As a Personal Chef, I know I’m supposed to be eating most of my meals at home, but when my daughter had a hankering for matzo ball soup, I thought it would be a good time to start exploring the local deli’s. First on our list was Original Bagel and Bialy in Buffalo Grove.  A quick drive from our home in Long Grove, if the soup passed muster, we’d have an ideal spot to get our deli fix.

When we walked in, the first thing I noticed was how clean and bright it was. The deli’s in Atlanta, our last hometown, were dingy and drab, so it was a welcoming experience from the start. The menu was extensive with traditional deli fare including, since we’re focused on soup for now, Mish Mosh – chicken soup with matzo balls, kreplach, rice and noodles. A carb overload for sure, but worth it always!

The verdict on the matza ball soup was two thumbs up! The broth was rich and flavorful without being too salty and had just enough chicken fat glazing the top to make me thing it was actually homemade. The matzo balls neither sank nor floated and were large enough to make for a decent lunch. Add in the challah knot that came along with the soup and the Fresca in the pop machine, and we’ve found our go to deli!

Still need to try the corned beef of course, but things are looking positive. I’ve also heard that Murray’s in Chicago is worth a try, so I’ll be hitting that up shortly. If you’ve got any other deli recommendations send them my way! I can’t assume the Original Bagel and Bialy is the best until I’ve tried them all!