Delicatessen

For other uses, see Delicatessen (disambiguation).
Array of meats, cheeses and bottles
An array of meats and cheeses at an Italian delicatessen in Rome

Delicatessen is the word used to describe a retail establishment that sells a selection of unusual or foreign prepared foods whose origins began in Germany during the 1700s and spread to the United States in the mid-1800s during the diaspora of European immigrants of whom the Ashkenazi Jews (Jews of Germany) most popularized its establishment within the American culture beginning in 1888.

Etymology

Jar of pâté and bottle of white wine
French delicacies sold in delicatessens: foie gras and Sauternes

Delicatessen is a German loanword[1] which first appeared in English in 1889[2] and is the plural of Delikatesse. In German it was originally a French loanword, délicatesse, meaning "delicious things (to eat)". Its root word is the Latin adjective delicatus, meaning "giving pleasure, delightful, pleasing".[3] The first Americanized short version of this word, deli, came into existence c. 1954.[4]

History

The German food company Dallmayr is credited with being the first delicatessen created when in 1700 it became the first store to import bananas, mangoes, and plums to the German population from far away places such as the Canary Islands and China and today, over 300 years later, it remains the largest such business of its kind in Europe.[5]

The first delicatessens to appear in the United States were in New York City in the mid-1800’s with the first known use of this word occurring in 1885[6] and who catered to the German immigrant population living there.[7]

As the German-Jewish population increased in New York City during the mid to late 1880’s, delicatessens began to be created for them due to their being wedded to dietary restrictions imposed upon them by their Kashrut (kosher) religious dietary laws with the first one opening in 1889.[7][8][9]

By the late 20th to early 21st centuries, the traditional (historic/ethnic) delicatessen throughout America became generic with many retail establishments using this word (most commonly in its Americanized abbreviated form deli) to describe selected sections in supermarkets, local economy stores, and fast food outlets[10]—with its decline most noted in New York City where from its high in the 1930’s of about 1,500 Jewish delicatessens, by 2015 only 15 still existed.[11]

By country and region

Australia

Deli window displaying breads and other foods
An Italian-style delicatessen in Five Dock, Sydney

In most of Australia, the term "delicatessen" retains its European meaning. Large supermarket chains often have a deli department, and independent delicatessens exist throughout the country. Both types of deli offer a variety of cured meats, sausages, pickled vegetables, dips, breads and olives.

"Deli" also denotes a small convenience store or milk bar in Western and South Australia, and some businesses use "deli" as part of their business name. Traditional delicatessens also exist in these states, with "continental delicatessen" sometimes used to indicate the European version.

Canada

In Canada, both meanings of "delicatessen" are used. Immigrants from Europe often use the term in a manner consistent with its original German meaning but, as in the United States, delis can be either take-out or mixed take-out and sit-down restaurants.

Europe

Large, ornate, high-ceilinged delicatessen
The fish counter at Harrods in London
Various delicatessen foods

In Europe "delicatessen" means high-quality, expensive foods and stores. In German-speaking countries a common synonym is Feinkost (fine food), and shops which sell it are called Feinkostläden (delicacy stores). Department stores often have a Delikatessenabteilung (delicacy department). European delicatessens include Fauchon in Paris, Dallmayr in Munich, Harrods[12][13] and Fortnum & Mason in London, and Peck in Milan.

Although U.S.-style delicatessens are also found in Europe, they appeal to the luxury market. In Russia, shops and supermarket sections approximating US-style delis are called kulinariya and offer salads and main courses. Delicate meats and cheeses, cold-cut and sliced hot, are sold in a separate section and submarine sandwiches made to order are limited to fast-food franchises such as Subway. The Eliseevsky food store in central Moscow, with its fin de siècle decor, is similar to a European delicatessen. From the Tsarist era, it was preserved by the Soviets as an outlet for difficult-to-obtain Russian delicacies. Delicatessens may also provide foods from other countries and cultures which is not readily available in local food stores. In Italy, the deli is called delikatesas.

United States

In the United States, a delicatessen (or deli) is often a combined grocery store and restaurant. Delis offer a broader, fresher menu than fast-food chains, rarely employing fryers (except for chicken) and routinely preparing sandwiches to order. They may also serve hot foods from a steam table, similar to a cafeteria. American delis sell cold cuts by weight and prepare party trays. Although delicatessens vary in size, they are typically smaller than grocery stores.

In addition to made-to-order sandwiches, many U.S. delicatessens offer made-to-order green salads. Equally common is a selection of prepared pasta, potato, chicken, tuna, shrimp or other salads, displayed under the counter and sold by weight. Precooked chicken (usually roasted or fried), shrimp, cheese or eggplant dishes (fried or parmigiana style) are also sold. Delis may be either strictly take-out, a sit-down restaurant or both.

Delicatessens offer a variety of beverages, such as pre-packaged soft drinks, coffee, tea and milk. Potato chips and similar products, newspapers and small items such as candy and mints are also usually available.

Menus vary according to regional ethnic diversity. Although urban delis rely on ethnic meats (such as pastrami, corned beef and salami), supermarket delis rely on meats similar to their packaged meats (primarily ham, turkey and American bologna).

Delicatessens have a number of cultural traditions. In the United States, many are Jewish, Italian, and Greek, both kosher and "kosher style". The American equivalent of a European delicatessen may be known as a gourmet food store. North American delicatessen distribution is primarily in older, walkable cities.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Words in English: Loanwords". Ruf.rice.edu. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Entry for delicatessen". wordcentral.com. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Deli". merriam-webster.com. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  5. ↑ History of New York Delis (Report). pastramiblog.blogspot.com. 2009. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Delicatessen". merriam-webster.com. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Tracing The Path Of The 'Deli Man' Across North America (Report). NPR. February 15, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  8. ↑ Kriftcher, Noel (2009). Review: Save the Deli (Report). Jewish Book Council. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  9. ↑ Sokan, Kenny (March 31, 2016). Pastrami on rye: A full-length history of the Jewish deli (Report). Public Radio International. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  10. ↑ Naylor, Tony (March 16, 2010). "The Deli Directive". The Guardian. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  11. ↑ "The rise and fall of the Jewish deli". The Economist. December 15, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Are pork scratchings going posh? - BBC News". BBC News. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Delicatessens in Knightsbridge, Central London | Reviews – Yell". Trustedplaces.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

Further reading

External links

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