Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Pastrami on Rye
Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli | Ted Merwin
2 posts | 1 read
For much of the twentieth century, the New York Jewish deli was an iconic institution in both Jewish and American life. As a social space it rivaledand in some ways surpassedthe synagogue as the primary gathering place for the Jewish community. In popular culture it has been the setting for classics like When Harry Met Sally. And today, after a long period languishing in the trenches of the hopelessly old-fashioned, it is experiencing a nostalgic resurgence. Pastrami on Rye is the first full-length history of the New York Jewish deli. The deli, argues Ted Merwin, reached its full flowering not in the immigrant period, as some might assume, 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 as they settled in the outer boroughs of the city, and that became the most tangible symbol of their continuing desire to maintain a connection to their heritage. Ultimately, upwardly mobile American Jews discarded the deli as they transitioned from outsider to insider status in the middle of the century. Now contemporary Jews are returning the deli to cult status as they seek to reclaim their cultural identities. Richly researched and compellingly told, Pastrami on Rye gives us the surprising story of a quintessential New York institution.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
review
MindyK59
Mehso-so

A good history of the Jewish Deli. Very informative. It primarily discussed the delis of New York City. I think I would have liked it better if I was more familiar with them but I only know of the more famous New York delis.

blurb
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
post image

Hubby drives to Houston yesterday for work. I get a text: "2 hours until I get to Kaboom Books. Send me a list." I get tons of books + nova lox + herring + half-sour pickles (from Jewish deli). Reader, (glad) I married him.

emilyhaldi Great combo!!! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 7y
DebinHawaii He's a keeper for sure! 👍😀 7y
Reviewsbylola Wow your husband rocks!! 7y
See All 15 Comments
ValerieAndBooks Wow! Nice!👍 7y
christineandbooks Love the literary reference.😀 7y
LeahBergen Wonderful!! 7y
tricours Sounds like you found a good one! Does he read? 7y
tricours Also, didn't know herring was a thing in the US. How do you eat it? (I love herring and it's huge in Sweden) 7y
Cinfhen Everything about this post is wonderful ~ especially the half sour pickles😍 7y
LauraBeth Nice! 👏👏 7y
Zelma Nicely done! 👏 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @tricours He reads too! We like to have book talks a lot. I like pickled herring in cream sauce, but in the deep south US Im very much the anomaly around here. I don't think herring is very popular. I think I would thrive in Sweden! 🐟 7y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @Cinfhen ha ha - thanks! I think that's the best part too 7y
tricours Mine doesn't read, and doesn't eat herring 😞 You'd thrive anywhere around the Baltic Sea, herring is all the rage there! Pickled herring is what I always eat for Christmas in Sweden, and some restaurants have 15+ varieties for their Christmas dinners! 😁 (People often go out for Christmas dinner with work here, instead of a Christmas party) 7y
readordierachel What a guy! 7y
54 likes15 comments