55 replies to this topic

[SarahD]

Lo those many years ago, when I was growing up on the Upper West Side, my favorite 1/2-day-of-school go-hang-in-mom's-office lunch was chopped liver on a Kaiser roll. Recently having a yen for the same I was STYMIED. All the sandwich counters near my home or office don't carry chopped liver. I'm shocked, I tell you. Yeah, yeah ... it's a heart attack on a roll, but I like it.

SO, E-gullions, where are your favorite places to get chopped liver? Am I the only person who craves this on occasion? Am I weird? (Oh wait, don't answer that).

[slkinsey]

Welcome to eGullet, Sarah.

Um... I got nothing. Hopefully the others can provide some info.



Actually.... isn't Barney Greengrass supposed to have really good chopped liver?

[bloviatrix]

Your best bet for a sandwich is probably a kosher deli. I know for a fact that Mr Broadway (B'way and 37th) has chopped liver sandwiches. But I've never tried them. Personally, my favorite chopped liver comes from Super Sol (Amsterdam & 85th). It's basically liver, onion, and ground pepper. Schmear it on a challah roll, and I'm in heaven.

(All the kosher butchers/take-out places will carry chopped liver.)

And no, you're not weird. Blovie and I eat chopped liver more frequently than we publicly admit to. It's actually rare that we don't have in the house.

Edited by bloviatrix, 30 December 2003 - 02:34 PM.

[Pan]

Sarah, I'd like to join Sam in welcoming you to eGullet.

I sure don't know the answer to what you're looking for, but I do want a report on the results of your quest.

[slkinsey]

Personally, my favorite chopped liver comes from Super Sol (Amsterdam & 85th). It's basically liver, onion, and ground pepper. Schmear it on a challah roll, and I'm in heaven.

Yum. I hope they're open on January 1.

[LJC]

1st prize goes to my mom. Unfortunately she only makes it two or three times a year.
2nd prize goes to Sammy's Romanian - Chunky, Shmaltzy with plenty of carmelized onions
3rd prize goes to Barney Greengrass - Great flavor but too creamy (IMO)

Second Ave. Deli makes a pretty good one too but I have only eaten it in a combination Sandwich.

[wesza]

Lo those many years ago, when I was growing up on the Upper West Side, my favorite 1/2-day-of-school go-hang-in-mom's-office lunch was chopped liver on a Kaiser roll. Recently having a yen for the same I was STYMIED. All the sandwich counters near my home or office don't carry chopped liver. I'm shocked, I tell you. Yeah, yeah ... it's a heart attack on a roll, but I like it.

SO, E-gullions, where are your favorite places to get chopped liver? Am I the only person who craves this on occasion? Am I weird? (Oh wait, don't answer that).

Sarah: Even though i'm from Seattle my care packages from Zabars, 2nd Ave Deli always include Chopped Liver.

Remember it good for you ! Gramma was always right. Enjoy it's naturally full of love, it's high protien and I hope made with Schmaltz.

Living in NYC your at Chopped Liver Heaven, it shoud be available at any Jewish Style place.

Don't forget that the majority of Dairy Restaurants offer a actually real good for you "Chopped Liver" [sort off] that tastes pretty good.

Eat in Good Health [enjoy] a treat since it's always a special occasion.

Irwin

[bloviatrix]

Personally, my favorite chopped liver comes from Super Sol (Amsterdam & 85th).  It's basically liver, onion, and ground pepper.  Schmear it on a challah roll, and I'm in heaven.

Yum. I hope they're open on January 1.

They should be. Thursday is a big food shopping day in the Orthodox Jewish community.

[Suzanne F]

Get a copy of the January 5, 2004 issue of The New Yorker and turn to page 34.

(I'd post a link to the Cartoon Bank but it's not up yet.)

[alacarte]

Another vote for 2nd Ave Deli's chopped liver. Straight up out of the container...mmmmmm......

