Today I'm installing a machine in New Jersey. We're close enough to New York that we get most of the TV stations from there in my hotel room. It stands to reason that we would also get New York food, as well.

There is a lovely deli here known as Harold's. I was told by my hosts that it was a place you simply had to dine at once in your life. The word delicatessen originally comes from the same latin root as the word delicacy. (delicatus - Latin for charming, delightful) The idea being that , in days gone by, New Yorkers could get food and meats from the old country that would have cost a lot of money in the old country.

I mention this because it is an apt description of Harold's. They give you a quantity of food which I can only describe as obscene. I ordered the sausage sandwich with a glass of root beer and that was everything. I include my hand in the photo as a means of comparison. This sandwich is so large that you cannot pick it up. It comes open-faced and has to be eaten with a knife and fork. I couldn't finish it. I only ate half.

Harold's also has the "world's largest pickle bar". Everyone knows that I'm not a big pickle fan, but I had to check it out. It really was a lovely bar. They had stacks upon stacks of the most beautiful rye bread I have ever seen. The pickles came in every variety. There was also a huge container of saurkrout. I chose a bread and butter pickle and actually liked it. That is a rare confession from me.

The napkins contain a concise "Deli Dictionary" which include a number of fun words in Yiddish. They are actually located inside the napkin so you have to open it to read them. The customers are enticed to do so with the words "Please do not open". (As if, we're not going to) Inside are 17 definitions, which give a good laugh even if they are circular. For example, the napkin defines a Schlemiel as a Nebbish. Don't you just love that sense of humor?

I also include a photo of the deli's dessert case so you can believe the size of the cakes. I've never seen anything like this in my life. I couldn't finish dinner so I didn't even think about dessert. Many of the other patrons would come in and split the sandwiches with another person. I understand why. I took mine home in a doggie bag for lunch tomorrow.

The reason this story matters so much is very simple. Today is the day that Chuck has decided to quit smoking. I told him that if he quit, I would start my diet the same day and we could encourage each other. I've been good all day long. I had no doughnuts at breakfast. The customer bought us White Castle for lunch and I only had two sliders. I've been denying myself all day long and my spies at the plant tell me that he was out puffing on his nicotine fix at breaktime. (And no... I won't tell you who my spies are!) Anyway, I guess that means we both start being prudent tomorrow instead of today.

After all... tomorrow is another day.
~Scarlet O'Hara