Food

NY Deli Month Rolls Out With Prix-Fixe Menus

Not Just NYC: Factor’s Famous Deli in Los Angeles is one of the restaurants participating in NY Delicatessen Week. Image by Courtesy of Factor’s Deli

By Michael Kaminer August 10, 2016

We’ve got Waffle Month, Pickle Month and Potato Lovers Month, among others. Now, thanks to “Deli Man” Ziggy Gruber, we’ve got New York Delicatessen Month. The goal: To bring attention to traditional New York-style delis, of course.

“Delicatessens are never usually asked to join in Restaurant Weeks nationally because we’re not fancy enough,” Gruber says. “I said to some of my colleagues across the country, historically, for all delis, it’s been quiet in August. Why don’t we start our own thing? They thought it was a great idea.”

According to the Houston Chronicle, Gruber got his deli brethren from coast to coast to participate, including Hobby’s Delicatessen and Restaurant in Newark, New Jersey; Lenny’s Deli in Los Angeles; Ben’s Best Kosher Deli in Rego Park, New York; Woodro Kosher Deli & Caterers in Hewlett, New York; Artie’s New York Delicatessen in New York; Manny’s in Chicago; Pomperdale in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Factor’s Famous Deli in Los Angeles; and 3 G’s Gourmet Deli & Restaurant in Delray Beach, Florida.

‘Deli Man’ Ziggy Gruber of Houston’s Kenny & Ziggy’s.

All will offer special prix fixe menus; a portion of proceeds will benefit local charities. Gruber, of course, is the maven behind Kenny & Ziggy’s in Houston.

“This is to showcase Jewish food and say be proud of your heritage and your culture,” he says. “And it’s a chance for us to give back to our communities. It’s noshing for a cause.”

Michael Kaminer is a contributing editor at the Forward.

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