Saveur: Deli Capital of the World

Writing at Saveur.com, author and Friend of Langer’s David Sax had a story about Los Angeles being, well, the deli capital of the world – building on the theme he established in his 2009 hit book, “Save the Deli”:

Los Angeles and its adjacent municipalities contain more continuously family-owned Jewish delis than any other city in the country. In the hands of third- and fourth-generation proprietors, family recipes for matzo ball soup, knishes, and latkes have evolved into high art. Arguably the best pastrami sandwich in America is served at Langer’s Deli (704 South Alvarado Street; 213/483-8050; www.langers deli.com), a 62-year-old institution in downtown Los Angeles. The expertly trimmed, long-steamed, hand-sliced meat is served warm on double-baked rye bread.

Click here to read the complete article

Los Angeles Magazine: Meat and Greet

Our friends at Los Angeles Magazine attended David Sax’s “Save the Deli” booksigning event at Langer’s on October 28, 2009, and filed this report on their “The Digest Blog”:

“The gangs are waiting for me back in New York!” joked David Sax, author of the new book Save the Deli, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) before a crowd of about 50 who’d gathered to fress and hear him speak at Langer’s Delicatessen yesterday afternoon in what has to be the most unorthodox Vroman’s Bookstore reading of all time. Sax was referring to the scornful reaction from New York’s deli-going denizens incited by perhaps the ballsiest assertion in his new book: that L.A. is the best deli town in the country. Sax, who is from Toronto (full disclosure: we’re old friends from that city; he now lives in Brooklyn), refuses to take sides. “I’m not even from New York! I’m a neutral third party, like all Canadians!”

Click here to read the complete article at LAMag.com

BlogDowntown.com: Counter Culture: Langer’s Deli

Longtime Friend of Langer’s Ed Fuentes of BlogDowntown.com and View From A Loft covered our David Sax booksigning for “Save the Deli” on October 28, 2009, and filed this awesome report from the day of the event. The clip includes Ed’s trademark amazing still photography montaged with an interview of David Sax discussing his book and Langer’s in particular. Thanks, Ed!

Click here to read the complete story on BlogDowntown.com

[av_video src=’http://vimeo.com/7338596′ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

NBCLosAngeles: Los Angeles Named Deli Capital (Sorry, NY)

Great coverage of David Sax’s “Save the Deli” book over at NBCLosAngeles.com’s Around Town / Food & Drink blog this week:

Anyone who’s had the No. 19 at Langer’s already knows what David Sax has discovered: Los Angeles is the deli capital of the world.

In his new book, “Save The Deli,” Sax says forget about New York. LA is for lovers of sandwiches.

“It’s a very difficult business to be in, but the [delis] that are most inspiring, the ones that people cling to, the ones that people enshrine for years and years are the traditional Jewish delis. And Los Angeles just happens to have more of them than any city I’ve been to,” Sax [said]…

Check it out here

LATimes.com: The deli capital? It’s LA

Elina Shatkin of LATimes.com has great coverage on David Sax’s “Save The Deli” book which comes out in just a very few days:

“In the 1930s there were something along the lines of 1,500 kosher delis in New York,” Sax says. “Now, there are about two dozen in all of New York City. That’s an 80% to 90% decline. This has been echoed in other cities around the country.”

Yet Los Angeles delis have managed to thrive in a niche market. Acre for acre, Sax maintains that Southern California boasts “more delicatessens of higher quality, on average, than anywhere else in America.”

…
But Sax reserves his highest praise for Langer’s, near MacArthur Park — where the pastrami sandwich “encapsulates perfection at every turn”

Click here to read the complete story at LATimes.com

Langer’s is hosting an exclusive booksigning event with David Sax on October 28th – click here to sign up now for this limited availability event! The event includes lunch, a signed copy of David’s book (plus a chance to meet David), and a $10 Langer’s Gift Certificate for use on a subsequent visit to the restaurant.

