Kenny & Ziggy’s National Deli Month Menu will aid Holocaust Museum Houston from August 1-31

Saving America’s Delis also Benefits Local Institution

More than 30 traditional Jewish delis across the nation have signed on to participate in a month-long effort to recognize the great American heritage of New York-style delicatessens, raise funds for local charities and bring attention to the worsening plight of these dining icons.  

Founded in 2016 in Houston by Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen & Restaurant owner Ziggy Gruber in collaboration with Jay Parker, owner of Ben’s Best Deli in Rego Park, New York, National Deli Month celebrates its third year from Aug. 1-31.

In Houston, both Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen & Restaurant locations will be taking part, offering a multi-choice, three-course menu during lunch and dinner for $38, plus tax and gratuity, with 10 percent of each meal sold going to the Holocaust Museum Houston, providing funds for the museum’s education programs.

As an added incentive, the museum will offer anyone who purchases a National Deli Month meal a complimentary ticket, good for two entries to its temporary museum located at 9220 Kirby Dr., Suite 100. The permanent museum is under construction during a major expansion to more than double the size of the building.

The expanded Holocaust Museum Houston, Lester and Sue Smith Campus will open in June 2019.  For more information about expansion plans and the museum’s temporary location, visit www.hmh.org.

A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON:

Three years ago, a national documentary film, “Deli Man,” raised the alarm on how delicatessens, an integral part of every Jewish community in the first half of the 20th Century, are rapidly disappearing. It prompted Gruber to organize an effort to bring more attention to the remaining delis. 

National Deli Month launched in 2016. Sadly, even since National Deli Month began, more have closed, including the 67-year-old Time Deli in San Jose, Calif., the famed Carnegie Deli, open since 1937 in New York, the 51-year-old Jack’s Deli in Philadelphia, Lenny’s Deli on Baltimore’s Corned Beef Row and now weeks before National Deli Month begins, collaborator Ben’s Best in New York.

Delimavens everywhere have united to bring renewed attention to their unique and truly American businesses by their participation in this special charitable effort.

Participating delis will be offering special three-course, prix fixe menus that not only provide a chance to try a number of outstanding traditional deli dishes, but also give a portion of each meal sold to a charity in that community.

Other participants (to date) for this year include 3G’s Gourmet Deli & Restaurant in Delray, Florida; Attman’s Deli with locations in Baltimore and Potomac, Maryland; D. Z. Akin’s in San Diego, California; Factor’s Famous Deli in Los Angeles, California; Famous 4th Street Delicatessen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Hobby’s Delicatessen & Restaurant in Newark, New Jersey; Manny’s in Chicago, Illinois; Mile End Deli in Brooklyn, New York; Noshville Deli in Nashville, Tennessee; Pomperdale in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Chompies, with five locations in and around Phoenix, Arizona; Brent’s Delicatessen & Restaurant with two locations in Los Angeles, California; Hymie’s Merion Delicatessen & Restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Ruven’s Restaurant in Delray Beach, Florida; Ben’s Kosher Deli with six locations in New York and one in Boca Raton, Florida; Corky & Lenny’s Restaurant Deli in Woodmere Village, Ohio; Gourmet Deli House in Lake Worth, Florida; Bagel Snack in Pompano Beach, Florida; and Sarge’s Deli in New York, New York.  Additional delis are being added.

National Deli Month runs Aug. 1-31. For locations, menus and charities, visit www.delimonth.com.

ABOUT HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON

Holocaust Museum Houston (HMH), a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization founded in 1996 by Houston-area Holocaust Survivors, their descendants and members of the community, is accredited by The American Alliance of Museums.  The Museum is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims and honoring the survivors’ legacy.  Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, we teach the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy.

ABOUT KENNY & ZIGGY’S

Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen Restaurants are located at 2327 Post Oak Boulevard in the heart of the Galleria area and business district and at 5172 Buffalo Speedway in the Plaza in the Park Shopping Center at Buffalo Speedway and Westpark. The Post Oak restaurant is open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. The West U location is open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

For more information visit www.kennyandziggys.com.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KENNY & ZIGGY’S