HOW TO "REDN"* DELI

*"redn" is the Yiddish word for speak

by
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe

Syosset, New York

He was one of the first "zokher" (male) newspaper food editors in the country and the host of "Arthur Schwartz With Food Talk." His paternal "zeyde" was first a professional chef, then a food manufacturer, then a curmudgeonly " kelner" (waiter) in a Jewish dairy restaurant. His maternal "bobe" was a great cook and was the envy and despair of the neighbors.

Schwartz grew up in a food-obsessed Brooklyn family that went--and still goes-- to any length for a good meal.

The first sentence in Arthur Schwartz's " New York Jewish Food: Strictly Kosher Mostly Yiddish Cooking Revisited" is as follows: "If a kosher martian landed in New York, he would think sushi is the most Jewish food on Earth."

I often "fregn zikh" (ask myself/wonder) if Arthur Schwartz would agree with John Crittenden, who said that one must know the following 10 Yiddish words to understand the chatter in Miami Beach delicatessens:

1. Bialy
2. Challah
3. Borscht
4. Gelt
5. Knish
6. Kuegel
7. Latkes
8. Lox
9. Maven
10. Zaftig

This weekend I had the pleasure of eating at Maxie's Restaurant Bar, located at 48th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan. Their menu says "So go ahead and invite the Gontzeh Mespuchah to Maxie's." They also explain "How To Speak Deli!" So you don't get fermished (mixed up), they provide 16 helpful translations:

CHUTZPAH
Nerve. "It takes a lot of chutzpah not to like Maxie's Deli."

EMMESS
The truth. "We serve the best food anywhere, that's the Emmess."

FERMISHED
Mixed up, confused. "You won't be so fermished now."

FRESSER
A Big Eater. "Only a Fresser can finish a Maxie's Combo."

GONTZAH MEGILLA
Everything. "You'll find the Gontzah Megilla at Maxie's Deli."

KINAHORA
Expression of joy, excitement, or to take note of. "Kinahora, Maxie's has the best sandwiches and foods."

MACHER
Big shot. "At Maxie's Deli, everyone is a Macher."

MESHPUCHAH
Family. "Take your Mescpuchah [sic] to Maxie's Deli for a fun time."

MESHUGGENAH
Crazy. "If you don't like the food at Maxie's your [sic] definitely a Meshugennah."

NEBBISH
A nerd. "Even a Nebbish loves Maxie's Deli."

PLOTZ
Burst with satisfaction. "At Maxie's Deli you will Plotz from all the delicious food."

SCHLEPP
To carry. "Schlepp home a Maxie's sandwich."

SCHMATAH
Rag. "Some people call their friends a real Schmatah."

SCHMUTZ
Dirt. "There is no Schmutz in the Maxie's Deli."

SCHTARKER
A strong person. "To schlepp home a Maxie's Deli sandwich you have to be a Schtarker."

SCHTICKLUCH OR MISHIGOSH
Habit. "Once you eat at Maxie's Deli you get a "Schtickluch for it."

The one word they omitted from the list is "TAYER"--expensive. The Classic Maxie Reuben costs $24.95; Maxie's Famous Home Made Cheese Blintzes, served with sour cream or apple sauce, costs $16.95; a Hot Pastrami sandwich (one pound), costs $14.45; Challah French Toast costs $14.95; a potato knish, $6.95; and a cup of decaffeinated coffee, $2.75. Thank God they accepted my "kredit-kartl" or I'd be washing "di keylim" (the dishes)!
$2.75.

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___________________________________________
Marjorie Gottlieb Wolfe is the author of
two books:

"Yiddish for Dog & Cat Lovers" and
"Are Yentas, Kibitzers, & Tummlers Weapons of Mass Instruction?  Yiddish
Trivia."  To order a copy, go to her
website: MarjorieGottliebWolfe.com

NU, what are you waiting for?  Order the book!