Friday, April 1, 2005 | 9:13 a.m.
With a little help from my friends ... recuperating at home after a back procedure was no big deal. When forced to, I can muster up the patience it takes to do nothing for a limited amount of time.
Among the books I was planning to read was a terrific insider's look at the Carnegie Deli.
I really would have rather had a pastrami sandwich and some half-done pickles, but "How to Feed Friends and Influence People: The Carnegie Deli ... A Giant Sandwich, A Little Deli, a Huge Success" (Wiley, $21.95), by owner Milton Parker and Allyn Freeman, is a tasty read.
Parker and veteran writer Freeman have captured the flavor of this legendary New York deli.
And why not? Parker is the owner. His son-in-law, Sandy Levine, runs the operation and carries on the traditions. Sandy's business cards reflect his importance. He has earned the exclusive title of MBD -- Married Boss's Daughter.
Deeply immersed in the nostalgia of this schmaltzy "literary feast," I wished I could dash over to Carnegie Deli at the Mirage for some pastrami or corned beef or one of the oversized potato knishes. I was becoming obsessed. It was too late to set aside the book. Visions of cheese blintzes floated through my mind, followed by thoughts of the yogurt and bran muffins that were to be my dinner.
What was I thinking of? Reading a book that included a cutout coupon for a free slice of the Carnegie Deli's noble cheesecake. I'll betcha if Woody Allen wanted home delivery, he could get it.
What I really wanted was a pastrami sandwich slathered with the zesty Carnegie whole grain mustard. Then I'd eat the yogurt and bran muffin. The pastrami gods must have been listening. A friend called to ask me to go to with her to Carnegie Deli.
Like some sulky teenager, my petulant response -- "can't go, I'm grounded" -- got me what I wanted. My friend volunteered to pick up the food so we could "dine" together. A friendly Mirage valet attendant shared shortcut info to the deli and an assistant manager expedited the service.
It took a while to accomplish all of this, but she was happy to do it and I was thrilled to let her.
Carnegie's sandwiches are famously piled high, so we shared one huge potato knish and polished off most of the pickles. I toasted my friend and the Carnegie Deli with swigs of Dr. Brown's diet cream soda.
My friend took home the leftovers -- one whole pastrami sandwich, a potato knish and pickles. The knish was her dinner the next night; she shared the sandwich with a friend the day after.
The bran muffin and yogurt was my breakfast the morning after our feast. I managed to finish reading "How to Feed Friends and Influence People" without needing another deli fix, and my back is on the mend.
More reasons to read "How to Feed Friends and Influence People": One of the funniest food quizzes ever and the recipe for the potato knishes.
If you can't find the Carnegie Deli book at local bookstores, it can be ordered from the publisher, Wiley books. Call (800) 225-5945. Pastrami sandwiches are not included.
Hot diggity dog, Pink's that is: For the first time, Pink's, a Los Angeles hot dog legend, has ventured outside celebrityville. The Aladdin's 24/7 Zanzibar Cafe has an expanded menu and Pink's hot dogs. What a great jump-start for the future home of Planet Hollywood.
Yes, dog lovers, leading the pack is the famous Chili Dog. The 10-inch stretch Chili Dog is the plain offering followed by the zesty Chili Cheese Dog, Bacon Chili Cheese Dog, Spicy Polish Dog, Martha Stewart Dog, the Rosie O'Donnell Long Island Dog, Harry Potter Dog, Lord of the Rings Dog and more. All dogs include Pink's fries.
More than 2,000 hot dogs a day are served at the Hollywood icon. The odds are good that the number will be challenged by Zanzibar Cafe. Pink's Chili is made from a secret recipe that has remained a secret all these years.
Also new on Zanzibar's expanded menu are signature items from Planet Hollywood restaurants. This is another first. The dishes have never been offered outside of the recipes.
Soon to be included are Chicken Crunch, Chicken Potstickers, L.A. Lasagna, Thai Shrimp Pasta, the Planet Hollywood Cheeseburger and more. Zanzibar Cafe is situated on the Aladdin's main casino floor.
The cafe also offers Asian cuisine, noodle dishes and steaks, prime rib, fresh seafood, burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads. For more information call 785-5555.
Attention all Scottish burger lovers: If your name is Angus, the Hard Rock Cafe is gifting you with one of their new Legendary Burgers. You'll have no beef with these burgers. On Sunday and Monday anyone with the name Angus -- first, middle or last -- is invited to enjoy (free) the Legendary Burger, a 10-ounce Angus burger topped with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato and a crispy homemade onion ring served on a one-of-a-kind roll made with real Guinness, one of the most popular imported beers in America.
Guinness teamed with Hard Rock to develop the yeasty bun. The Legendary Burger is served fresh, made to order and sided with french fries. The Legendary Burger is available at any continental United States Hard Rock Cafe.
A Legendary Burger with certified Angus Beef. Sounds good to me. All those dubbed Angus must present a valid government photo ID that states the name Angus. Only one complimentary burger per lassie or laddie. The 10-ounce Legendary Burger is the biggest burger ever offered by Hard Rock Cafe.
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