[ludja]

Haven't compared it to a bunch of other NY delis, but I just had a great chopped liver sandwich at Carnegie Deli (7th b/t 54th and 55th) on Sunday. Yummmm! Split a sanwich w/my Mom; then shared an order of blintzes w/sour cream...

I need to start a thread on where to find chopped liver in the SF bay area; now that's a challenge.

[LESider]

I like Russ and Daughter's and Katz's. I think R&D might be a bit sweeter that Katz's

[Mulcahy]

This is my first post, so please excuse any mistakes on my part.

I love Murray's Sturgeon Shop on Broadway between 89th and 90th for chopped liver. They won't put it on a roll because they don't carry rolls but will put it on a very excellent bagel. They also have vegetable chopped liver, an oddity (and some would say blasphemy) which I have not seen elsewhere. I have no idea what's in it (except it's meat free) but it does taste surprisingly like the real thing.

[Pan]

Expressing your opinion on a matter of taste is never a mistake, and welcome to eGullet, Mulcahy.

[Rachel Perlow]

So, Sarah, have you tried any of the places suggested to you? How did you like their chopped liver?

[mkultra]

I like Russ and Daughter's and Katz's. I think R&D might be a bit sweeter that Katz's

Here, here. Russ & Daughters has excellent chopped liver.

[Jason Perlow]

I love Murray's Sturgeon Shop on Broadway between 89th and 90th for chopped liver. They won't put it on a roll because they don't carry rolls but will put it on a very excellent bagel. They also have vegetable chopped liver, an oddity (and some would say blasphemy) which I have not seen elsewhere. I have no idea what's in it (except it's meat free) but it does taste surprisingly like the real thing.

Somebody asked me for a recipe for this today. Anyone got a good one? I assume this is heavily mushroom-based, like a duxelles.

[SuzySushi]

Somebody asked me for a recipe for this today. Anyone got a good one? I assume this is heavily mushroom-based, like a duxelles.

I don't have a recipe for this, but I'd love to find the recipe I lost for vegetarian chopped "liver" that was made of lentils and eggs. The woman who gave it to me is long gone.

And while we're discussing chopped liver... what's the preference here? Chopped beef/calves' liver or chopped chicken livers? Mine is definitely for the latter.

[jackal10]

chicken; fried onions; hard boiled eggs; schmalz; salt and plenty pepper; hand chopped

Edited by jackal10, 25 March 2005 - 02:47 PM.

[emmapeel]

This is my first post, so please excuse any mistakes on my part.

I love Murray's Sturgeon Shop on Broadway between 89th and 90th for chopped liver.  They won't put it on a roll because they don't carry rolls but will put it on a very excellent bagel.  They also have vegetable chopped liver, an oddity (and some would say blasphemy) which I have not seen elsewhere.  I have no idea what's in it (except it's meat free) but it does taste surprisingly like the real thing.

Thanks for the info Mulcahy, Murray's is one of my favorites too, and I have not had their chopped liver. Their tuna is also really good, as if I made it myself.

[Todd36]

Vegetarian Chopped Liver is usually made with string beans, walnuts and eggs. It's a traditional Jewish dish, its parve so it could be served with a dairy meal.

[MHesse]

Fairway sells a decent veggie chopped liver. The ingredients are on the label.

I miss Bagel Nosh (there was one around the corner from me). They had good (if it was fresh) C L which was great on a salt bagel.

[bloviatrix]

I've never made veggie chopped liver, but I have a couple of recipes for it if anyone is interested. One of my friends makes an excellent one - and she kindly makes it for me when we join them for meals.

[SuzySushi]

I've never made veggie chopped liver, but I have a couple of recipes for it if anyone is interested.  One of my friends makes an excellent one - and she kindly makes it for me when we join them for meals.

If you have one that uses lentils, I'd be much obliged. I remember my friend's recipe as using lentils, sauteed onions, chopped egg... and I don't remember what else! It didn't have any nuts.

[bloviatrix]

I've never made veggie chopped liver, but I have a couple of recipes for it if anyone is interested.  One of my friends makes an excellent one - and she kindly makes it for me when we join them for meals.

