s spilled is mysteriously cleaned up 5 minutes later. The pricing labels are prone to glitch and warp sometimes as you read them. 

Maybe it’s best not to browse here for too long…

Anyways, while you do not need money to purchase items, it is heavily encouraged to use the self checkouts towards the exit. Mostly for the viewers’ curiosity… and to keep track of stock demands, of course.

BB’s Bakery and Café

Once you’ve entered the Grocery Store, to the immediate left you’ll find a Hole in the Wall style Café. It’s cosy and cute and decorated like it was on a Parisian street. The smell of freshly baked bread and roasted coffee beans hits your nose the moment you step through its door. Of course, it's self-serve - but the kitchen is perfectly equipped for even the most expert of bakers, and a stunning barista station that can brew any beverage to the perfect flavour and temperature… if you know how to use it. 

There’s a handful of small tables for sipping your lattes inside, and through some patio doors, you’ll find a very small private garden. This garden will only seat a couple, with its table hosting two chairs, a forever-burning candle and a rose in the centre. How romantic!

The Deli

Located towards the back of Malwart™, the Deli can be found. The freshest cuts of meat (both real and faux!) can be found here. You can choose from a pre-cut selection done by automated machines, or try a hand at it yourself! There’s a professional meat slicer, so many knives, and even a salad bar—gotta have some greens with that meat.

Malwart ™ is not responsible for any injuries, illnesses, or death should you cut your own meat.

Warehouse

Attached to the very back of the megastore, the Warehouse is a very large and spacious place. It’s easy to get lost, as all the aisles look the same, with the occasional flickering light. You know the show can afford decent electrics, so it's assumed the flickering is done for ambience. 

Since Malwart ™ isn’t staffed with actual people, the Warehouse is eerily empty and almost non-functioning. There’s a forklift parked in the middle of one of the aisles, but the keys are nowhere to be found unless you’re forklift certified, which is probably for the best. It’s heavy machinery! Speaking of, there’s also an industrial trash compactor back here, too. 

In the hours of the early morning, there is a rare chance you may catch robots scurrying around doing their stock fulfilment duties. Just… you’re not sure where they get their goods from. Is it delivered by sea? By air? By secret tunnel? (SECRET TUNNEL!) Who’s to say…

Breakroom

Connected to a corridor from the Warehouse, you can find yourself in the Breakroom! Not like there’s any cashiers or anything to take a break, so it’s free for you to use. There’s several well-stocked vending machines for snacks and drinks, tables and chairs for sitting or whatever else you do with them, and even a pool table to smack some balls around. It looks like someone has been playing tic-tac-toe on the whiteboard mounted on the wall.

There’s an old stereo—do any of you young’n’s know how to use it? Many tapes feature Toppin’ Pop Hits from the 80s to 90s. Maybe even some early 00s. Get your boogie on… if you manage to get the stereo playing, that is.

Security

Malwart ™ takes its security very seriously, even on an island that only hosts 18 people! Well, less now but – You can find the security room just opposite of the Breakroom. It’s a very small box room, with a desk, a defunct computer and many monitors. The technology seems to be retro purely for aesthetic’s sake. 

And yes, the cameras and monitors work. You can watch the goings on of all of Malwart ™ (and only Malwart™) from these monitors, as each location has its own screen that periodically cycles through the different cameras. 

Every once in a while, you could swear you see unfamiliar figures in the footage walking down the aisles, but you know that no one else is on this island besides you… right?

Parking Lot

Following the corridor from the Warehouse, past the Breakroom and Security office, you’ll find yourself outside in an obsolete parking lot. Like, really, what was the point of building this? Who has cars on an island? It’s totally empty.

Oh well, there’s plenty of space to race around in the Malwart™ shopping carts if you so desire. Maybe set up a course with the traffic cones left around the place. It seems like a makeshift basketball hoop has been put up on one of the lamp posts. Surely you can keep yourself entertained out there if you need to.

[freckled-lili]

She must be a really good baker, because she’s got great bun- *slapped*

Poor Q-Taro.

[shewholovestoread]

Fear Street Trilogy Review

Beware, spoilers ahead.

I love horror movies but good horror movies are so hard to come by. Fear Street grabbed my attention as soon as they released the first trailer, it looked like a call-back to the slasher films of old, back when they were still good. And the best part was the apparent presence of lesbians, count me in!

Fear Street is based on the books by the same name by R. L. Stine, a lot of us remember Stine for another horror classic, Goosebumps. The Fear Street novels were aimed at older audiences and were way more bloody than Goosebumps- lots of teenagers dying. The films don’t adapt any particular book but rather the tone and rough setting and I think that works to its advantage.

The Setting:

Fear Street is based on the fictional town of Shadyside, the poorer and more unfortunate twin of its sister-town Sunnyside. Sunnyside is sunny, wealthy and where nothing bad ever happens. Shadyside in contrast is poorer, the homes more run-down and where, every few years, some resident snaps and goes on a murderous rampage, killing their own friends, family or whoever they can get their hands on. There are those who believe that Shadyside is cursed by Sarah Fier, a witch who was hanged in the 1600s when she cut off her hand and used it to curse the town.

