jacksalt

There is such a thing as a perfect deli sandwich.
Some people think it exists in New York. I've had New York deli sandwichs. If it's the water, then they need to switch to bottled. Two slabs o dry bread loaded with 15 lbs of the dryest turkey on the planet- with no condiments or veggies- does not a quality sandwich make.
Sorry Manhattan.
No, the perfect deli sandwich exists at a little place called McKinley's, in Shelbyville Kentucky. It's run by Mrs. McKinley. Mr. McKinley bakes all the bread. And fritters. And cookies. and cream horns. Etc etc, blah blah blah.
They have a cute little train that circles the restaurant walls.
Sweet tea is self serve from a stoneware crock.

You get the idea.

They have a variety of signature sandwiches, as well as reglar deli stuff like egg salad, tuna, etc. They make their own soups....and they are GOOD...and have a couple of salads as well.
Bottom line folks, everything is FRESH, made that day, BY THEM, not emptied from a can. God, what a concept.

So usually I get their eponymous McKinley sandwich on rye- turkey, granny smith apple slices, celery, walnuts, provolone, and mayo (YUMMM!!)- but yesterday I went with the "615". Don't ask me why it's called that.
So,

What: "615" sandwich, cup of chili, chips

Where: McKinley's Eating Establishment

The place is really quaint and cute, right on historic Main Street, with hard wood floors and a bell on the door.
But let's talk food!
The 615 is ham, salami, and turkey with provolone, chipotle mayo, black olives, and banana peppers all on fresh baked italian bread.

OMFG.

Spicy, savory, firm not unctuous, slightly sweet, all delicious. Just get it.
The chili- homemade, what I call Kentucky style- mild heat, beef beans and tomato. Just thick rich and hearty. With a little shredded cojack cheese, fresh diced onion, and crackers. Damn. Good for what ails ya! And seriously, the best since that chili your mother was known for in the chili cookoff circuit.
Chips- yeah, ok, they're chips.

And a pickle spear.

Individually wrapped in parchment. By them. Every time.
Soups are double bagged in paper sandwich bags. Sandwichs are bagged in white paper sandwich bags. NO POSSIBILITY of soup or pickle juice on your sandwich.
Hey, these things are important people!
Not the most environmentally friendly perhaps, but hey, those bags can be reused a LOT. Or recycled.

Bottom line, guys, is this place is the shit. Real food, fast, fresh, and deli near perfection.
I think 10 of 10.

I stayed home today. Sweetheart- here she is with the cat on her back

-had an early day, and I'm not feeling especially well.

Which means lunch at home!
With an empty cupboard!

Well, not entirely empty. I found this:



And yes, it DOES look like dogfood.

So,

What: Homel Corned Beef Hash with leftover Basmati rice.

Where: home

Oddly, this hash stuff is not full of garbage. Well, artificiality. It probably IS garbage, just of the natural kind. Ingredients:
Beef
Cooked Corned Beef
Rehydrated potatoes
Water
Salt
sugar
Flavoring
Spice
Sodium Nitrite

Aside from the unknowable "flavouring" and "spice", the only real objectionable thing (aside from "beef"...I know what the USDA classifies as "beef"...not going there though) is the nitrites. REALLY hard to get away from these days, and better than Polysorbates, Propylene Glycol, and MSG.
So it came out of the can in a glop, which I cut up and fried on the cast iron griddle a little while.
The rice was from dinner a couple of nights ago (Indian...yummy), and with a little sprinkle of water and some time in the nuker, it was actually as good as when I made it. A little butter and seasoned salt didn't hurt. But typically nutty.
The goop actually browned up, and I put it all on a plate like so:


You know, it was pretty good. Not overly salty. Not overly ANYTHING really, and with the rice it was good. And it was hot. Very important on a cold not feeling well kinda day.
Gourmet? No. But given the context, I'd say 6 of 10, and I'd do it again.

Doesn't mean the dogs aren't getting the leftovers.