While the Twin Cities don’t boast a kosher deli scene, Chabad of Maple Grove is trying to bring a little New York-style deli to the area.
The new Chabad chapter, launched about 10 months ago, is taking orders for its first Pop-Up NY Kosher Deli night at the Northwest Greenway Pavilion in Plymouth. The event is Aug. 22, with the deadline to order Aug. 15 – or until they’ve sold out.
“I’m from Los Angeles, and LA and other cities have a big kosher scene; here, it’s limited. People we’ve spoken to have bemoaned that fact,” said Rabbi Nissi Naparstek, who along with his wife, Mushka, leads the new Chabad community. “We’re not opening a restaurant, but for a one-day event, people can experience a kosher dinner and an opportunity to connect with other Jews.”
This is the second large-scale event that Chabad of Maple Grove has put on; The Naparsteks had a menorah-lighting ceremony in the Arbor Lakes area of Maple Grove in November, with one of Chabad’s easily identifiable, 12-foot tall menorahs in the city’s first public Hanukkah display.
“The goal is to build up to do more and more,” Naparstek said. “We hope to purchase property and have a site. And if this works well, we’re happy to do this as a service to the community. it’s important to show that it’s cool to be Jewish and get good kosher food and that you can keep kosher out here in Minnesota.”
The meal options are a half-pound of corned beef or pastrami on rye with a pickle and a side of cole slaw, a potato knish, a dessert of chocolate rugalach or black and white cookie.
There is no charge for the meal, but Naparstek said they are taking donations to help defray the cost.
“No one will be turned away” if they can’t pay,” he said. “We have a large community and we should get together for good reasons. It’s a win-win: community and food is a reason to celebrate.”
Very nice initiative . Good luck
If the community can locate the Northwest Greenway Pavilion in Plymouth, it should be a huge successfull event. The photo of the hand sliced corned beef sandwich looks like it’s made on WHITE BREAD, a shanda. The event is a nice event.