Fear Street Part 1:

1994 functions like the introduction and set-up for the trilogy. It introduces us to the characters, Deena (Kiana Madeira), Sam (Olivia Scott Welch), Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.), Kate (Julia Rehwald) and Simon (Fred Hechinger). They unwittingly trigger the curse when they stumble across the bones of Sarah Fiers, soon killers are chasing them, killing-machines powered by the curse and who can’t be killed. Deena, Sam, Josh, Kate and Simon have to put aside their differences and work together to survive the night.

Fear Street Part 2: 1978

1978 opens with the survivors of 1994 going to C. Berman (Gillian Jacobs), the lone survivor of the Camp Nightwing massacre. It provides insight into the massacre that saw dozens of Shadyside kids being killed. 1978 takes us back to the day leading up to the bloody night. We meet the Berman sisters, Ziggy and Cindy (Sadie Sink and Emily Rudd respectively), Alice (Ryan Simpkins) and Tommy (McCabe Syle) When an axe-wielding murderer starts butchering the camp residents, Cindy and Alice, while trying to escape, stumble into the cave system that runs under the camp and discover Sarah’s hand and that the only way to break the curse is to reunite the hand with her body. However, they are unable to break the curse when they realise that the body is not buried where they thought it would be. Alice, Cindy and Ziggy are killed by the cursed murderers with only Ziggy being revived thus being labeled the lone survivor. In the present day, Deena and Josh dig out the hand from where Ziggy and Cindy left it, when Deena reunites the hand with the body, she sees visions of Sarah Fiers, leading us into the third and final film.

Fear Street Part 3: 1666

1666, the year it all started. We see the events play out leading up to the hanging. Deena is inside Sarah’s body, seeing and experiencing her life as if it were own. We learn that it was never Sarah’s curse, but in fact it was the Goodes who had made a deal with the devil, securing power for themselves (their descendants are the mayor and sheriff in 1994) Sarah Fiers was just the scapegoat. Every time someone saw a vision of Sarah, she was trying to show them the truth and un-dead killers hunted them to keep them from exposing it.

The films work individually but their impact really hits home once you’ve watched all 3. Leigh Janiak crafts such an intricate story and links 3 time periods, weaving them through each other seamlessly. With 3 films, she also has the time to invest in these different time periods and the characters that inhabit them.

The story, both in terms of individual films as well as the trilogy as a whole, is engaging and engrossing. It keeps the audience on their toes and the edge of their seats, waiting and dreading as the bodies pile up. Janiak also grounds the story so that it feels real even as the characters are fighting off un-dead killers, adding to the nail-biting tension.

There’s plenty to admire for a horror film buff, from the Scream reference in 1994, to Friday the 13th in 1978 and The Witch (or VVitch) in 1666. There’s also a good amount of gore to be found along with some really inventive ways of killing, who knew bread cutters/slicers could be so menacing.

There’s so much attention to detail in terms of costume and production design that you really feel like you’re in 1994, 1978 or even 1666. All of these work to draw you in as the viewer, adding to the authenticity on screen. The clothes and places feel lived-in. The song choices are amazing with popular hits from 1994 and 1978, the soundtrack definitely elevates the visuals. The original score in 1666 was absolutely gorgeous, especially Deena and Sam’s theme.

The sequence of the films with 1994 being the first, followed by 1978 and finally 1666 was a great choice with each film revealing a little more of the puzzle till all the pieces are revealed in 1666. It keeps the tension alive and keeps the characters and the audience constantly guessing. It also allows Janiak to sprinkle just enough subtle clues that become apparent when rewatching the films.

The characters are one of the best things in the trilogy, they are so well written, and I mean that for almost all of the main cast which is rare. One of the best things that Janiak does is repeat actors, especially the principle cast. For instance, a lot of actors we see in 1994 and 1978 appear in 1666 playing different roles but with a similar dynamic. It helps tell the story without worrying about too many new faces and worrying about whether or not the audience will be able to keep track of them. The return of old faces also ensures that the audience is already a little invested in them and their well-being.

Small side-note: I really appreciated that there was no sexual violence. It always worries me when I start a horror show/film and it was such a relief that they did not go that route. There is a lot of violence and a lot of people and kids die but it’s always just slightly campy enough that keeps it from being genuinely disturbing.

One of the things that always irk me with slasher films (especially the old ones) are how white they were, no characters of colour and if there were any, they always died. There were also no queer characters. Fear Street undoes that beautifully, all of our main characters are outsiders, they are people of colour, they are queer. In another film, they would have been nameless characters, among the first to die. Here they are the heroes. I loved all of them and I hated that Alice, Kate and Simon died, to be honest, I expected the core group to survive, Kate especially.

