Antwerp, Belgium has a very thriving Orthodox Jewish community around its Diamond District. After gazing at all of the world’s gemstones, you gotta have a nosh, right? Of course right. Hoffy’s is not only popular with the Orthodox community, it’s the “in” place for younger people to go for fun, ethnic cuisine. It’s strictly Kosher. I would say dress is business casual or classic Orthodox black and whites. I was very happy to be be hosted to be able to experience it!
The blond wood appointed dining room behind the deli counter has cloth table runners, heavy silverware and paper napkins. World pop music plays softly in the background, which is unusual for a deli. Yiddish art is on the walls.
Thinly sliced bread comes with a relish tray: sour pickles, beet horseradish and spicy tomato dip. I was “in like Flynn” when I joked about my purse shaped like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I said, “My purse is Kosher now, but not last week.” (Not for Passover.) The pickles with the relish tray were full sour, but more tender than I may be used to. I apparently loved them, as I ate them all and also, the refill!
Admittedly, I had lots of matzo ball soup last week and I happen to love mine. So, I ordered theirs! Friends, matzo ball soup (“kneidelach” in Yiddish) is good all year and probably extra good if you’re on the road like I am, all jet-lagged. You know what? I like theirs, too. It has a deep chicken-sweet flavor (I’m sure due to carrots and onions), just the right amount of saltiness and since it’s not Passover, they put in a whole bunch of little thin noodles as well. Their matzo balls are of the firm, substantial variety.
The folks behind the counter — besides giving me the advice that I oughta change my name back to the way it was spelled in the Old Country, “Flejzhman” — put together a plate of things I should try of theirs.
There was a very tender, well-marbled braised lamb’s foot, which is a cut I never had before. A chicken meatball was surrounded by a well-seasoned, exotic couscous mixture. It was then that I realized some Sephardic flavors had introduced themselves — very hard to find in the US.
Roasted zucchini was served with tender little button mushrooms. A latke slice was unadorned, but its true, fried potato flavor shone. Broccoli-carrot crustless quiche was sweet and tender.
An apple bread kugel (pudding) with raisins and lots of cinnamon would go over well at any deli or even a vegetarian restaurant in the US: it had sophisticated, not bubbie-grandma seasonings. A probably very ancient dish — but luscious — was their braised chicken thighs with apricots and prunes. I’m going to try to recreate that dish at the earliest opportunity. The skin was browned until golden — so as to not be flabby — and the meat was extremely juicy. The fruits added the perfect, classic sweetness.
They have fine Kosher wines, but I asked for a sparkling water. I was thinking “seltzer water” and also, possibly they would have a beverage to beat Dr. Brown’s? Maybe I was thinking they’d have something wild, like schav-flavored seltzer — schav being my new favorite diet food.
Hoffy’s is a fun, exotic and very tasty experience.
Luxe & Down-Home Cuisine/Culture/Travel/Style 