Freelance writer and food lover David Sax looks for “authentic” delis in his new book Save the Deli: In Search of Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen.
Event: Launch Event/Talk/Q&A/Signing at Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen on October 19th, 7:30 PM, 209 W. 38th Street, Manhattan.
What are your deli do's and dont's? What's your favorite Jewish deli in the city or best deli story? Comment below!
Comments [25]
Mr. Sax hit the mark by saying that mayonnaise is an alien substance in Jewish delis. I subscribe to the late Buddy Hackett's admonition: "When somebody orders a pastrami sandwich on white bread with lettuce and mayonnaise, somewhere in the world a Jew dies."
My favorite New York deli is the Second Avenue Deli - where else can you get such healthy dishes as P'tcha and rolled beef?
When Buddy died a friend of mine sent me a terse e-mail - "somebody ordered a pastrami on white...
As a high school senior (more than 35 years ago), I got a part time job in a Jewish Deli in Lake Hiawatha, NJ. Imagine, the cute little Italian teenager, slicing tongue and brisket! I would always arrive home smelling like a knish! I sure learned how to make (and eat!) the best pastrami sandwiches! You brought back some memories! Can't recall the name of the deli, but do know it wasn't just the food, it was the joy of the community within a community. One thing all our cultures share ... the joy of eating!
these segments are too short!
how to appetizing stores relate? like russ & daughters-
next top ten:
kasha varniskas
corned beef
hot dogs with red onions
cole slaw
cherry peppers
deli mustard
lime rickey
seltzer
chicken soup
potato salad
KATZ'S DELI.
Not only for the great food but for the place.
You feel like your walking into a different era. I can feel and almost see the new yorkers from back in the day wearing hats and black suits going there for lunch.
It's so funny that your guest said it was a "cardinal sin" to put the food in a mocrowave
in a Jewish deli
nice story, brian, but i've already read this in the times and heard it on two other npr programs this week. as mel brooks would say, "is it neca?" (pronounced "nessa")
It's so funny that your guest said it was a "cardinal sin" to put the food in a mocrowave
in a Jewish deli
Annie Hall
Has anyone mentioned the great delis on Ave. J in Brooklyn?
Ha ha ha ha! If you eat at Katzes, you are brilliant, a lover of life and by definition a very good person...but NOT a vegetarian!
tip ten deli items:
1. cel-ray soda
2. Romanian pastrami
3. very hard salami
4. tongue
5. knish (kasha)
6. pickled green tomato
7. rye bread
8. half sour pickes
9. kishka w/o gravy
10. chopped liver
I just moved to Riverdale and Liebman's Delicatessen is just around the corner from me. Haven't actually eaten their yet but was wondering if anyone has feedback on this esablishment?
Tabatchnick's on Vauxhall
I like Katz's since 2 nd Av moved off the corner of my block. Well, I liked Katz's even WHEN 2nd Av Deli was there, And the daughter of 2nd Ave Deli took over after he was killed.
...Oh, and Hobby's in Newark, OF COURSE! Right, David?
is there such a thing as a jewish deli in israel? if so, are they dying or doing well?
Liebman's in Riverdale. Pretty good remaining neighborhood Jewish-style deli.
Kensington Deli in Great Neck is a gem.
They don't have a huge menu but what they have they do right.
tabatchnicks vauxhall road, ah...
10 Great Delis from USAToday Updated 3/24/2006 11:35 AM ET
The classic Jewish deli was born of homesickness. The wave of Eastern European immigrants that flooded into New York from 1881 to 1924 brought with them a yearning for the Old Country. And they found it by sharing food and conversation in neighborhood eateries. Even today, writes Sheryll Bellman in her new book, America's Great Delis: Recipes and Traditions from Coast to Coast (Collectors Press, $35), delicatessens are about more than matzo ball soup and brisket. "(It) is comfort, it is memories, it is nostalgia." Sadly, many of the time-honored Jewish delis are gone. How to identify the real deal? "The ambience isn't fancy. The menus always stay the same," Bellman says. She steers USA TODAY's Jayne Clark to some classic Jewish delis.
Canter's Deli - Los Angeles - The 475-seat restaurant is open 24 hours a day. 323-651-2030; cantersdeli.com .
Stage Deli - New York- 800-782-4369; stagedeli.com.
Shapiro's Delicatessen - Indianapolis- 317-631-4041; shapiros.com.
Zingerman's Delicatessen - Ann Arbor, Mich. - 734-663-3354; zingermans.com.
Attman's Delicatessen - Baltimore - 410-563-2666; attmansdeli.com.
Rose's Deli & Bakery - Portland, Ore. - 503-222-5292; rosesrestaurant.net.
Nate 'n Al Delicatessen Restaurant - Beverly Hills, Calif. - 310-274-0101; natenal.com.
Corky & Lenny's - Woodmere Village, Ohio - 216-464-3838 corkyandlennys.com.
Carnegie Delicatessen - New York - 800-334-5606; carnegiedeli.com.
Langer's Deli - Los Angeles - 213-483-8050; langersdeli.com.
Find this article at:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2006-03-23-jewish-delis_x.htm
Copyright 2006 by USAToday All Rights Reserved
I heard that "Deli Masters" went out of business this past summer. They were on Horace Harding and 184th street in Fresh Meadows. They were the best of the best in the past 10 years. They had the best meat dumplings and the best chicken soup this side of heaven.
*Irving's On Rte 10 in Livingston, NJ
Modeled after Katz's, great pastrami, higly endangered...
*Eppes Essen On Rte 10 in Livingston, NJ
Been there forever, a totally comfortable place, albeit less patronized than years ago due to changing diets, demographics, and economics...
*Katz's In Manhattan
Just becaue it's Katz's...
*Barney Greengrass on Amsterdam Ave.
Not really a deli, but worthy of mention
*Canegie Deli in Manhattan
Huuuuge menu, quite pricey, always mobbed, great atmosphere
Zayda's on Irvington Ave, In South Orange
The best in town
Name your top 5 delis of the NYC metro area (that are still in business), and why you picked them.
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