Fear Street is also unapologetically feminist and Janiak does this without it being too obvious. The central conflicts in the story are between women (sister/ friends/ ex-girlfriends) but they also band together and fight for each other. It’s worth noting that most of the core relationships are between women (Deena-Sam, Ziggy-Cindy-Alice, Sarah-Hannah) and those are not coincidences.

I loved how gay this trilogy was, Deena and Sam’s love for each other was the driving force and was at the heart of the story. Even in 1666, Sarah’s crime was not so much witchcraft as it was daring to love someone you’re not supposed to and fighting back against the proprietary nature of the men who sought to control them. Sarah and Hannah loved each other fiercely and we see that same love reflected hundreds of years later in Deena and Sam who fight for each other relentlessly. I also appreciated that Deena and Sam were exes instead of a new relationship. It meant that they already had history, they shared a familiarity and comfort with each other that a new relationship would have had to build onscreen.

The Fear Street Trilogy is one of the best horror trilogies I’ve seen in a while, each film is consistently great and delivers gore and violence coupled with immense heart. It has one of the best queer relationships I’ve seen on screen and spoiler alert, they get a happy ending. I’m sick and tired of lesbian women dying or separating because of realism. Damn realism, give me happy women loving women and who live through their traumatic ordeal. Watch Fear Street for them if for nothing else. Now excuse me as I prepare to rewatch the trilogy.

[delishellie]

5 advantages of a food and meat slicer

If it is not yet clear to you that a food slicer can make a difference in your life, here are some of the main benefits that we have regularly seen in customer reviews from those who have already invested. Without spending a fortune, it is easy to get a professional or semi-professional ham slicer with a reasonable budget.

1. Efficiency: Slicers are powerful and much faster than hand slices. If you are tired of spending time every day or week cutting breads, meats, and cheeses for your family's sandwiches, you can dramatically reduce the time investment by turning to the slicer to help. .

2. Consistency: If you're having trouble getting all of these cheese slices at the right thickness level, a food slicer will help you make sure each slice is the right thickness for your taste.

3. Ease of Use: This point pretty much speaks for itself. It is simply easier to automate a process like cutting food with a machine than trying to do everything by hand.

4. Thinner Slices Possible: While the most obvious uses for a food slicer are meats and cheeses, many people like their slicers to help them cut foods they like especially thin, like onions, potato chips. and cabbage for the sauerkraut.

5. Save Money: Buying pre-cut foods at the grocery store will always cost you more than slicing them yourself. If you currently find yourself filling your basket with meats, cheeses and sliced ​​bread, you can quickly pay off your investment in a slicer.

Type of ham slicers

There are two main types of food slicers, but one of them is truly dominant in the market.

Electric slicer

Electric ham slicers, also called automatic slicers, are going to be almost all of the slicers you are looking for. Generally inexpensive, they are easy to use and are by far the most popular alternative.

As the name suggests, automatic slicers allow you to do a lot of the work with electricity. We include an electric motor that pushes the cart for you, so you just need to place and turn on the item you want to slice on the device. Also, most electric slicers can be converted to manual mode if you wish to slice certain foods this way to get more power occasionally.

Manual food slicer

Manual slicers allow a person to push or hold food to complete slicing manually. They therefore require much more effort and are more difficult to use than the automatic versions. They would not be very realistic for someone who could use their slicer for a large food volume. They were once the standard for slicing meat, but have been much less common since automatic slicers became available.

Still, some people prefer the extra control they offer and think that the meat slices come out with better texture and flavor than the automatic versions when using manual versions. Manual slicers can be a bit more difficult to find than electric slicers, but you can undoubtedly find one available for sale if you want to go the traditional way.

[lotusboi-blog]

What Every Bread Baker Needs to Know

Bread baking is a fun hobby. It has a lot of practical purposes in addition to the enjoyment it brings. You also don't need to be a master chef to get started. Even a novice baker can lean bread making quickly. There are many types of bread you can make ranging from exotic and complex to exceedingly simple. You can start with the simple and work your way to the more artisan types of bread.

That being said, there are still some things that a bread baker of any level, even a novice; should know before they start.

First, an amateur bread baker should learn all the health and safety standards. This is true for any job or hobby that involves food preparation.

The simplest examples you likely already know just through common sense, even if you have never prepared food before. Always wash your hands before handling tools and ingredients, keep your food preparation area clean and well organized, always wash your tools and preparation space after every use, and so on.

Little mistakes can cause big problems. Leaving knives lying around unorganized on the counter can result in bad cuts, or forgetting to turn off an oven can start a fire.

Most people are already well aware of basic kitchen safety and sanitation, but it's still a very important thing to keep in mind. Especially if you have small children in the house.

Once you start baking bread for the first time, look for recipes that are very detailed. It can be tempting to jump right into your favorite types of breads. But these are most likely fancy and complex. Recipes intended for seasoned bread bakers may leave out small details, since these may be steps that you are simply expected to know already.

If you're still new to all this, then choose for the bread recipes that cover everything in detail.

