More than just “Jewish Penicillin”…

Last week, I was lucky enough to team up with food writer extraordinaire Joe DiStefano of Edible Queens to bring you this intimate story about the beauty of tradition in food…classic Jewish delicatessen food. He hand-picked this deli for me because it has quite a reputation – and not just in Queens. Some say, they produce the best pastrami sandwich around…better than Katz (my fave)! So, I agreed to dig a little deeper with my video camera and see for myself what greatness not only looks like, but tastes like.

Meet Jay Parker, owner of Ben’s Best Delicatessen, a 3rd generation deli owner in Rego Park, Queens – and one of the last remaining Kosher delis in New York City. Jay took over the family business from his father, Ben, over 30 years ago knowing that the key to success and longevity was leaving his 100+ year old family recipes unchanged.

Enjoy this feel-good peek into the life of a passionate deli operator. The food looks so good, you can almost taste the hot pastrami and corned beef being shaved off the meat slicer… And for a taste of Jay’s family recipes, you can visit: http://www.bensbest.com. He airships across the country, but believe me, his cured “overstuffed” sandwich meats and homemade dishes are best eaten right in the deli.

Take Jay’s advice and don’t leave without trying some traditional, non-sandwich faves too: The Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls, Chopped Liver, Kosher Hot Dog w/Sauerkraut, Chicken Fricassee, Beef Borscht and Stuffed Cabbage.

Thanks for watching food. curated. Happy eating!