From our many discussions of Michael’s Deli and the Gefilteria, fans of Matt’s Meals get a sense that one of my favorite types of food is deli.
That is why I am so excited to check out the exhibit at the New York Historical Society which is entitled with some (kosher) tongue-in-cheek “I’ll Have What She’s Having.”
While Michael’s Thorty Black and Gold sandwich (named for former Bruin Great Shawn Thornton) is not only delicious but donates to a worthy cause and while the Gefilteria recently turned us on not only to new ways to bump and grind with fish but also to a new historical bakery in upstate NY, the legend and legacy of deli stretch from Old Country family tables to some of the most famous nosheries around and continue to evolve and reach more people in ever-more creative ways.
In this exhibit, the city that many people consider the home of deli brings it all back home with stories that range from the Pale of Settlement to the tenements of the Lower East Side to the concentration camps of Germany and far beyond. Using historical images and artifacts, first-person accounts from both sides of the counter, costumes from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, mouthwatering interactive elements that include deli-themed music and a Bloomberg Connects audio tour, “and, of course, that scene from “When Harry Met Sally,” “I’ll Have What She’s Having” not only brings long-time fans back to their favorite childhood eateries but also whets the appetites of those who may not know the difference between pastrami and salami (oy!). It even invites guests to craft their own deli-worthy sandwiches and to name them after their favorite stars, as was the long-held tradition at such legendary locales as Reuben’s and The Stage Deli (and Michael’s!).
If gefilte fish is your favorite dish and hot pastrami makes you hot, have I got the place for you! Even the Society restaurant will have deli favorites!
The exhibit is on view until April of next year- So take your time and chew slowly!
Through January 1, the Society is also hosting a special exhibit on anti-Semitism that, while not as delicious, is just as vital, so please drop by.