Always remember that there are some pretty big differences between the bread you buy from the store and the bread you will be making at home. The biggest difference to keep in mind is the expiration date.

Store bought bread is pumped full of preservatives to make it last longer. Your homemade bread will be much healthier for you. But the lack of preservatives do result in a shorter shelf life. This is rarely a problem, though, because freshly baked bread will usually be devoured by your family very quickly. Before you start making your bread, consider every thing you will need and have it ready. There are some things that might slip your mind entirely. For instance, you will need a place to put the bread once it is made. It won't come out of your oven in one of those plastic bags like the ones you buy at the grocery store. Have a way to store it safely that will maintain its freshness as long as possible.

You'll also need to decide if you're going to make bread completely from scratch and bake it in the oven; or if you're going to use a bread making machine. You might want to try baking a few loaves without a machine and then decide whether you want to make the purchase.

The tools and supplies most likely to slip your minds are those related to the conveniences you've gotten used to from store bought bread. For instance, store bought bread is already sliced, your homemade bread will not be. You will want to get some good serrated knives and a bread best safe mandoline slicer for nice even cuts.

Baking bread is in not only a fun hobby; but a delicious one, as well.

[bowling84stentoft-blog]

Best Fillet Knife Purchaser's Overview (Updated For 2018).

Picking the best cooking area blade collection relies on a number of variables, including your spending plan, exactly how you cook, as well as the quantity of space in your cooking area. In the collection is a carving slicer (9"), bread blade (9"), Kiritsuke chef blade (8.5"), chef knife (8"), santoku knife (7"), Nakiri Blade (7"), boning knife (6"), energy knife (6.5"), serrated energy blade (6"), straight-edge steak blades 6 (5"), paring knife (3.5"), beak paring knife (2.75"), honing steel (10"), and a walnut block made from wood. Measuring in between 8 and 15 inches long, the carving blade looks like a thinner, stretched-out cook's knife. A sharp knife will certainly make slicing points much easier, and a comfy feeling in the hand will make food prep more pleasurable and also effective for you. Readily available with a 6-inch, 8-inch, or 10-inch blade, the Shun Classic Cook's knife is best for those people who like a broad curve to their chef's knife's blade. The edge of the blade is also hand-sharpened at 18 levels on each side, offering the knife perfect equilibrium, sharpness, and resilience. Though there are some distinctions relying on the handle product, stainless steel cooking area blades are usually very simple to tidy. We at Kitchen area Kapers definitely like utilizing high quality carbon steel blades- the efficiency is amazing. The blades are instead short, yet they do not take much toll on the efficiency of the knife. In best kitchen knife set , we tried comparably-priced MAC blades ($ 93 ), Tojiro's Great Style Award-winning knife ($ 68) and a few various other extra premium choices, however none stabilized the functions of a typical Japanese knife with lower maintenance, sensible costs, side retention as well as clever style fairly like Global's G-2. I began researching knives when I decided to acquire my initial quality knife block set I mosted likely to the shop thinking I would certainly just buy a pre-packaged collection of blades with a block which would be excellent. This fillet knife has a somewhat curved blade. Shun's DM0706 Classic is a good and also handsome blade with a really sharp blade, however we had difficulty adapting to its heavy manage. Other Uses: A paring blade can additionally be utilized for various other tiny food preparation work, like trimming as well as getting rid of meat or fish from the bone. With an ergonomic take care of with santoprene, this fillet blade supplies excellent comfort to the customers. Specialists in the field suggest purchasing Kevlar handwear covers to make it simple to grip the fish, stay clear of spiny risks and safeguard yourself from the knife edge. The collection has a cook knife (8"), slicing blade (8"), bread blade (8"), santoku blade (7"), utility knife (5"), and also a paring knife (3"). Clean your knife by hand - Your dishwashing machine might be useful, yet there is a high opportunity that the blade might get dented. Hold the blade's edge at an angle of about twenty levels and also "cut" away from your body along the whetstone, making certain the entire length of the blade passes against the stone's surface. The fillet blade is constructed from superior drive components that give the device as much as four times longer lifetime contrasted to various other electric filleting knives. Because of its solid motor, it would certainly need less power and also effort from the trainer of the knife. The orange knife includes blades that are 2 3/4- inches long and also a total length of 7 1/4 inches when opened. Compare one of the most helpful consumer evaluations of the best rated products in our Boning & Fillet Knives store. Don't let the foolish name fool you: this is a legally excellent filleting knife. It's still a great knife for the cost, however its side can not take on a lot of the various other blades in the team. The serrated blade is the best knife for cutting vegetables. You can use this blade to separate meat, fish without any annoyance. This blade had a soft, extremely comfy" take care of, despite an absence of strengthen to nuzzle up versus. Comfort and also User-Friendliness: Your fillet blade sharpening device should likewise be hassle-free and also fast, since occasionally filleting the fish bones takes place as soon as the fish is caught.

