OMELETTES

Thirteen is a lucky number at Max and Benny's because that's the number of omelettes that are on our menu. And these scrumptious egg creations are not just served at breakfast, but throughout the day. My favorite is the Hoppel Poppel, which is a tasty concoction of scrambled eggs with generous chunks of salami, potatoes, green peppers and onions.

Marvin the Maven

HALAVAH

Halavah (sometimes spelled halvah) has always been a favorite at the Max and Benny's deli counter. Growing up as kid, I was always ducking into the local deli to grab a nosh of halavah. I had always thought of halavah as mainly a Jewish delicacy, but as I grew up and learned more about the flaky confection, I became aware that halavah had its roots in Turkey and the Ottoman Empire. It seems that the early Jewish delis on the East Coast started carrying halavah because they were influenced by the Armenian and Syrian groceries in their neighborhoods. In any case, we are so happy that our customers continue to love Max and Benny's halavah.

Marvin the Maven

GO LOYOLA ACADEMY FOOTBALL TEAM!

Max and Benny's will be cheering for a win tonight for the Loyola Academy Ramblers football team as they play St. Rita. The Loyola team are a great bunch of young men, who just happen to love Max and Benny's sandwiches. Good luck guys. Bring home a win!

Cousin Richie

A FISH STORY

As I was viewing the fish placed in our deli counter today, I couldn't help but recall Carl Sandberg's poem about the Jewish fish crier on Maxwell Sreet whose "face is that of a man terribly glad to be selling fish, terribly glad that God made fish, and customers to whom he may call his ware from his pushcart." So from pushcart to deli counter, Chicago's Jewish community has always loved its favorite fish delicacies, whether it be sable, whitefish, herring, lox or gefilte fish. Stop by the deli counter at Max and Benny's and see our fish on display, as we too are "terribly glad to be selling fish."

Cousin Richie 

SO MANY TYPES OF CATERING

I'm always amazed by the different types of catering that we do at Max and Benny's. And it's not just catering to Northbrook and Deerfield and other local towns, but we cater throughout the Chicago area. We provide catering to small and medium size businesses as well as Fortune 500 companies. We are well known for catering shivas, but also cater joyous occasions such as bar and bat mitzvahs as well. This time of year we would like you to consider Max and Benny's as a choice for catering your upcoming holiday parties. Our catering menu can be found on our website.

Marvin the Maven

CARRY OUT THANKSGIVING DINNER----WHY NOT?

I know that years ago the idea of a carry out Thanksgiving dinner would seem very very strange. But times have changed. People are busy, and spending hours in the kitchen preparing Thanksgiving dinner is something that many folks don't wish to do. So we at Max and Benny's bring to you, our valued customers, a special carry out menu that can be found here on our website, or in paper at the restaurant. Our special Thanksgiving carry out menu features fresh roasted turkey, either whole or sliced. There are also stuffing cranberry sauce, turkey gravy green bean casserole and your choice of mashed or sweet potatoes. And we have plenty of a la carte items for your carry out Thanksgiving feast. So dear friends, check out the carry out menu closely and consider us at Max and Benny's this year for all your Thanksgiving carry out needs.

Cousin Richie

LATKES

Latkes, the Yiddish word for potato pancakes, are made fresh daily at Max and Benny's. So you don't have to wait to Hanukkah to eat these savory delights. Most folks like their latkes with either sour cream or apple sauce. I happen to be a sour cream guy myself. Stop by the deli or sit down at the restaurant and order some!

Marvin the Maven

Blackhawks and Bulls Logo Cookies

Yes Blackhawks and Bulls fans, those logo cookies that you have seen at the United Center are the same cookies that are baked and sold at Max and Benny's. They make great gifts for Blackhawks and Bulls fans of all ages.

Kosher Style

We always say that Max and Benny's is a kosher style restaurant and deli. What does that mean? Clearly we are not kosher since our meat does not go through the rabbinical kashrut authorities. We also mix dairy and meat products and that is definitely not kosher. We also serve pork products, also a kosher no-no. However since we do serve many products that you would find at a kosher food establishment such as matzoh ball soup, corned beef, chopped liver, kreplach, for example, Max and Benny's is labeled as kosher style in American deli-restaurant parlance.  One additional point: A kosher restaurant would never be open on Friday night or Saturday during the day, times when Max and Benny's is serving our great food to the public.

Marvin the Maven

The Schvitz Boys

The boys at the schvitz last night told me how much they liked the Max and Benny's chopped liver that Sid brought to the party. Jay Boy then asked "What does it mean when someone who is ignored says What am I Chopped Liver?" Well as a true deli expert I explained it to Jay Boy. You see, chopped liver is traditionally served as a side dish, a complement to the main course. Thus someone who feels that he/she is being relegated to a secondary role in a social situation can use that phrase in showing displeasure.  

Marvin the Maven

ANOTHER OPUS FROM DELI BARD

The doctor may tell you
Your cholesterol is up
So that makes it challenging
For breakfast, brunch and sup

Max and Benny's has your back!
Do not fear! Do not wilt!
There is plenty on the menu
Without adding to your guilt.

In good taste,

Bubbeleh Bobbie

KREPLACH SOUP

One of our most popular soups at Max and Benny's is kreplach soup. A kreplach is a meat dumpling and it is usually served in a bowl of chicken soup. Some people call kreplach soup the Jewish won ton soup. I enjoy a hot bowl of kreplach soup all year long, but I especially like it when the weather changes this time of year.

Marvin the Maven