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Deli lovers came out in droves to Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen last night, to celebrate the launch of David Sax’s book, Save the Deli. Over piles of pastrami, buckets of pickles, platters of coleslaw, latkes and rugalach, the Feed asked Sax to name his favorite New York City delis. Though the author demurely refused, claiming that it would be like having to “choose between your own children,” he did share his top five “TDF” (to die for) dishes: Pastrami at Katz’s; chopped liver at 2nd Ave Deli; cabbage rolls at Ben’s Best in Rego Park, Queens; matzo ball soup at Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen; hush puppies (little wieners wrapped in knish dough) at Liebman’s Deli in the Bronx.
Noted guests among the crowd included Jeremy Lebewohl (2nd Ave Deli), Mark Russ Federman (Russ & Daughters) and Gail Simmons (Top Chef), among other friends that Sax picked up along his three-year deli world tour.
The raucous party also featured a goodly dose of schmaltz, with performances by Jelvis (the Jewish Elvis) and borscht belt legend Freddie Roman. At least a few world records were set by the Universal Record Database, including Most Complaints to a Deli Waiter in 30 Seconds.—Lara Rabinovitch
Related: The death of the New York deli