If you have one that uses lentils, I'd be much obliged. I remember my friend's recipe as using lentils, sauteed onions, chopped egg... and I don't remember what else! It didn't have any nuts.

You asked for it, you got it.......(mind you, I've never made this. I have no idea how it will taste)

Hearty Vegetarian Chopped Liver adapted from Spice and Spirit

1 pound lentils
4 cups chopped onion
6 tablespoons oil
12-16 hardboiled eggs
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
2 teaspons salt

Cook lentils until soft and drain. Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of oil in large skillet and saute onions until well-caramelized. Combine lentils and eggs and chop to fine consistency. Add the lentil-egg mixture and remaining 3 tablespoons of oil to the onions. Add peanut butter, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

Edited by bloviatrix, 27 March 2005 - 11:43 AM.

[Miami Danny]

Vegetarian Chopped Liver is usually made with string beans, walnuts and eggs.  It's a traditional Jewish dish, its parve so it could be served with a dairy meal.

My neighbor, Mildred Ashkenazy, used to make this and it was called (in Yiddish), a 'maichel'- which means 'treat'. It's very simple to make with well-sauteed (in pareve margarine, of course) string beans and onions, hard boiled eggs, and hand chopped walnuts. If you have a hand cranked meat grinder, that will give you the best consistency-otherwise mash it with a fork(include the margarine!). Chopped liver is quite easy to make, containing nothing more than sauteed liver and onions,(in chicken fat-a must!), and hard-boiled eggs. Perfect with 'gribines'-that is, chicken cracklings, and more melted chicken fat served on top. Chicken livers will yield a silkier chopped liver, but beef's gamier flavor and texture are also interesting.

[SuzySushi]

I've never made veggie chopped liver, but I have a couple of recipes for it if anyone is interested.  One of my friends makes an excellent one - and she kindly makes it for me when we join them for meals.

If you have one that uses lentils, I'd be much obliged. I remember my friend's recipe as using lentils, sauteed onions, chopped egg... and I don't remember what else! It didn't have any nuts.

You asked for it, you got it.......(mind you, I've never made this. I have no idea how it will taste)

Hearty Vegetarian Chopped Liver adapted from Spice and Spirit

1 pound lentils
4 cups chopped onion
6 tablespoons oil
12-16 hardboiled eggs
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
2 teaspons salt

Cook lentils until soft and drain. Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of oil in large skillet and saute onions until well-caramelized. Combine lentils and eggs and chop to fine consistency. Add the lentil-egg mixture and remaining 3 tablespoons of oil to the onions. Add peanut butter, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

Thanks! I'll give it a try (in a smaller quantity... it sounds like this makes an enormous amount!). My stepson is a vegetarian.

[terri]

It was this thread that made me want to join eg....so I could share favorite source for chopped liver - Sables 2nd Ave & 77th St. Maybe I like it because it's just like 'grandma-made' -- not too sweet, moist but not wet. In fact all the (smoked fish and salads) appetizers are worth the trek.

[Bux]

chicken; fried onions; hard boiled eggs; schmalz; salt and plenty pepper; hand chopped

At one time I though this was a recipe that one must be able to improve or make "finer." In truth it can only be adulterated and debased even by adding such swell ingredients as cognac. I prefer finely minced raw onions to cooked onions, but it has to be made fresh. If you're going to keep it a day, don't put raw onions in it. I also find the hard boiled eggs essential. The yolks contribute to the silkiness and the whites contribute a texture although I also like them finely minced, all by hand. Grinding and the food processor both offer an acceptable product, but not the best, IMHO. I rarely have chicken fat on hand to give it the right flavor and texture. I like it with calves liver as well, if not better.

[phaelon56]

So what am I, chopped liver?

Lots of great discussion but isn't the traditional answer to the original question something along the lines of...

You should be so lucky!

I actually had some email correspondence recently with someone who was puzzled when I mentioned chopped liver in self deprecating humorous context. It's still not entirely clear to me how the phrase came to have its non-food related meaning although I'm well familiar with the phrase.