Manny's Deli, Old-School Food & Noodle Kugel with Dan Raskin

On this episode of Taste Buds with Deb, host Debra Eckerling speaks with Dan Raskin, the fourth-generation owner of Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen. The legendary Chicago institution, started by his grandfather and great uncle, has been serving classic deli fare since 1942.

"[When the deli first opened] our customers were primarily Jewish - I would say 95 or even 100 percent," Raskin says. "And now maybe 10% of our customers are Jewish."

Raskin believes that's likely common for the delis in larger cities, like Chicago and Los Angeles, and he attributes it in part to a love of old-school European, house-made food.

"I see a lot of the different cultures come in here, not just for corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, but for the short rib and the liver and onions and the dishes that are homemade that you can't get everywhere," he explains. "I think that people want to continue to have this type of food, but they want to make sure it's authentic and the highest quality."

Then there's the nostalgia factor.

"Everybody is happy when they're eating, especially when [it's] something that's nostalgic to them," Raskin says. "Whether you're eating a bowl of matzo ball soup here, or eating it at home, you think of the people that surrounded you when you ate it."

Even growing up, Raskin, one of four siblings, knew he really wanted to follow in his family's footsteps. He definitely has mustard - never ketchup - running through his veins.

Dan Raskin talks about Manny's origin story, his deli favorites, and their commitment to creating consistent quality food. He also shares his recipe for sweet kugel, which you can find at JewishJournal.com/podcasts.

Learn more at MannysDeli.com and follow @MannysDeli on Instagram and TikTok and @MannysChicago on Facebook.

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