Inside New York's iconic Jewish delis on Classic Chronicle

Inside New York's iconic Jewish delis on Classic Chronicle Mike Barnicle explores the traditions, recipes and personalities behind New York's legendary Jewish delis in this 1991 Classic Chronicle Editorial Standards ⓘ The report visits Carnegie Deli, where owner Milton Parker says generous portions have always been part of the restaurant's identity. Customers are greeted by towering sandwiches, bustling waitstaff and what Parker calls "very highly organized confusion." At Katz's Delicatessen on the Lower East Side, employees demonstrate the tradition of hand-cutting meats and offering customers a taste before building each sandwich. The segment also revisits the deli's longtime slogan, "Send a salami to your boy in the army," and notes the restaurant's appearance in the film When Harry Met Sally. Advertisement The story extends beyond sandwiches to the businesses that supply New York's deli culture. United Pickles shares the generations-old methods behind its garlic pickles, while Carnegie's cheesecake bakery showcases the recipe used to make thousands of cheesecakes each year. The deli owners and workers describe the pride they take in preserving recipes and traditions passed down through generations. Together, they paint a portrait of New York's Jewish delis as destinations where food, history and neighborhood culture come together.