Save the (Jewish) Deli Month (Aug 1 -31)

(Gerry Furth-Sides) The third annual, nationwide National Deli Month returns to celebrate the dwindling number of New York style delis with special menus and a reason to put the spotlight on them.  The idea is to bring renewed attention to their unique and truly American businesses for the month of August.

National Deli Month runs Aug. 1-31. For locations, menus and charities, visitwww.delimonth.com.

Participating delis across the country will be offering special three-course, prix fixe menus that not only provide a chance to try a number of outstanding traditional deli dishes but also give a portion of each meal sold to a charity in that community.

Founded in 2016 through a collaboration of Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen & Restaurant owner Ziggy Gruber in Houston, Texas, and Jay Parker, owner of Ben’s Best Deli in Rego Park, New York, National Deli Month celebrates the great American heritage of New York-style delicatessens, plus raises money for charitable organizations in all their communities.

The number of participating delis and locations has grown to more than 30 deli locations on both coasts as well as cities in between. For a full list of locations and delis, visit www.delimonth.com.

Brent’s Delicatessen & Restaurant, located in Northridge and West Lake Village.   Run by the same family since 1969 – and now in a second generation – both delis will be raising money for the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging. Brent’s Deli in Northridge originally opened in 1967.  In 1969, Ron Peskin and his wife, Patricia, took over two years later – “a real risk” as Peskin always makes mention.  They opened a second location in Westlake with a long-time employee as a partner.  Since the day it opened, the roomy, friendly place seemed as though it had been there forever.  Ron’s son Brent, daughter Cari and son-in-law Marc, run the business.

The original location in Northridge is in an unassuming strip mall.  When we got there the first time ten years ago, not knowing they close at 8:30 on Saturday evening, they welcomed us inside,e and said they would make an order for us to take away while they were cleaning up. We’ve been fans ever since.

Factor’s Famous Deli  (Beverly Hills “adjacent”) Abe and Esther Factor opened the Pico-Robertson deli in 1948. In 1969, Holocaust survivor Herman Markowitz bought the deli and ran it until he died in the ’70s and stayed in the family when his daughters, Suzee and Susan took over – and you can be sure they are overlooking the service in-house and at every party.   70th anniversary.  Sprawling rooms filled with comfy red booths on the window walls, lighting that is easy on the eye and celebrity photos make the place as inviting as ever. It will be raising money for the Museum of Tolerance, their exclusive catering client.

The place is spacious, very quiet and the staff impersonal these days.  The updated “lighter” concept of the sandwich is an appetizer “slider” ($7), offered with a choice of pastrami (shown below), corned beef or turkey, with fried potato bits on the side.  A small container of Russian dressing makes it a Reuben sandwich.

Other participants (to date) for this year include 3G’s Gourmet Deli & Restaurant in Delray, Florida; Attman’s Deli with locations in Baltimore and Potomac, Maryland; Famous 4^th Street Delicatessen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hobby’s Delicatessen & Restaurant in Newark, New Jersey; Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen Restaurant with two locations in Houston, Texas; Manny’s in Chicago, Illinois; Mile End Deli in Brooklyn, New York; Nashville Deli in Nashville, Tennessee; Pomperdale in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Hymie’s Merion Delicatessen & Restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Ruven’s Restaurant in Delray Beach, Florida; Ben’s Kosher Deli with six locations in New York and one in Boca Raton, Florida; Corky & Lenny’s Restaurant Deli in Woodmere Village, Ohio; Gourmet Deli House in Lake Worth, Florida; Bagel Snack in Pompano Beach, Florida; and Sarge’s Deli in New York, New York.  Additional delis are being added.

Three years ago, the wonderful, lively documentary film, “Deli Man,” raised the alarm on how delicatessens, an integral part of every Jewish community in the first half of the 20^th Century, are rapidly disappearing.

The excellent book, Save the Deli by David Sax tells the story on an international level. //localfoodeater.com/save-the-deli-the-definitive-book-on-international-delis/

Since then, more have closed, including the 67-year-old Time Deli in San Jose, Calif., the famed Carnegie Deli, open since 1937 in New York, the 51-year-old Jack’s Deli in Philadelphia and the Lenny’s Deli on Baltimore’s Corned Beef Row. Most recently in July is the closing of National Deli Month co-founder, Ben’s Best in New York.