Page 15 - Jewish News_February 2020

COMMUNITY FOCUS February 2020 15A

Sarasota’s Jewish relationship with food

By Kim Sheintal, President, Jewish Genealogical Society of SWFL
here is a joke that every Jewish in 2012. By 2012, Sarasota was ready liver, brisket and NY pastrami. As of and Brooklyn Bagels & Deli.
holiday can be summarized as, for a locally owned Jewish restaurant January 2020, Hotel Indigo began hav- From about 2003-2005, Morton’s
was to save as many Jews as possible: T“They tried to kill us, we won, to come to Sarasota. ing Sol NYC Deli Days seven days a Gourmet Market owned the Kosher
men, women, children, the elderly and let’s eat!” It is hard to document Jewish People were excited when Sol week from noon until 10:00 p.m. Corner, a kosher market. After the Ko-
even the infirm. traditions and history without mention- Meyer NYC Deli opened in 2015 at Around 1978, Mort Goodman and sher Corner closed, Leon, who worked
Ehrreich’s focus remains steadfast: ing food. 1473 Main Street in Sarasota. In Janu- Marvin Katz opened Sarasota’s first at the Kosher Corner, opened Leon’s, a
to continue to promote public aware- Leah Koenig defined Jewish food ary 2016, Sol Shenker announced he bagel shop, the Bagel Inn, at 1902 Jewish market on Bahia Vista. Leon’s
ness about the Holocaust and to em- in the online magazine Tablet. “My split from his Sol Meyer business part- Bay Road. The Bagel Inn remained at was not kosher and was only open a
phasize the heroic acts of resistance of own definition, honed over the years ners to open Sol’s NYC Deli. In Feb- that location until 1998. From about short time. Mattison’s and Michael’s
the Bielski brothers. She also wants to of fumbling to answer the question at ruary 2016, Sol’s NYC Deli opened 1980 until 1982, there was a Bagel On East can cater kosher events, be-
ensure the story and legacy of her fa- cooking demonstrations, is that Jew- Inn Bakery and a Bagel Inn cause Chabad of Sarasota has a sepa-
ther Tuvia so that it remains in the fore- ish cuisine includes any dish that holds Main Street. From 1986 un- rate set of dishes, and koshers the
front of Jewish history and Holocaust meaningful cultural, historical or ritual til 1999, bagel shops were facility upon request.
study. significance to Jewish communities. multiplying in the Sarasota The Jewish Federation of Sara-
Only 250 seats are available for But – and this is an important but – to area with two Better Bagels, sota-Manatee has sponsored many
this presentation. Advance tickets are identify a dish as Jewish does not claim two Bagelwich shops, two food festivals with a variety of Jew-
$15 and reservations may be made by it as exclusively Jewish.” Manhattan Bagels, Einstein ish and Israeli foods. Temple Sinai and
calling the Temple Beth Sholom office Finding Jewish food at restaurants Bagels, Morty’s Bagel Café, Jewish Congregation of Venice have
at 941.955.8121 or at www.temple- in Sarasota has always been a chal- Brueger’s Bagels, Sarasota had annual Jewish food festivals for
bethsholomfl.org/events. If any tickets lenge. There were less than 500 Jews In 1949, Leah Deitch and Becky Goldberg Bagel Café, and R & J Bagel more than 10 years. Chabad of Sara-
are available at the door, the cost will living in Sarasota in 1950. The Fiesta, a are seated in front of the Fiesta Restaurant Factory & Deli. The Better sota, with the Jewish Federation as a
be $20. We anticipate a great demand Jewish-style restaurant owned by Saul in the Main Plaza complex. In March Bagels at 7119 South Tamiami Trail sponsor, has an annual A Taste of Cha-
for seats for this amazing program and Haberman, opened in about 1949 at 2016, Sol Meyer NYC Deli held a had kosher bagels, and no other bagel nukah Festival selling strictly kosher
encourage all interested individuals to the northeast corner of Tamiami Trail re-branding ceremony, and the deli at shop in Sarasota had kosher bagels food.
purchase tickets as early as possible. and Proctor Road in Sarasota. From 1473 Main Street became Doc Sam’s until Shapp’s Bagels opened in 2015. Jewish restaurants have been
1964-1988, Leonard and Helen Roth- NYC Deli and Gourmet Eatery. In Feb- Shapp’s Bagels closed in 2018. Bagel sparse in Sarasota, but as soon as a new
man owned Leonard’s of Sarasota, a ruary 2017, Shenker relocated to Gulf shops currently in Sarasota are Lox and restaurant or a food festival serving
catering service known for its Jewish- Gate to share a space with Panificio. Eggs, Einstein Bagels (aka Coffee & Jewish, Israeli or kosher food comes to
style food. From 1967 until 1975, Dot- Shenker left that space in March 2018 Bagels), R & J Bagel Factory & Deli, town, it is the buzz of the community.
ty’s Kosher, a Jewish-style restaurant to partner with the Starlite Room. The
owned by Robert and Frances Kesten- Starlite Room closed shortly thereafter.
baum, was on Main Street in Sarasota. Shenker was Executive Chef at Hotel DON’T FALL!
After it closed, it reopened at the north- Indigo from 2011 until he opened Sol
west corner of Hillview and Tamiami Meyer NYC Deli.
Trail, but closed the same year. From In July 2018, Shenker returned We Specialize in...
1998 until 2004, The Big Kitchen on as Executive Chef at Hotel Indigo. In • Balance Retraining and Fall Prevention
Clark Road, owned by Jerry Gips, was mid-2019, a local customer at Hotel • Orthopedic and Neurological Rehabilitation
a popular eatery. Gips spoke at the Jew- Indigo asked Shenker for matzah ball • Aquatic Physical Therapy
ish Genealogical Society meeting in soup. The man enjoyed the soup so • Individualized Fitness & Wellness Programs FREE
October 2004 about Jewish foods. The much that matzah ball soup was added
week prior to his presentation, word got as a menu special. One day, Shenker
out that The Big Kitchen was closing, had to make 20 gallons of matzah ball FALL RISK ASSESSMENT!
thus making this program a big draw to soup. In the fall of 2019, Hotel Indigo Call now to schedule, or stop in!
the local community. The Noshery was began having periodic Sol NYC Deli Spelled Different Because We Are Different
located in the Shoppes of Bay Isles on Days with half sour pickles and cole- 5922 Cattlemen Lane, Suite 100, Sarasota, FL 34232
Longboat Key for many years prior to slaw at each table, and menu items such (941) 378-8977 www.FYZICAL.com
the remodeling of that shopping center as matzah ball soup, blintzes, chopped

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