If you live in Orange County, you’re probably no stranger to the gourmet “taco truck” phenomenon. You can get Korean barbecue, tapas, Greek food, tacos, Argentinian food, sweet baked goods and even crepes. But the most exciting part? A gourmet, Jewish deli on wheels, also known as Brooklyn Boys New York Style Deli.
Brooklyn Boys was founded by Marc Gabriel and Debbie Voltura. Debbie has been a professional jazz singer for 40 years and Marc is a friendly guy with a passion for good food and 25 years of experience in the food industry. They’re both natives of New York and they both remembered fondly and longed for the deli food they grew up with. According to Marc, “When you put us together, “Knowledge and Hutzpah” will ensue!“ Marc has owned a few food businesses in Orange County, with great success and he even smoked meat for Whole Foods Market. It’s safe to say that Marc really knows food. So they set off together on a new adventure. And all of Orange County is reaping the benefits.
Now let’s talk about the food. Oh, the food! First off, you have to start with at least a sample of their matzo ball soup. This soup is amazing. The matzo balls are light and fluffy, the chicken is tender and the broth is super flavorful. Next, the sandwiches. I tried the Pastrami the first day and Mom’s Sunday Brisket the next time. I was absolutely in love with the Pastrami. It is hands down the best Pastrami sandwich I’ve ever had in my life (for all you Hat lovers… the Hat’s Pastrami doesn’t even compare). I couldn’t imagine that anything could be better than that Pastrami. That was, until I tried Mom’s Sunday Brisket. The brisket in this sandwich melts in your mouth and the Russian dressing is perfect. And I didn’t even mention the bread yet! Brooklyn Boys buys their bread at a very special bakery. And yes, of course it’s rye bread. It’s always soft and fresh with amazing flavor. Each sandwich comes with a drink, cole slaw, potato salad and a pickle. Most sandwiches are around $10 so this is quite a deal. I’m not a big potato salad fan but it’s pretty amazing. And their cole slaw isn’t the soggy, mushy mess you’ll find most places. It’s crisp and crunchy with a sweet and tangy dressing. I didn’t get a chance to try the other sandwiches or the hot dog but I did get a look at the hot dog (and a photo, below) and it looked amazing.
Their menu can be viewed here. Their weekly schedule is posted on their website. They’re also on Twitter and Facebook, and it’s easy to follow them or become a fan, which gives you the most up-to-date information on their location. They also offer a sandwich club card (pictured below). Buy 9 sandwiches and the 10th is on them!
Please don’t take my word for it… Go find them and try it for yourself!
Photographs by Jennifer Vincent
