This spring I shot a movie called Five Year Engagement that Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller (@nicholasstoller) wrote, and Nick directed. I shot all my scenes in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which I had never been to but had heard was a gorgeous and fun college town. I also got a feel for it when I watched a documentary on the Fab Five, a highly interesting college basketball phenomenon from the 90′s.
The movie– which I think Nick is editing now– is really funny. I’m scared of getting in trouble by giving anything away, but I have most of my scenes with Jason, Emily Blunt, Kevin Hart, Rhys Ifans and Randall Park, and it’s like a United Nations of fun and talented comedy actors. You guys are going to love this movie.
Because of filming, I did not have a lot of time to shop in Michigan. What I did get to do is eat my weight in delicious Jewish deli food at Zingerman’s Deli, a super famous deli in Ann Arbor that, like Oprah talks about sometimes. Their reubens are so good, I became that tedious person talking to my family about them in detail on the phone. But then I found I could actually share the Zingerman’s reuben experience by sending care packages of their food from their very fun and easy-to-use website. That’s where I stumbled upon their Reuben Sandwich Kit, which they can send to anywhere in the country.
Good for: If you are doing long distance with someone who misses having meals with you, and eats meat, I think you could not do better than to send this to them at work. You become the coolest girlfriend or boyfriend ever, and delicious regional sandwiches get to be enjoyed nationwide.
Photo Credit: Hohyung Lee
Hi Mindy
I’ve just read through all of your TIBTIL posts (like that acronym? what can I say, I’m a copywriter. It’s just what I dooo.) and I feel it’s my duty to share an awesome thing with you since you’ve laced us with so much awesomeness. Haul Videos on YouTube. You’re probably already in the know about these gems in the internet mist but if you’re not, get into them. Like Show & Tell for grownups (well, more like tweens but whatever). Be warned though, “cute” is used a lot. Like, brain-rottingly a lot but I swear you’ll get hooked on these puppies.
xo
Lisa
Lisa | October 5, 2011 |
randall’s my buddy! i just saw him yesterday. i’ve had zingerman’s bread delivered before – it’s amazing. but in LA if you want a good vegetarian reuben try locali! they have a vegan version too.
lynn @ the actor's diet | October 5, 2011 |
Thank you Jesus (shit not Jesus cause it’s Jew deli… Uhhh god.. Moses) and mindy for this. I’m ordering this with my first unemployment check.
Tiffany tedesco | October 5, 2011 |
Mindy-licious! Your blog is almost at pretty as your face… ALMOST! Listen, I think you would love my turbands (turban headbands). Won’t you check them out? http://www.goldsaturn.com
Thanks! xo
david | October 5, 2011 |
Love it! Great post and you are such a great writer! Do you have any posts on dating and relationships?
stephanie G | October 5, 2011 |
Hey Mindy, actually just yesterday I went to this restaurant near my house and ordered the side salad and soup combo. It sounded nice. My writing partner ordered the Reuben. And worse, she gave me a bite. Now the only reason I ordered the wimpy soupsalad combo was that I had recently aqcuired E. Col from that same restaurant. (Why did I go back, you ask? Because its’ two blocks from my house and it’s charming.) Anyway, all remembrances of E.Coli melted away in that one bite. Make your own reuben kits that fly around the country are the number three reason I pray for a disposable income of my own, one day…
xo
Melina
Melina | October 5, 2011 |
Living in SE Michigan, I’ve been to AA many times. Zingerman’s is THE best! Years ago, I was working for a non-profit and we got a flyer in the mail from them. I looked them up and told my mom and dad about them as they were going Christmas shopping in AA. She brought back half of her Reuben and told me to try it. I wasn’t crazy about Reuben’s and hesitantly ate it. Wow! I thought about that sandwich for days afterwards! All their sandwiches are fantastic. They make a ham sandwich with cheese melted on TOP of the bread!!!! And their pecan raisin bread is insane! You might think, “raisin bread?” But trust me, they have a way of making ordinary things out of this world!
Dori | October 5, 2011 |
Glad you liked Ann Arbor! Zingerman’s is awesome. I am a UM ’09 alum but I still go back there every so often for their sandwiches
.
Liz | October 5, 2011 |
I have been semi-considering ordering this kit for 2 years every since I started getting Zingermann’s catalogs in the mail. Even their illustrations make it look good. Also as a side note, I ordered my brother a mix of meats and cheese from here one year for his bday and he loved it. Excellent brother gift for guys that are hard to shop for.
Jane-Marie | October 6, 2011 |
Hey! I’m one of those illustrators in the catalog … Glad you guys like our food and food catalogs! Come back soon, Mindy!
Ryan Stiner | October 6, 2011 |
I live here. Grew up in Zingerman’s. Reuben is unsurpassed, but if you ever come back, try a nice little BLT on pumpernickel with Gouda cheese and a new dill on the side. It is to *die* for.
netmeg | October 6, 2011 |
So my mom’s been a huge lover of the reuben since forever. I’ve never tried one though. I’ve felt a little unsure of the reuben because, well, it’s called a reuben. But I think after reading this I may be adventurous and order the kit!
My mom will be so happy.
Love your blog btw!!
Lauri | October 6, 2011 |
No. Freakin’. Way.
That’s my deli!
And by “mine,” I mean that I’ve loved it since I was ten years old and visiting my older siblings at U of M. And that I worked there for one summer and promptly gained the freshman 15 that I had been managing to keep off. And that they did the cake for my wedding, and delivered it to my hometown, which is two hours from Ann Arbor.
The Reuben is good, sure. But I’m waiting for the day they can ship a #28 Randy’s Routine kit directly to me here in Thai Town Los Angeles. But then, if I lived in Ann Arbor, I’d need somebody in Thai Town ship me some jackfruit.
Happy to know that a thing that you bought that you love is also a thing that I bought that I love.
Heidi @ Finishing the Hat | October 6, 2011 |
yes — zingerman’s is the BEST!
liz | October 6, 2011 |
the new york times had the same thought today: http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/travel/36-hours-in-ann-arbor-mich.html
liz | October 6, 2011 |
i can’t wait for the movie to come out!!
Whitney Soup | October 7, 2011 |
Man. I had no idea you were in Ann Arbor. (I think I was too distracted by the fake snow all up and down Main Street? And maybe the squealing of teen girls all over SE Michigan about John Krasinski?). But man, do I ever love Zingerman’s. One of their vegetarian sandwiches is off the HOOK: delicious bread, asparagus, mustard, THE BEST CHEDDAR CHEESE EVER.
I think that’s it. But really, isn’t that enough?
Amy | October 11, 2011 |