JewishJournal.com: World’s Best Pastrami Sandwich

JewishJournal.com has published a new video documentary on Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant, entitled “World’s Best Pastrami Sandwich.” The video coincides with the latest issue’s focus on delis as well as coverage of David Sax’s new book, “Save the Deli.” Produced by Rebecca Steinberger, this is a fantastic video that captures the essence of the Langer’s experience. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do – thank you Jewish Journal and Rebecca!

Click here to visit JewishJournal.com

[av_video src=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXt7M4wcmxw’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

 

SavetheDeli.com: Hand Slicing

David Sax of SavetheDeli.com has an interesting piece up on the merits and traditions behind hand-slicing deli meats.

At Langer’s Delicatessen, in Los Angeles–home to the greatest pastrami sandwich in America–owner Norm Langer took a blackened piece of pastrami out of the steam box, slapped it on the wooden counter, and began methodically slicing, flipping the meat over and around, excising tough connective tissue. “When you cut it on a machine, you won’t cut out this,” Norm said, removing a slimy yellow membrane with a twist of the knife. “This thing is like chewing a racquetball. It has the consistency of a diaphragm. If you cut your meat on a machine, that is going to be in your sandwich.”

Read the complete story here – it’s definitely worth the click

Langer’s is hosting an exclusive booksigning event with David Sax on October 28th – click here to sign up now for this limited availability event! The event includes lunch, a signed copy of David’s book (plus a chance to meet David), and a $10 Langer’s Gift Certificate for use on a subsequent visit to the restaurant.

[av_video src=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNovhXWO5oI’ format=’16-9′ width=’16’ height=’9′]

New York Times: David Sax Profile

The New York Times’ Dining and Wine Section writer Joan Nathan did a great profile of author David Sax on the eve of the release of his “Save The Deli” book. The profile features the writer and Sax visiting delis in Newark (home of Langer’s founder Al Langer) and discussing the state of the Jewish deli from his perspective.

And in his book he considers the pairing of “slowly steamed pastrami and hot crusty double-baked rye bread infused with caraway seeds” at Langer’s Delicatessen and Restaurant in Los Angeles a perfect sandwich.

Read the complete profile here at NYTimes.com

Langer’s is hosting an exclusive booksigning event with David Sax on October 28th – click here to sign up now for this limited availability event! The event includes lunch, a signed copy of David’s book (plus a chance to meet David), and a $10 Langer’s Gift Certificate for use on a subsequent visit to the restaurant.

Image courtesy NYTimes.com

NEWSFLASH: Bonus for all “Save The Deli” Booksigning Attendees

Great News! If you’re attending the upcoming “Save The Deli” David Sax booksigning event here at Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant (October 28th, sign up today at Vromans, click here now and sign up before it sells out!), then we have big news!

Every paid event attendee here in the restaurant will be presented with a complimentary $10 Langer’s Gift Certificate to use on a future visit. Just be a paid attendee (and you will be, won’t you?!) here onsite, and we’ll give you the certificate.

So, what are you waiting for? Signups end on October 24, but it’s going to sell out before then, so visit Vroman’s today to sign up for the event. It’s $55 plus sales tax PLUS the free $10 Langer’s Gift Certificate for all paid in attendance on October 28th. See you here!

Vromans: “Save The Deli” Booksigning at Langer’s October 28

Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant is proud to host the upcoming exclusive Los Angeles booksigning event for David Sax’s new “Save The Deli” book. The event includes a classic Langer’s pastrami lunch plus a signed copy of David’s book.

This entertaining and authoritative book (released October 1 from publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) features Langer’s and makes the bold assertion that Los Angeles is now America’s premier deli town – and home to the world’s best pastrami – Langer’s!

Space is limited for this exclusive event, so sign up now at Vromans by clicking here. Or, you can call (626) 449-5320 for more information or to sign up. But hurry – you must sign up before October 24 to get your space in this great and exclusive event – featuring author David Sax in person, talking about his book and signing copies for event attendees!