[throwbigstone]

Once you start using these tools, you'll never want to go back. When it comes to these instruments, there is no substitute for actually using them. With all of the time and effort they save you in the kitchen, you'd be lost without them. When it comes to the kitchen, there is a variety of things you may employ to make the process more enjoyable. One for the kitchen is a no-brainer for anybody who enjoys cooking.

Kitchen tool & gadget

I'm always amazed by how many kitchen gadgets and cooking tools there are. Each & every type of fruit and vegetable has a slicer, dicer, peeler, and chopper that can help you make it into something tasty. A lot of different tools are used for cooking different things. And you can even buy machines that only make small waffles, like this one.

They may look like a lot of fun, but some of these little gadgets and tools can be really smart. We use a cheap avocado slicer several times a week to cut up our favorite avocados, and we wouldn't even think about cooking fish without our $6 spatula.

In fact, we've come to use those novelty kitchen tools more often than we'd like.

Griddle cooking tools

Griddles are a hot and new thing to do when you're cooking outside. Griddles are different from grills because they have a flat cooking surface instead of a ridged or grate surface. When you don't have to worry about food falling through the grill grates, you can cook more things. Once you have the best griddle, it's time to look for the best griddle accessories to go with it. These are some of our favorite things.

Chopper kitchen tool

People use utensils to hold food while a spring-loaded mechanism with knives chops the food below. They are usually round and have a handle that acts as the plunger. It connects to a set of evenly spaced metal chopping blades on the end of the blades, which chop food. In this way: The food is put in a holding area under a blade. When the handle is moved up or down, the blades chop and mince food into small pieces quickly and easily. You can quickly cut soft foods like nuts and fruit slices into small pieces with this kitchen tool. You can also cut herbs, vegetables, herbs, and other hard foods into small pieces.

Grater Kitchen toll

In the kitchen, graters can do all kinds of great things. They're not just for cheese. It is essential for every home cook to have different types of kitchen graters.

Grate cheese is the most popular use for this. However, there are several additional applications for it. Cauliflower rice may be made using a knife or a kitchen grater (and then turn that cauliflower rice into cauliflower pizza crust). As an alternative to zesters, you may mince the peels of citrus fruits in your food processor or blender.

To make a carrot cake or salad, you can grate the carrots with a grater or a mandoline. You can also use it to make carrot chips. For salads, you can also grate other foods. You can also slice zucchini when you make this healthy zucchini bread or these spiced zucchini cake recipes.

Grate potatoes to make hash browns. In the case that you're not in the mood to chop, grate onions, garlic, and ginger. If you like to buy the whole nutmeg, grating fresh nutmeg is another way to use it. Some people also grate butter when they're making something. Grater types can help you with many different kitchen tasks.

[geegeefoods]

Importance Of Investing In High-Quality Bakery Equipment

Opening a successful bakery business requires making an investment in advanced bakery equipment that will help you in food preparation, faster production, and serving tasks. Whether you are selling beautifully decorated cakes, bread, buns, or tasty pastries, investing your money in high quality bakery equipment is always a wise decision for the future growth of your business.

In fact, investing in high-quality equipment from the very beginning can save you money in the long term. Not only this, with the automation in the food industry over the years and with businesses adapting machinery in place of manual workers, it only reduces the number of working staff that needs to be paid. This also helps in ensuring the consistency and efficiency of product output. 

Thus, when making a decision on a purchase of bakery equipment it is essential that you choose the best bakery machine manufacturers. Consider the products that you need to produce and also the quantity of them. The best bakery manufacturers in India understand finding the right mix of bakery equipment to suit your bakery needs.

 Let us now go into details and look into 5 good reasons for investing in bakery equipment. 

1. Save your precious time

In the world of business, saving time is of utmost priority. From mixers to bread slicers, investing wisely in the essential bakery equipment will make you save ample time. Not only this, these essential machines will keep your production line running smoothly. 

2. Get products exactly as you want

Slicing bread perfectly to crispy baked bread to perfection can tempt customers to come back to your business. The most important bakery equipment of the kitchen such as bakery ovens with top notch performances can help you get exactly what you wish for. 

3. Keep your cool with water meter

Designed to mix the precise qualities and temperature of hot and cold water, water coolers are essential for the dough-making process. As you know, the right amounts are critical to the baking process, with the help of the right equipment you can handle bulk orders that you may receive. 

4.  Be more productive

To make sure your production line works with the maximum capacity, it is recommended that you invest in high quality bakery equipment. For instance, an efficient and reliable mixer can handle a heavy amount of orders, pastry sheeter can work on all types of dough, bread slicer can slice bread to accuracy and so on.

5. Reduce waste products

Investing in bakery equipment and ensuring proper use of it is a great waste reduction method. In the food business, waste of products can eat away your profit. However, using the right bakery equipment can avoid wastage to a great extent. 

Always remember, the more efficient you are, the more time you will be able to devote to baking, decorating and in general improving your product.

Choose advanced bakery equipment by Gee Gee Foods and Packaging Co. Pvt. Ltd. 

