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The Mystery of the Missing Cel-Ray The vegetable soda is a cult favorite at Jewish delis. But in late 2021, it was suddenly impossible to find.
food52 ^

Posted on 01/22/2022 9:40:19 AM PST by mylife

In October 2021, Edith’s, a Brooklyn eatery specializing in foods of the Jewish diaspora, announced on Instagram that they were planning to hand out cans of Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray—the chartreuse celery-flavored soda that’s a staple in Jewish delis—to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Elyssa Heller, founder and CEO of the restaurant, explained that she wanted to introduce more folks in the neighborhood to the drink. But there was a problem: As they prepared to place a large order of the soda from their distributor, Heller’s team discovered there was no Cel-Ray to be found.

Missing celery soda might not seem like a big problem in the midst of a pandemic; if you didn’t grow up frequenting such delis, especially those in the Northeast, you may have never seen Cel-Ray at all. Or perhaps you’ve reached for Dr. Brown’s black cherry or cream sodas instead, because, well, a vegetable-flavored beverage might not necessarily be anyone’s first pick. But I can say with certainty that no Jewish deli experience is complete without a can of Cel-Ray. Cloying and vegetal all at once, it cuts through bites of fatty pastrami and corned beef with every sip. When it comes to Cel-Ray, if you know, you know.

(Excerpt) Read more at food52.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Food; Miscellaneous; Weird Stuff
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To: mylife

Very true! :-)


61 posted on 01/22/2022 9:47:59 PM PST by nopardons
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To: mylife

When I was a child, I used to eat a hot dog sandwich, on rye bread in a deli and ALWAYS had a Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray tonic to drink with it; fond memories.


62 posted on 01/22/2022 9:49:34 PM PST by nopardons
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

Itbelongs to Pepsi now. Amazon has it, $24.99 a six pack. Buy it at Wal Mart, $5.88

Amazon

Wal Mart

63 posted on 01/25/2022 6:35:39 AM PST by SJackson (I just think COVID is God's gift to the left, Jane Fonda)
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To: SJackson

Why the price differential? If Amazon had cornered the market, they might charge that much. But it looks like they goofed. Wal-Mart sucks. They are vicious to their small suppliers and when China says ‘jump’ all they ask is ‘how high?’ But at least you can get a good deal on carbonated high-fructose corn syrup water in a celery flavor, and Amazon failed to screw a few Jooos! over.

Being diabetic, I have had to sworn off all high-fructose corn syrup drinks. But I have a Soda Stream machine, and only flavor my carbonated drinks with lemon juice, coconut milk, and/or leftover Shabbos wine.


64 posted on 01/25/2022 6:59:04 AM PST by Eleutheria5 (Buck Foe Jiden!)
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To: Eleutheria5

It’s sold through not by Amazon, someone called New York Beverage through Amazon. Someone else called Libros Judios sell through Amazon, 3 six packs for $32.30. My guess you can find it other places. In restaurant quantities, might be a different story. Checked a few grocery chains and it was “unavailable”


65 posted on 01/25/2022 7:14:52 AM PST by SJackson (I just think COVID is God's gift to the left, Jane Fonda)
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To: SJackson

If WalMart carries it for a normal price, this little effort at gouging is over. Doesn’t effect me, but if you want to price gouge, do it right.


66 posted on 01/25/2022 8:50:08 AM PST by Eleutheria5 (Buck Foe Jiden!)
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To: WMarshal

The celery pickers refused the vax and walked out. The stalks grew limp in the field.


67 posted on 01/25/2022 8:51:57 AM PST by Eleutheria5 (Buck Foe Jiden!)
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To: mylife

Haman tried it. That’s how Mordechai found out. No Cel-ray! Must be Haman plotting.


68 posted on 01/25/2022 8:53:44 AM PST by Eleutheria5 (Buck Foe Jiden!)
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To: UB355

What would be the point of caffeine free cola? It’s not like it tastes good.


69 posted on 01/25/2022 8:56:32 AM PST by Eleutheria5 (Buck Foe Jiden!)
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