James Beard Award Winner: A cultural history and culinary travelogue from “the M.F.K. Fisher of pickled meats” (A. J. Jacobs). These days there are very few places you can get authentic hot pastrami sandwiches, delicious matzo ball soup, and chewy, crusty rye. In this travelogue, die-hard delicatessen lover David Sax searches out the best Jewish delis around the United States—and the world—and digs deep into the history of the deli: its characters, greatest triumphs, spectacular failures, and uncertain future. Going far beyond New York landmarks, past and present, like Katz’s, the Carnegie Deli, and the Second Avenue Deli, to Chicago, Florida, LA, Montreal, Toronto, Paris, and beyond, Save the Deli is the story of diaspora, and of one man’s quest to save a defining element of the culture—and the food—he loves. It even includes a glossary of food and Yiddish terms, for the goyim or the woefully assimilated. Just don’t read it on an empty stomach. “An epic journey, akin to The Odyssey but with Rolaids.” —Roger Bennett, author of Bar Mitzvah Disco

Full of insightful wisdom, hilarious anecdotes, and tasty recipes, How to Feed Friends and Influence People tells the savory story of the Carnegie Deli, home of the world-famous gargantuan sandwich. Revealing the core business principles that have made the deli such a success, the book explains why and how the Carnegie became the delicatessen of choice for presidents, celebrities, at least one sultan, and millions of other (extremely) hungry diners from around the world. More than just a delightful and delicious tale of business success, this fascinating and funny book covers the deli?s history, shows you how to make a real Brooklyn egg cream, and piles up loads of New York history. So get cooking!

For much of the twentieth century, the New York Jewish deli rivaled-- and in some ways surpassed-- the synagogue as the primary gathering place for the Jewish community. The deli, argues Merwin, reached its full flowering not in the immigrant period but in the interwar era, when the children of Jewish immigrants celebrated the first flush of their success in America by downing sandwiches and cheesecake in theater district delis. But it was the kosher deli that followed Jews to the outer boroughs of the city, and became the most tangible symbol of their continuing desire to maintain a connection to their heritage.

Why would you make your own sausages, cure your own ham, pickle your own fish or preserve your own vegetables? It's quite simple, really: because it tastes better. This beautifully photographed book celebrates the way we used to cook and food how it used to taste.

The Second Avenue Deli has been an internationally renowned Gotham landmark for nearly half a century. Over the years, its founder, Abe Lebewohl, provided the best Jewish fare in town, transforming his tiny ten-seat Village eatery into a New York institution. The Second Avenue Deli Cookbook contains more than 160 of Abe Lebewohl’s recipes, including all of the Deli’s peerless renditions of traditional Jewish dishes: chicken soup with matzo balls, chopped liver, gefilte fish, kasha varnishkes, mushroom barley soup, noodle kugel, potato latkes, blintzes, and many more. These versatile dishes are perfect for any occasion—from holiday dinners to Sunday brunches with friends and family. The late Abe Lebewohl was a great restaurateur in the showman tradition and a well-known and much-loved New York personality. His famous Deli attracted hundreds of celebrity patrons, many of whom have graciously contributed to this cookbook not only personal reminiscences but also recipes, running the gamut from Morley Safer’s family brisket to Paul Reiser’s formula for the perfect egg cream. A wonderful blend of New York and Jewish history and mouthwatering recipes, The Second Avenue Deli Cookbook provides a delicious taste of nostalgia.

SERIOUS EATS: I got all misty-�eyed a few times, as the significance of such a New York icon was illustrated in word and image... THE NEW YORK TIMES: A book as overstuffed as Katz's pastrami on rye. A great visual record of how a restaurant runs, this first-ever book about Katz's Delicatessen indelibly captures the unique spirit and appeal of the Lower East Side classic. Timed to coincide with Katz's 125th anniversary, this special edition brings a bit of Katz's right into your own home. Located on the corner of Ludlow and East Houston, this NYC institution opened in 1888 and is the oldest and most beloved delicatessen in America. Famous for its mouth-watering pastrami and mouth-puckering pickles (as well as its traditional Friday evening hot dogs) Katz's has been serving Jewish comfort food to generations of hungry customers, from locals dropping in for their usual and tourists from around the world, to a veritable who's-who of celebrities and politicians whose visits are immortalized in hundreds of photographs along the walls. The 384 pages of this elegant and hefty tome contain over 600 striking photographs by Baldomero Fernandez: the people on both sides of the counter; the storied cutting stations; the distinctive signa≥ the remarkably small kitchen; and more. Part-owner Jake Dell reveals the deli's rich and compelling history, and discusses traditional Jewish deli foods, including the different preparations for pastrami and corned beef. Travel Channel star Adam Richman provides a very personal and evocative foreword. What you won't discover is what the little circles on the tickets mean. Baldomero calls them hieroglyphics. What they mean and why they even use them, is still a mystery to me. That's just part of Katz's! No need to be a New Yorker. This book will prove equally irresistible to both the regulars and to the uninitiated. Published in association with Glenn Horowitz Bookseller.