Save The Deli by David Sax

Book Description
Part culinary travelogue, part cultural history, Save the Deli is a must-read for anyone whose idea of perfect happiness is tucking into a pastrami on rye with a pickle on the side

Corned beef. Pastrami. Brisket. Matzo balls. Knishes. Mustard and rye. In this book about Jewish delicatessens, about deli’s history and characters, its greatest triumphs, spectacular failures, and ultimately the very future of its existence, David Sax goes deep into the world of the Jewish deli. He explores the histories and experiences of the immigrant counterman and kvetching customer; examines the pressures that many delis face; and enjoys the food that is deli’s signature.

In New York and Chicago, Florida, L.A., Montreal, Toronto, Paris, and beyond, Sax strives to answer the question, Can Jewish deli thrive, and if so, how? Funny, poignant, and impeccably written, Save the Deli is the story of one man’s search to save a defining element of a culture — and the sandwiches — he loves.

My thoughts
My father owned a deli for over twenty years, and although it wasn’t a Jewish delicatessen, it certainly was not a sandwich shop. I could totally relate to what David Sax is writing about in “Save the Deli”. He searches the world to see if true delicatessens can and are surviving in this ever changing society of ours. I like how he meets with the deli people and learns the stories of each family’s experiences. His descriptive narratives made me want to go out and get myself a hot pastrami sandwich! It’s been too long. A delicious book to read!