‘Jewish Delis’ Special to Broadcast on Maryland Public Television on Aug. 26

August 14, 2023 JMORE Staff

MPT's Rhea Feikin interviews Attman's Deli owner Dr. Marc Attman. (Provided photo)

Relishing The Opportunity: Rhea Feikin (left), co-host of "Jewish Delis," chats in the famed Kibbitz Room with Attman's Deli owner Dr. Marc Attman at Attman's Lombard Street location. (Provided Photo)

Nu, looking for a tasty and nostalgic nosh? The Owings Mills-based Maryland Public Television has just the right tonic for you — and with plenty of tam (flavor) on the side.

On Saturday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m., MPT will premiere an original special titled “Jewish Delis: Something to Kvell About!” It will air on the statewide public TV network’s main channel, MPT-HD, and the MPT live stream. (A preview is available to view on the network’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/fMmqjDcQZdo.)

“’Jewish Delis’ provides a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the local, oftentimes family-run businesses that provide the brisket, corned beef, pastrami, baked goods and other staples so many people in our region have come to love,” said Patrick Shea, the program’s co-producer and editor.

Hosted by veteran MPT host Rhea Feikin and newcomers Ilan Kaplan and Marcellus Shepard, “Jewish Delis” is a 90-minute culinary tour of the region. Among the local delis and Jewish food service companies profiled in the special are Attman’s Deli, Pariser’s Bakery, Tulkoff Food Products and Lenny’s Deli.

The special traces the history of delis as eating and meeting places for Jews from Central and Eastern Europe, as well as for other delicatessen aficionados, as evidenced by the stretch of Baltimore’s East Lombard Street known as “Corned Beef Row.”

Attman's Deli — Founded in 1915, Attman’s Delicatessen is headquartered at 1019 E. Lombard Street in East Baltimore, with the famed “Kibbitz Room.” (File photo by Joel Nadler)

“Jewish Delis” also features Rosenfeld’s Delicatessen in Ocean City, Mikey and Mel’s Famous Deli in Howard County’s Maple Lawn community, Corned Beef King in Rockville and Call Your Mother in Washington, D.C., which bills itself as a “Jew-ish” deli

“Please tune in, and let us know afterwards what you think of it. We’re excited! We hope that you will be too!” Rosenfeld’s posted on social media.

The documentary also features a visit to East Baltimore’s Jewish Museum of Maryland, to explore the impact of local delis on the area’s burgeoning Jewish community.

“Jewish Delis” will air again at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27, on MPT-HD and the MPT live stream. It will also be available following its broadcast premiere for members with MPT Passport to view on-demand using MPT’s online video player and the PBS App.

“With some light kosher and Yiddish context on the side, along with a can of Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray celery soda, viewers will find this 90-minute culinary tour to be an irresistibly tasty adventure,” said Ethan Staple, co-producer of “Jewish Delis.”

Feikin will join on-air talent Tony Hill during a live pledge event taking place in MPT’s studio during the program’s Aug. 26 premiere. Feikin will provide additional context about the production and share insights about her experiences during filming. Representatives from businesses featured in “Jewish Delis” will also be present to receive viewers’ pledge calls.