381011 Wed Mar 14 12:32:01 -0700 2007 4 11 South 0 2385348 As a NJ transplant living in NC, I have noticed a distinct lack of kosher delis, and particularly, a profound absensce of good, homeade chicken soup w/ matzoh balls. The places in the South that I have found (and tried) include: Gleiberman's Deli, Charlotte, NC http://www.gleibermans.com/ - very greasy, not great. Deli Den, Hollywood, FL - best in the South-I had 2 bowls! Boca Diner, Boca Raton, FL- Very good, a close second to Deli Den Gruby's NY Deli- HHI, SC http://grubysnydelionline.com/GrubysDeliHome04.htm not the greatest, consomme was a little "too yellow" Most of these places are not kosher, and the only good ones are in S. Florida (technically not even the South) I want to know the best places (kosher or not) in the "real" South for good matzoh ball soup! Wed Mar 14 12:32:01 -0700 2007 66642 silvercat 1 2385653 There's a lack of kosher in the south because Jews were so few in number here that they assimilated rather than clustered. Still, everyone loves a deli, and even Nashville (Jewish population:about 5000) has three kosher-style delis. Goldie's and Noshville are kosher-style, with maybe Goldie's being the more kosher of the two, and both have good matzoh ball soup. I eat at Noshville often. Big matzoh ball, very fluffy. Satisfies the carb-lover like no noodle can. We also had a proper kosher place here, Grins (pronounced "greens"), on the campus of Vanderbilt University, but they started serving cheese on the sandwiches last year, so I don't know how kosher they can still be considered. Wed Mar 14 13:34:49 -0700 2007 2385348 51616 fluffernutter 1 2386372 My standard for good matzoh ball soup in a restaurant is based on the soup at the late lamented Second Avenue Deli in NYC. Maybe that's too high a standard for Nashville. I tried the matzoh ball soup at Noshville once, but never again. The broth tasted like salt and nothing else (it was yellow, but I figure that was food coloring or something, because it definitely didn't taste like chicken), the matzoh ball was large and the texture was OK, but it was tasteless. I may have had bad luck on a bad day, but it was bad enough that I'll never order it there again. I haven't tried it at Goldie's, but everything I have eaten at Goldie's is better than the equivalent at Noshville. Wed Mar 14 16:42:52 -0700 2007 2385348 26694 nm1 1 2387898 Just some general thoughts... The soup may very well have been made from chicken but frequently when you make homemade soup you need a "boost" of concentrated stock or base or other flavor enhancer to help. I've watched family members make chicken soup from scratch and it stll tasted like water. They may need a different recipe or a new cook. Some dill never hurt, either. I can also strongly recommend the book "Matzoh Ball Gumbo: Culinary Tales of the Jewish South," by Marcie Cohen Ferris (UNC Press). It is an excellent academic, yet readable exploration of Southern Jewish culinary folkways. Thu Mar 15 07:23:55 -0700 2007 2385348 25244 rockycat 1 2396567 Best place for matzoh ball soup. Ummm...does my house count :-) Seriously, I'd love some recommendations as well. I'll be moving to Raleigh in ten days (yikes) - and although I am well versed at making matzoh ball soup, there are times when I just don't have the time to do so. eileen Sun Mar 18 05:05:59 -0700 2007 2385348 35659 ejmatl