Save the Deli: In Search of Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen

Part culinary travelogue, part cultural history, part rallying cry, 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 deli’s food, history, and characters, its greatest triumphs, spectacular failures, and ultimately its very future, David Sax goes deep into the world of the Jewish delicatessen. From New York to Chicago, Florida, L.A., Montreal, Toronto, Paris, and beyond, Sax strives to answer the question: Can the 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.