Read The Second Avenue Deli Cookbook Online
Authors: Sharon Lebewohl
The Second Avenue Deli Cookbook (49 page)
15
biscotti.
Italians dunk it in espresso, Jews in a glass of tea.
For a crisper version of mandelbrot, let cool, carefully cut into diagonal slices with a very sharp knife, and bake on a clean cookie sheet for 5 to 7 minutes on each side. Check after a few minutes to make sure the slices are browning evenly.
10
Your dough will look thick and scant, but it will rise and become a light, moist, and fluffy cake.
M
ANY CONTRIBUTORS
added zest, spice, and flavor to
The Second Avenue Deli Cookbook.
We'd like to thank those who took time from their busy schedules to write personal reminiscences of Abe Lebewohl, most of whom also shared their favorite recipes with us: Bella Abzug, Tom Birchard, Wayne Harley Brachman, Roslyn Bresnick-Perry, Patrick Clark, Senator Al D'Amato, Art D'Lugoff, Mark Federman, Raoul Felder, Bobby Flay, Joe Franklin, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Milton Glaser, Rozanne Gold, Al Goldstein, Dustin Hoffman, Grandpa Al Lewis, Drew Nieporent, Antonio Pagán, Alfred Portale, Helen Reiser, Paul Reiser, Morley Safer, Mimi Sheraton, Curtis Sliwa, Adam Tihany, José Torres, Tim and Nina Zagat.
We'd also like to thank these talented cooks and bakers for their valuable
contributions: Lucille Feenberg, Dottie Griss, John Holmes, Lynn Kutner, Eleanor Lebewohl, Ethel Lebewohl, Felicia Lebewohl Rosen, Jenny Lebewohl, Terry Lebewohl, Susan Leelike, Lisa Legarde, Esther Marcus, Everett McCourt, Judy Morris, Israel Moskowitz, Frieda Rockman, Sylvia Rudolph, Tzipora Said, Gili Tsabari.
Warmest thanks to: literary agent and cookbook maven Jane Dystel, whose enthusiasm and expertise have lovingly guided this project through the publishing process.
Our delightful and very talented editor, Mollie Doyle, for her brilliant creative input.
The grandchildren and nephews: Eli and Tzvi Barax for sharing in-depth interviews with Abe; Ayalah Barax for her help and encouragement in the kitchen; Evan and Eitan Rosen and Josh and Jeremy Lebewohl for their enthusiastic participation as food tasters. These seven children were responsible for the constant glimmer in Abe's eyes.
Arlene Bluth, whose extensive research into Second Avenue Deli history was invaluable.
And Pushpin people Seymour Chwast and Phyllis Rich Fader.
Finally, many, many thanks to the Deli kitchen staff, whose work we daily interrupted while creating this cookbook: “Doctor” Pou Chun Cheng, Michael Gladstone, “Captain” Sam Clayton, and Sylvester Mitchell. Ditto Deli managers Steve Cohen and Tony Sze; all the countermen; and Deli office staffers Karen Glasser and Pat Communiello.
The Deli's team.
Born with a soupspoon in her mouth, S
HARON
L
EBEWOHL
grew up in the deli business, working at the restaurant and learning her father's secret recipes firsthand. Since her father's death in 1996, Sharon has worked with Abe's brother, Jack, to oversee the Deli's daily operations and to ensure that Abe's spirit is kept alive. She remains deeply rooted in the Jewish community and is active in many Jewish women's groups. Sharon is also the mother of three teenagers.
R
ENA
B
ULKIN
began her career in Paris, writing about European hotels and restaurants for
The New York Times
International Edition. Returning to her native Manhattan after several years abroad, she worked, respectively, at
The New Yorker
and
New York
magazines. She has written fifteen Arthur Frommer travel guides, as well as numerous magazine articles on travel, food, and other subjects. A close friend of the late Abe Lebewohl, she has a long history with the Second Avenue Deli, where she has worked on many public-relations campaigns.