The bakery industry offers huge scope for innovation and growth. It is one of the largest segments in the food processing sector. With the robust growth in the confectionery industry, the requirement for bakery equipment is only going to rise. Bakery equipment includes all those tools that are required for baking products like Cake Mixers, Dough Kneader Machine, Bread Slicers, Sugar Grinder, Domestic Oven, Deck Oven, Trays etc. 

There is a wide range of tools available for bakers in the market, however, if you are looking for the best bakery machine manufacturers look no further than Gee Gee Foods. Since 1984, Gee Gee Foods have established itself as a leading manufacturer of food and bakery equipment in India. They are dedicated to providing the best quality equipment with top-notch design to the clients that are built to last. Not only this, but Gee Gee Foods also give expert advice and opinions in regard to what will be the smartest investment for your bakery business. Over the years, they have designed and developed different types of machinery with a range of features that includes slicing, molding, folding, and decoration to give bakers the much-needed flexibility.

Call them today for all your bakery equipment needs. 

[dsmbiscuitline]

Top Baking Equipment To Make Baking Impressing

Summary: The following article brief about the different bakery equipment which help to bake in better way. In case you are in business bakery, it is important with the intention to have understanding of bakery-equipment. Those are exceptional then equipment used in domestic kitchens. Business bakery system are specially layout to address large volume of cloth to prepare dinner rapid.

Currently there are numerous kitchen equipment are available in marketplace from many brands. But it's miles important to recognise all the Gas Baking Oven and their well-known manufacturers earlier than you circulate to buy any bakery system.

Here are pinnacle most five useful bakery equipment which are mainly used in business bakery: (1) Rotary cutter/Rotary moulder: Rotary cutter/Rotary moulder is one of the most critical unit for business bakery use as it decides the shape and dimension of the biscuits. It also effects the weight and output of the product. Most of the biscuits products can be formed by either one of these two machines. They can also be configured in the same line for diversifying the product categories.

(2) Automatic Depositors: computerized depositor is designed to operate on a workbench and could healthy a extensive range of merchandise from liquid consistencies through to heavy paste type merchandise.

(3)Tunnel Oven: Tunnel oven is specifically used for industrial baking products. It is composed of a number of baking chambers in order to bake a large amount of products in a constant baking temperature and air flow. 

(4) Dough Sheeters: Dough Sheeter out portions of dough to a preferred thickness. It is broadly speaking used whilst to address large amount of dough for biscuits, crackers, pizza crusts, pie crusts, pastry dough and flatbreads.

(5) Mixer: For large capacity of the bakery products, it requires industrial mixer for at least 2 meter tall. It’s main structure is built with stainless steel and it has solid foundation to avoid the vibration during the mixing of dough mass. You may discover many different models and styles available for every sort of catering equipment mentioned above. For instance in case you need to buy Bread Slicers, you may get all unique fashions with one-of-a-kind capabilities like their hourly ability, length and many others. So pick out the version and emblem in step with your favoured functions and price range.

Searching for a Bakery Equipment Suppliers that can provide you quality bakery equipment is the first step in certifying that you get your business on-going on the right path. The only issues with that is the fact that there are hundreds of would be providers and it is a pain to choose from all of them.

When selecting a Biscuit Cutter Machine, one of the most essential factors an businessperson need to considers is the cash he or she is about to spend. Though purchasing cheap is not recommended, it is also vital not to overspend. If you are looking to purch asebakery equipment for business, it would not make much logic if it will eat away all of your profits.

The supplier is able to offer you with easy payment plans that would even be additional plus because it have enough money the business owner with the give in his or her cash flow. It also aids protect his capital so that he or she can twitch the business a lot flatter.

Read it more:

Buy High-end Baking Equipment fromDingson Food Machinery Dingson Food Machinery Offer Excellent Range Of Baking Equipment

[elizabeth5436tay]

Meat Slicer

We've all observed meat slicers in real life when we request new cuts of turkey or meal hamburger at the nearby shop. Proficient quality meat slicers are not only for business use any longer as home cooks see their incentive in todays kitchens. A meat slicer is an adaptable kitchen machine and the models accessible today are a lot simpler to clean and work than even a couple of years prior. Many can cut meats, cheeses, vegetables, breads, organic products, and different nourishments effortlessly. 

The most excellent home meat slicers permit you to cut meats in an exact and even way like you find in stores. Meat slicers come in both manual and programmed models, in spite of the fact that why anybody would purchase a manual rendition is past us. 

The programmed meat slicers move the carriage utilizing an electric engine which truly spares you time and vitality. Programmed slicers for the most part have only 1 speed to do the cutting, however that is adequate. When looking for a meat slicer, you will discover they are grouped by their cutting sharp edge size. Sharp edges run from 9-14 inches - 9" cutting edges are extraordinary for light use while the 12" and 14" edges are more normal and amazing for heavier use.

