Review of Deli Man (2015) by Mark I — 08 Feb 2015

Amazingly appetizing and enthralling from appetizer to dessert, this doc is much more than a profile of Ziggy Gruber, the primary deli man. The well-paced and written film chronicles the nearly 150 years of Jewish delicatessens in America and more recently Canada! Only 150 Jewish delis remain in North America, and this marvelous film cherishes each one with coast to coast energetic interviews - celebs like Larry King and Fyvush Finkel, devoted talented chefs and managers.

Luscious corned beef and pastrami abound, along with pickles, noodle kugel, matzo ball soup, chopped liver, and mouth-watering smoked nova salmon. Bissels of Yiddish are sprinkled in and translated on screen accompanying an engaging close personal look at Ziggy's Houston deli enterprise and his courtship culminated in a wonderfully sentimental wedding in Budapest.

This is definitely one of the most charming and engaging food-related docs in a long while.