"Deli Man" Documentary - A Mouth-Watering Tribute to Eastern European Jewish Cooking

Erik Greenberg Anjou, director of two acclaimed documentaries focusing on the life of a cantor (A Cantor's Tale) and klezmer musicians (The Klezmatics on Holy Ground) is at it again. This new film will complete his trilogy on Jewish life. It's called Deli Man, and will be released very soon.  It's a film that's sure to spark your appetite, and it's all about pastrami, corned beef, matzo balls, and all the tasty foods that surround you in a traditional Jewish delicatessen.

The film is in the final stages of production, with support in the form of a seed grant from the Hartley Foundation. Here is a description and preview of the film from their web site:

What makes a Jew?  In the oft-quoted rabbinic source “Ethics of the Fathers,” the three pillars of Judaism are earmarked as prayer, study, and gemilut hasidim, or acts of loving kindness.  But there’s a fourth pillar – Food. 

A tender cut of corned beef steeped in its juices.  A full-bodied garlic pickle.  Spicy brown mustard with grain.  A blintz that melts in your mouth like a creamsicle on a summer’s day.   Recipes and culinary garnishes from Hungary, Poland, Russia, and Romania that flowed in to late 19^th and early 20^th century America and soon became part of an American culinary and cultural vernacular – Deli…

The center and principal guide of Deli Man, the third in a trilogy of documentaries by Erik Greenberg Anjou, will be the effusive and charming Ziggy Gruber, a third-generation delicatessen man, owner and maven, as well as Yiddish-speaking French-trained chef, who currently operates one of the country’s most popular, and delicious delis, Kenney and Ziggy’s in Houston.  ‘Texas?’ you ask.  Shalom, y’all.

Here's a 12 minute sample of what's coming when the full documentary is released. Watch for cameo appearances by Alan Dershowitz, Larry King, Jerry Stiller, and Fyvush Finkel. Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.) 


 

(A tip of the kippah and a copy of "Jewish Humor on Your Desktop: The Complete Collection" to Toni for bringing this video to our attention.)