The carriage size will decide how huge a bit of meat will fit. Most of meat slicers can deal with items 7 1/2 creeps to 12 crawls in width, so please check with the salesman to ensure the slicer you request can deal with bigger items if that is the thing that you plan on cutting. A few slicers have completely retractable food carriages that grant you to cut additional huge hams, broils, and so forth. You need a meat slicer with a more extreme carriage point so it's simpler to take care of the meat through the slicer cutting edge.

 Meat slicer engines go in size from 1/4 to 1/2 HP and the higher the strength the quicker you can cut meats. The substantial models accessible for customers come outfitted with completely solidified treated steel edges and offer exactness cut control. Since the cutting edges on any meat slicer are sharp, security ought to be a worry as you initially figure out how to work the food slicer.

 Peruse the manual from front to back before working the machine. The top brand names for meat slicers are Chef's Choice, Waring, Hobart, Rival, and Berkel. Berkel and Hobart make business grade meat slicers that cost $1000 or more and are likely implied for cooking organizations or grocery store shops.

 Gourmet expert's Choice got incredible audits from buyers while one of our preferred brands, Waring, didn't charge so well in this kitchen machine classification. We read surveys, Epinions, and in gourmet magazines to see just which meat slicers are viewed as the best and generally famous. See the outcomes underneath. You can see the rundown of top of the line meat slicers here.

In the event that you maintain a cooking business or toss bigger gatherings where you do the food arrangement, at that point possessing a business meat slicer could spare you heaps of time and cash. Making party platters, hors d'oeuvers, or starters for home culinary specialists who engage has never been simpler than with an item like Chef's Choice Meat Slicer - Professional Model 667 ($470). The Chef's Choice 

Meat slicer gets high recognition from home cooks and novice food providers the same for its business quality 10 inch edge. The hardened steel, fine edge works easily to cut and slice through cheeses, meats, vegetables, natural products, and breads. The bite the dust cast metal development of this unit give it an expert look and the accuracy thickness control permits you to cut from shop meager to 1/2" thick cuts of meat.

 The inclined plan lets you proficiently cut a wide range of nourishments. The additional huge limit food carriage moves easily on mechanical ballbearings and the elastic feet guarantee a steady slicer. At top execution, the motor conveys more than 1/4 HP for quick and uniform cuts.

 The Chef's Choice meat slicer accompanies a cutting edge sharpener and food plate. Proprietors state the activity of the apparatus is smooth and the engine is tranquil, however a few clients state the cleaning of the machine could be easier as juices from leafy foods are difficult to clean when they get into certain jointed regions of the slicer. The Chef's Choice 668 Professional Electric Food Slicer for $700 is more tough and ground-breaking. They additionally make models that cost as meager as $100 (seeinterface above).

In the event that we needed to pick between Berkel meat slicers and Hobart meat slicers, we would go with Hobart. Hobart conveys light-obligation, medium-obligation, and substantial meat slicers that are ideal for every one of your needs. The light-obligation meat slicers are extraordinary for low volume meat cutting and function admirably on food prep work for organic products/vegetables.

 The Hobart 610 Slicer includes a 2-stone sharpener, anodized aluminum base with adjusted surfaces and a 1/5 HP blade drive engine for smooth cutting. Numerous free merchants use Hobart meat slicers and we would just suggest Hobart for those of you working in the providing food business as most home culinary experts or gourmet cooks needn't bother with this expert of a meat slicer in their homes.

 Hope to spend in any event $1000-$1500 on a very good quality meat slicer from a respectable organization like Hobart. You can see the whole Hobart assortment of meat slicers and different items online at Hobartcorp.com.

We wandered out to Target to discover a financial plan valued meat slicer and found that the Chef's Choice Premium Electronic Food Slicer ($99) gets some not too bad audits thinking of it as sells for under $100. Cook's Choice came in above with the best in general meat slicer thus it was nothing unexpected to us to see a similar brand name show up even in the less expensive meat slicer classes.

 The Premium Electronic slicer has a persistent or discontinuous force switch for cutting pace control, highlights treated steel and aluminum parts, a multipurpose sharp edge, a food carriage, food diverter, and a thickness direct plate so your meat cuts come out immaculate every single time. Proprietors state that at the cost, you can't turn out badly.

 The main downside on all these meat slicers (not simply this one) is that they are an issue to clean if juices spill into their crevaces. Numerous proprietors state they wish the meat slicers would separate and be dishwasher protected, in any case audits were positive for this present Chef's Choice meat slicer.

[grovethorpe1]

Meat Slicer

We've all observed meat slicers in real life when we request new cuts of turkey or dish hamburger at the neighborhood store. Proficient quality meat slicers are not only for business use any longer as home culinary experts see their incentive in todays kitchens. A meat slicer is a flexible kitchen machine and the models accessible today are a lot simpler to clean and work than even a couple of years prior. Many can cut meats, cheeses, vegetables, breads, natural products, and different nourishments effortlessly.

