Save the Deli

Save the Deli (2009) by David Sax. The subtitle of this book is "In Search of Perfect Pastrami, Crusty Rye, and the Heart of Jewish Delicatessen." Sax does indeed embark on a search, traveling all over the U.S. and even overseas in search of good delis. For the most part he is disappointed, but he does find the occasional deli, owned by a dedicated deli man (and they are mostly men), that gives him hope for the survival of this American institution. Sax tastes matzo ball soup, pastrami sandwiches, knishes, kishke and kreplach, among many other delicacies, in his quest. He also provides a food and Yiddish appendix, listing key foods and Yiddish terms, so "you don't sound like a schmuck." In addition, he provides a listing of delis which he visited in his journeys -- useful if you're going to be traveling, or if you happen to live close to a major metro area. A mouth-watering book. Grade: A