I'd like to know if there's anywhere
to get good matzo ball soup in SB
or Goleta area.
COMMENT 130783
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2010-12-27 06:20 AM |
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Bitterman's Deli downtown
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COMMENT 130791
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2010-12-27 06:44 AM |
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My wife makes a great one
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COMMENT 130796
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2010-12-27 06:57 AM |
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12 years ago I would have said Bitterman's downtown, but for years now they've been under different management or owners who have really made the place and food much less enjoyable. Used to be one of my favorite places for lunch. I won't go in anymore.
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COMMENT 130800
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2010-12-27 07:09 AM |
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I had some at Lucky's in Montecito that was pretty good. But I don't want to pay $10 for a bowl of soup. I've been thinking to request it at Gelson's
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COMMENT 130804
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2010-12-27 07:16 AM |
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130796 - I agree with you. I used to eat at Bitterman's weekly & now won't step foot in there.
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EDHAT ONLINE
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2010-12-27 07:18 AM |
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In 2004, Lunch with Louie said that the matzo balls at Bitterman's were like bocce balls.
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COMMENT 130807
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2010-12-27 07:25 AM |
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I have been looking for a good one too... I tried Lazy Acres & the Matzo balls tasted like dusty cardboard with a hard, rubbery texture. Guess I will just have to make a batch myself!
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COMMENT 130809
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2010-12-27 07:28 AM |
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Louie was right. And, the place is not the same. You need to go to Brent's Deli in Westlake.
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COMMENT 130835
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2010-12-27 08:16 AM |
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Nowhere here in Santa Barbara. The stuff they call Matzo ball soup here is good for gluing paper to the walls. It's been years since we had an authentic Jewish deli in here in taco town. One would have to go down to Westlake or Thousand Oaks. Great Kosher delis in both towns.
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EZ2
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2010-12-27 08:16 AM |
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Gelson's
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COMMENT 130849
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2010-12-27 08:31 AM |
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Make it yourself....It is easy and tastes great. Plus you know its kosher. You can purchase the "kit" at any grocery store, and then have as much as you want in less than 30 minutes. If you must go out, I had some terrific matzo ball soup at cottage hospital. They make amazing soups!
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COMMENT 130866P
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2010-12-27 09:09 AM |
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Is there such a thing as gluten-free Matzo Ball Soup?
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COMMENT 130874
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2010-12-27 09:16 AM |
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Norton's had it when Harry was still running it but they haven't had it in a long time. Best Matzo ball soup is at New York Bagel in Camarillo right at the bottom of the grade. It's the real deal. Bitterman's Deli is run by Korean's now and is no longer authentic. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
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COMMENT 130877
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2010-12-27 09:19 AM |
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TRACY314: The SBCH cafeteria is amazing and cheap. Used to love going there.
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HATTIE
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2010-12-27 10:37 AM |
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i grew up with manischewitz matzo balls (ours was not much of a cooking household) & i still think they taste better than 95% of the homemade matzo balls i've had at people's homes & delis/restaurants over the years. i'm sure there will be some outraged comments about this idea but don't be a matzo ball snob--try manischewitz & decide for yourself. :-)
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EDHATBARBARA
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2010-12-27 10:39 AM |
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Making your own isn't that hard. To do from scratch, you start with fresh, cold water in a large pot and add cleaned chicken parts or a whole chicken if you'd prefer. Also, cut one or two onions into quarters, three or four celery stalks into quarter length pieces, three or four carrots into bite sized chunks and add coarse salt (kosher is good, but any coarse salt will do) -- I measure by pouring it into my cupped hand -- and I use a very large pot. I add ground pepper and sprinkle in a little garlic powder too. Boil the chicken and vegetables, then lower the temperature and let the soup cook for about two hours. Matzoh meal is available at most grocery stores. Mix a cup with one egg and a tablespoon of vegetable oil, using a fork. Put the mixture in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes to set. Then make small balls from it -- if too sticky, just add more matzoh meal. The trick to fluffy matzoh balls is not to roll them for too long. Drop the balls into the soup and let it cook for 20 minutes. They puff right up. Remove the chicken and cut up -- you can put some back into the soup (after removing any skin) and the rest will make great chicken salad. Voila! Matzoh ball soup. I like to add some thin egg noodles at the same time that I add the matzoh balls -- it's delish! There are lots of mixes available at the markets now too, so you don't have to boil the chicken for hours first. If you use them, you can add pre-cooked chicken and vegetables, to make it more home-style.
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COMMENT 130909
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2010-12-27 10:42 AM |
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Lucky's Matzo Ball soup is pretty good, but yes, it's expensive.
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COMMENT 130912
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2010-12-27 10:57 AM |
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Gelson's
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COMMENT 130914
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2010-12-27 10:58 AM |
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@130866P Not per se, considering matzo flour is wheat based. There's a recipe at Elana's Pantry (link) for ones made with almond flour, but it's not one my GF sister has tried out yet so I can't judge it. There's also some matter of preference in the matzo ball consistency. I know a lot of folks like them fluffy; I prefer hockey pucks. What my family's always done is just to reference the recipe on the matzo meal box; it works out well enough, IMO.
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COMMENT 130918
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2010-12-27 11:13 AM |
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EDHATBARBARA you forgot the schmaltz!
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EDHATBARBARA
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2010-12-27 11:15 AM |
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Yeah, I use vegetable oil instead of schmaltz. Healthier.
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EDHATBARBARA
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2010-12-27 11:16 AM |
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Still tastes really good, though.
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COMMENT 130930P
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2010-12-27 11:38 AM |
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There is only one place I would ever get Matzo Ball soup. That would be Nate n' Al's in Beverly Hills.
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COMMENT 130936
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2010-12-27 12:06 PM |
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Hate to break it you but veggie oil isn't any healthier than schmaltz.
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COMMENT 131067
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2010-12-27 07:46 PM |
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My house if you like the soup with yalla-penyo peppers added.
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PROGRESS
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2010-12-27 11:08 PM |
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Jerry's Deli in North Hollywood has the absolute BEST matzo ball soup. Add some shaved onions on the side. Yum!
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COMMENT 131096
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2010-12-28 07:29 AM |
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I have successfully made the Manischewitz canned matzo balll soup...it's easy....just remember to add water....
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COMMENT 131113
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2010-12-28 07:58 AM |
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130791, thank you! Where can I find her?!
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COMMENT 131118
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2010-12-28 08:08 AM |
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When I lived in LA a long time ago I used to go to the Fairfax area for Jewish food. I think a real Jewish deli would do well in SB.
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FROGGY3
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2010-12-28 01:36 PM |
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Whole Foods when they prepare it is quite tasty in the food island where they have 3 soups daily.
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LINNYG
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2010-12-28 06:09 PM |
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Roxie's, Thousand Oaks or Bret's in Westlake are the closest I've tried and liked. Otherwise, Mort's in Reseda or Cantor's in L. A. Each time a truly good Jewish Deli comes in, the initial rush for the goodies wan and the business goes under, e.g. Einstein's.
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COMMENT 131392P
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2010-12-28 06:42 PM |
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I vote for Brent's deli in Westlake.
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