Walnut Street Market - Newton Highlands

[lipoff]

Moe at the Walnut Street Market (on Lincoln St.) in Newton Highlands imports Montreal Bagels about once a week. They are absolutely terrific and the genuine article. Good fresh or frozen.

He also plans to start importing smoked meat from Montreal in the next few weeks --- will keep you posted if this actually happens.

In addition to Persian rugs, the other special treat at this small market is the homemade Jewish deli-style whitefish salad, which my mother says is best available in the Boston area and rivals even Rein Deli's in Connecticut.

[opinionatedchef]

20 Lincoln St.
Newton, MA 02461

[phone]

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Nearest Transit:
Walnut St @ Lincoln St - Newton Highland Station (59)

Walnut St @ Lincoln St (59)

Newton Highlands Station - Outbound (Green Line)

[VivreManger]

Apparently after three years, Montreal Smoked Meat finally reached the market. This is a three-year old thread and back then every post said The Smoked Meat is Coming, but no one one said it had come. Seems like waiting for Godot.

Now where is it coming from? It would not now be Ben's which went belly-up years ago.

Over the years I have brought whole briskets from Snowdon Del and Schwartz's and I prefer the latter so I hope it is Schwartz's. BTW US Customs & Agriculture regulations are no longer a problem since Canadian beef is now freely allowed into the US.

Lipoff's post is not reassuring, if I understood right. The small cryovac packages of smoked meat are lousy. To my taste it would need more than steak seasoning to make it edible. The best way to taste smoked meat is to slice it off a whole brisket.

[retrofabulousity]

I would be curious to know about this too as well as the quality and quantity of the Persian goods there

[winedude]

The smoked meat is from Lester's. I've only bought the small cryovac sliced portions, and it's nothing like Schwartz's, as it's more of the "wet" style of smoked meat. I think they also have unsliced pieces of brisket, but they're also cryovac'ed. I think it's fine, but nothing like the real thing.

The bagels are delivered "fresh" every other Thursday--you should call and check on delivery days, if you're interested. They arrive late in the afternoon. Note that they're already 3 days old at this point, but when toasted up, they still taste great.

To answer another question above, I have ordered the bagels straight from St. Viateur, with the minimum 6 dozen, and it's just getting the same box that the Walnut St. Market gets, on the same day. They freeze well, and last for months without too much degradation. But if the market is close to you, the savings from ordering the whole box is minimal.

[opinionatedchef]

thanks much! heading over there soon. i always toast my bagels anyway.

[retrofabulousity]

If you don't mind, could you report back on what sort of Persian selection they have...

Thanks!

[Food4Thought]

Your Mom is right! That's got to be some of the best Whitefish salad I've ever had. Beats Zabar's hands down, too close to call with Barney Greengrass, but given driving to NYC vs. NH there's no contest. I went last Sat during those torrential downpours and it was worth every near collision I had (just kidding). I picked up a sleeve of the frozen sesame bagels too. There good but a very different consistency than what I'm accustomed to, but I have a whole bag to get acclimated. They are expecting the smoked meats around next Wednesday or so.

Did I mention that the Whitefish salad is fantastic? (and apparently from the Caspian).

[retrofabulousity]

Has anyone been here recently? What are the hours if so and are the bagels and smoked meats any good?

Thanks!

[lipoff]

According to their Facebook page they are open these hours:

Mon - Tue: 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Wed - Fri: 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
Sat: 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

I've had the packaged smoked meat, and they are good. Last time I was in Montreal I picked up a bottled of Schwartz's seasoning, which I find really makes smoked meat taste more like smoked meat. My favorite items at the Walnut Street Market are definitely Mo's homemade whitefish salad, the Montreal bagels that he imports, and the large flat loaves of Persian bread.

[retrofabulousity]

Thanks very much. Are the bagels a once in a while delivery? Same question on the persian bread actually (do you happen to know which it is?)

How does it compare to Super-Hero in Watertown if you happen to know?

Thanks

[poho]

I love the Walnut Market and I love Mo! He's terrific and has Persian specialties in season...goji sabz are around the corner (small bitter green plums that you dip in salt and eat...) Anyway good Persian specialties, like cookies and dried fruits, as well.

[offaly_tasty]

As a neighbor and daily visitor, I can confirm that they are St. Viateur Bagels from Montreal. In addition, they keep fresh baklava and other treats at the ready.

[bear]

Any idea what day they get delivered?

[winedude]

I'd be willing to bet it's Thursday or Friday, depending upon the weather and how long it takes to clear customs. They've told me they only ship to the states on Monday, for that reason.

[Blumie]

Three or four day old bagels don't sound all that appetizing to me. I'm sure they must use a faster service.

[winedude]

Mine just arrived this morning, and they're still pretty darned good. I looked into faster shipping, but the cost of cross-border overnight shipping is prohibitive. With "slow" shipping, it's about $1/bagel. With overnight shipping, it was about $3/ bagel, so I don't know how he could sell them at that price. The only other possiblity is if they're coming in frozen, and I don't know how he'd do that.

[lergnom]

At the market, a half dozen is like $5.89. They aren't exactly oven fresh but I'm used to eating them as they come off that long peel as it's pulled out of the oven.

[okra]

$5.75 out of the little white chest freezer in the back right corner. They confirmed that the smoked meat will begin in 2 weeks.

[gltsoi]

Smoked Meat! I'm so excited! I've been thinking I need to make another trip back to Montreal just to get some (and eat at pied au cochon again!)

[VivreManger]

Can someone find out whose smoked meat they will be importing? Will it be one of the commercial generic smoked meat providers, such as Lester's? Or will they get briskets from Schwartz's or Snowdon Del?

The last time I checked smoked meat was not allowed into the States on the pretext of the mad cow hysteria. Are they changing the regulations?

[lergnom]

I assume smoked meat is Ben's, because smoked meat is pastrami. Ben's used to "export" to this area.

[lergnom]

If they're St. Viateur bagels, I'm camping out.

[winedude]

At the risk of going off-topic, I just ordered six dozen St. Viateur bagels for delivery from Montreal. I had no idea there was a place nearby that imported anything like them. The shipping cost isn't too bad, with "slower" delivery. They were shipped Monday, and are supposed to be here tomorrow. I've got my fingers crossed!

[lergnom]

Useful info, because they were having trouble getting approval to ship them here.

[winedude]

Yes, I heard the same thing. You can't order them on the website, but ordering by phone was easy. I can report back once they're delivered.

[opinionatedchef]

how did those shipped bagels turn out? are you getting them now from this walnut st market?

[Scruffy The Cat]

It's sort of a fun, crazy little market. Candy and rugs!

Just remember CASH only. There's an ATM inside if you forget.

[sheila]

I love bagels. How is Montreal bagel different from regular one? Do you know which day I can get the freshest bagels? What is the price?

[chuck s]

It's smaller, not caky, chewy with a smokey taste.

[onefineleo]

Where on Lincoln St? Is it new?

[Blumie]

Been there forever, but Moe must be a new owner, cause when I was a kid it was a dump. It's directly across the street from Baker's Best. (On the south side of Lincoln Street, if you happen to have a compass!)

[MrsRosencranz]

Was this a convience store for a long time?

[Blumie]

Yes, at least that's the place I'm thinking of.