The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/27737
Continued from Page 12 Hocker said there are slight variations on menus of cafes operated by different Twelve Tribes communities, but cus- tomers should be able to have the same food prepared the same way at any Yellow Deli across the country. One of the most popular items is the Deli Rose sandwich _ roast beef, corned beef, provolone and hot pepper cheeses, onion, tomato, mayonnaise, mustard and “special sauce” on an onion roll. The sandwich was created in the early 1970s by the same woman who painted one of the murals at the Oneonta cafe. Although not all the ingredients in the food is organic, breads and soups are made fresh daily. “It’s just wholesome, good food,” Hocker said. Patrons are invited to spend as long as they like at the cafe, which is meant to be a gathering place, according to Hocker, who had studied philosophy and anthropology at SUNY Oneonta before dropping out of college to join the Twelve Tribes after visiting one of their cafes in Oak Hill (a community a little more than an hour from Oneonta). The cafe is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. It closes early Friday for Sabbath and so members can have “a festive evening,” complete with a group meal, circle dancing and music playing at the group’s home, according to Hocker. The cafe has recently started having live music the first Thursday of each month, with Twelve Tribe members play- ing Irish, Appalachian and Israeli folk music. Yellow Deli is a welcoming place, and cafe workers will answer any questions customers have about their way of life. They may even invite you to circle dance on a Friday evening. They will also let you be if you’re only interested in enjoying a slice of homemade artisan bread with the cafe’s award-winning chili. _ Story and photos by Cassandra Miller YELLOW DELI, 134 Main St., Oneonta, 432-1150 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. March 24, 2011 O-Town Scene 13