A Jewish deli, also known as a Jewish delicatessen, is a delicatessen establishment that serves various traditional dishes in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, and are typically known for their sandwiches such as pastrami on rye, as well as their soups such as matzo ball soup, among other dishes. Most of them are in the Ashkenazi style, due to the history of the Jewish diaspora that has sometimes been adapted to local taste preferences, as in the American Jewish cuisine. Jewish delicatessens serve a variety of Jewish dishes, and many are also kosher-certified, while some are kosher-style and do not mix meat and dairy in the same dish, while others serve food with no dietary restrictions such as the Reuben sandwich. Jewish delis feature prominently in Jewish culture, as well as in general American popular culture, particularly in the cities of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles as well as in Canada, especially in Montreal and Toronto. The United Kingdom, particularly London has also historically had Jewish delis.
Origins of the Jewish Delicatessen In the United States
The Jewish delicatessen is traced to Eastern Europe on the eve of the Holocaust, as Jewish communities there are recorded as having delicatessen style businesses. A new Jewish population within the United States would facilitate the reintroduction of these community staples. While upon their arrival many Jewish immigrants would work in the meat industry, many business owners would transform their butcher shops into operational delicatessens, as we know today.
Impacts of the Jewish Delicatessen
As Jewish delis rose in popularity within New York, they became a bridge between second generation Jewish immigrants and their origins. They served as a cultural gathering place for the community. Second generation Jew's increased access to deli meats was a sign of growing success, something their parents would not have been able to afford when first arriving to the United States.
See also
External links
- Rachel Simon recalls her family's Kosher Deli Restaurant on Mermaid Avenue - Brooklyn, NY - Interview conducted by the Coney Island History Project
