"Greenblatt 's Is SO my Regal Beagle.. A week and a half ago the love of my life, my 3 legged (as if that 's not enough Chihuahua underwent spinal surgery that has rendered him virtually immobile for the next three weeks while he recovers. <br/ <br/ Well, as you may imagine, this has also left me virtually immobile. I put him in his crate while I shower or find it absolutely necessary to run an errand, but he screams **** murder in there. I 'm not so sure that the stress and screaming is all that great for the recovery process or my neighbors ' neighborliness, so he pretty much sits right next to me on the couch or in the bed. <br/ <br/ This makes him happy. This makes me unable to shop for groceries or prepare food, and most certainly inhibits dining out. This means delivery. This means Greenblatt 's.<br/ <br/ As I was complaining about this whole delivery thing making me feel like a stereotypical bachelor dude type and also lamenting the lack of recipes or restaurants to write about, my friend suggested I write about Greenblatt 's.<br/ <br/ Why in God 's teeth I have never discussed Greenblatt 's on here is beyond me. It is pretty much my favorite place. If I moved anywhere else in LA I would continue to patronize Greenblatt 's, and I have honestly thought that if I ever moved away from LA that it would be a damned shame to no longer have Greenblatt 's in my life (this being almost a driving force to remain, mind you . I 'm only sad that it took me a few years of living here to discover the place. What did I do BEFORE? Okay, enough.<br/ <br/ Established in 1926 (which might as well pre date the Byzantine Empire by LA standards Greenblatt 's is a New York style, kosher deli and fine wine shop that happens to be (too? close to my house. They are open 365 days a year, from 9am until 2am. They offer dine in, take out and delivery. I 've spent a Christmas night there in my pine cone jammies, drinking champagne. They are my friends.<br/ <br/ From mile high Ruebens, a bagel and lox platter that rivals Canter 's, their cure all matzoball soup, an awe inspiring clam chowder, a Cobb salad you could do laps in, to full chicken, turkey, rib and meatloaf dinners with any number of sides (stuffing, potatoes, green beans or broccoli, to name a few , they 've got it covered.<br/ <br/ <br/ The wine shop (which also sells liquor is really and truly something special. It is vast, the prices are a solid couple of bucks cheaper than ANYWHERE else, I 've found. And the staff knows what they 're talking about. In fact, most are certifiable oenophiles and a few are even studying to be sommeliers.<br/ <br/ It doesn 't hurt that as a result of the frequency of my visits (and my undeniable charm? , I am on a first name basis with the entire staff and they are very familiar with my likes and dislikes. Or it could be that last Summer I bought them out of Lillet. Hell, my friends stop in to buy wine on their way to my house and ask the staff what I would like. And they KNOW. I do love me a Regal Beagle.<br/ <br/ So during my dog 's and my own house arrest, the good people of Greenblatt 's may not be seeing my face, but they hear my voice and I their 's (they are in my speed dial . 'Ralph, ' I say, 'It 's hot. I can 't imagine drinking any reds. Would you mind selecting me a few sauvignon blancs and rosés? I also need a bottle of Lillet, a Cobb salad, and the maple mustard chicken dinner with stuffing and broccoli. That should last me a few days… '. 30 minutes later my bounty arrives and, of course, Ralph 's selections are spot on. <br/ <br/ Now Beso and I can relax and watch the entirety of Season 1 of True Blood on the couch together. It may even get us into Season 2 of Gossip Girl. Hey, a girl can dream…<br/ <br/ Greenblatt 's also has an impressive cheese and charcuterie selection AND a magical lemon cake that I could write a whole other blog about"