 The greatest home meat slicers permit you to cut meats in a precise and even way like you find in stores. Meat slicers come in both manual and programmed models, in spite of the fact that why anybody would purchase a manual form is past us. The programmed meat slicers move the carriage utilizing an electric engine which truly spares you time and vitality. Programmed slicers as a rule have only 1 speed to do the cutting, yet that is adequate. When looking for a meat slicer, you will discover they are ordered by their cutting sharp edge size. Edges run from 9-14 inches - 9" cutting sharp edges are incredible for light use while the 12" and 14" edges are more normal and amazing for heavier use.

meat slicerBuying Guide - The carriage size will decide how large a bit of meat will fit. Most of meat slicers can deal with items 7 1/2 creeps to 12 crawls in width, so please check with the salesman to ensure the slicer you request can deal with bigger items if that is the thing that you plan on cutting. A few slicers have completely retractable food carriages that grant you to cut additional enormous hams, broils, and so forth. You need a meat slicer with a more extreme carriage point so it's simpler to take care of the meat through the slicer cutting edge. Meat slicer engines extend in size from 1/4 to 1/2 HP and the higher the strength the quicker you can cut meats. The substantial models accessible for customers come furnished with completely solidified hardened steel edges and offer accuracy cut control. 

Since the cutting edges on any meat slicer are sharp, wellbeing ought to be a worry as you initially figure out how to work the food slicer. Peruse the manual from front to back before working the apparatus. The top brand names for meat slicers are Chef's Choice, Waring, Hobart, Rival, and Berkel. Berkel and Hobart make business grade meat slicers that cost $1000 or more and are presumably implied for cooking organizations or market shops. Gourmet expert's Choice got fantastic surveys from customers while one of our preferred brands, Waring, didn't passage so well in this kitchen machine classification. We read surveys , Epinions, and in gourmet magazines to see just which meat slicers are viewed as the best and generally mainstream. 

See the outcomes beneath. In the event that you maintain a cooking business or toss bigger gatherings where you do the food arrangement, at that point possessing a business meat slicer could spare you loads of time and cash. Making party platters, hors d'oeuvers, or canapés for home gourmet specialists who engage has never been simpler than with an item like Chef's Choice Meat Slicer - Professional Model 667 ($470). The Chef's Choice Meat slicer gets high recognition from home culinary specialists and novice food providers the same for its business quality 10 inch sharp edge. The hardened steel, fine edge works easily to cut and slice through cheeses, meats, vegetables, organic products, and breads. The pass on cast metal development of this unit give it an expert look and the accuracy thickness control permits you to cut from store slim to 1/2" thick cuts of meat.

The inclined plan lets you proficiently cut a wide range of nourishments. The additional huge limit food carriage moves easily on mechanical ballbearings and the elastic feet guarantee a steady slicer. At top execution, the motor conveys more than 1/4 HP for quick and uniform cuts. The Chef's Choice meat slicer accompanies a cutting edge sharpener and food plate. Proprietors state the activity of the apparatus is smooth and the engine is tranquil, yet a few clients state the cleaning of the machine could be less difficult as juices from leafy foods are difficult to clean when they get into certain jointed regions of the slicer. The Chef's Choice 668 Professional Electric Food Slicer for $700 is more rough and incredible. They additionally make models that cost as meager as $100 (see the  connect above).

On the off chance that we needed to pick between Berkel meat slicers and Hobart meat slicers, we would go with Hobart. Hobart conveys light-obligation, medium-obligation, and uncompromising meat slicers that are ideal for every one of your needs. The light-obligation meat slicers are incredible for low volume meat cutting and function admirably on food prep work for organic products/vegetables. The Hobart 610 Slicer includes a 2-stone sharpener, anodized aluminum base with adjusted surfaces and a 1/5 HP blade drive engine for smooth cutting. Numerous free food merchants use Hobart meat slicers and we would just suggest Hobart for those of you working in the catering industry as most home culinary experts or gourmet cooks needn't bother with this expert of a meat slicer in their homes. Hope to spend at any rate $1000-$1500 on a very good quality meat slicer from a respectable organization like Hobart. 

You can see the whole Hobart assortment of meat slicers and different items online at Hobartcorp.We wandered out to Target to discover a spending plan valued meat slicer and found that the Chef's Choice Premium Electronic Food Slicer ($99) gets some tolerable surveys thinking of it as sells for under $100. Culinary specialist's Choice came in above with the best generally speaking meat slicer thus it was nothing unexpected to us to see a similar brand name show up even in the less expensive meat slicer classes.

 The Premium Electronic slicer has a ceaseless or irregular force switch for cutting velocity control, highlights hardened steel and aluminum segments, a multipurpose edge, a food carriage, food redirector, and a thickness manage plate so your meat cuts come out impeccable every single time. Proprietors state that at the cost, you can't turn out badly. The main downside on all these meat slicers (not simply this one) is that they are a problem to clean if juices spill into their crevaces. Numerous proprietors state they wish the meat slicers would separate and be dishwasher sheltered, in any case audits were positive for this current Chef's Choice meat slicer.