International Interest

I was looking at the country of origin section on our blog analytics the other day. I noticed that last year we had 50 pageviews from China and 40 from Romania. Why I wondered. Perhaps there is interest from China about our Reuben egg rolls and maybe Romanians heard that Max and Benny's makes a great Romanian skirt steak? In any case, we love to know that there is international interest in Max and Benny's.

Marvin the Maven

Uncle Jerry Honored

Our uncle, Jerry Schlan, was recently honored by the Great Vest Side Club. Uncle Jerry, along with other surviving members of the great Marshall High School Junior basketball teams from 1939-1944, received plaques of recognition for their incredible 98 consecutive game winning streak, which remains a Chicago Public School and state of Illinois record. Congratulations Uncle Jerry, and thanks to the Great Vest Side Club.

Small Business Saturday

Next Saturday, November 26th, is Small Business Saturday. For the last twenty-five plus years, we at Max and Benny's have had the pleasure of serving you. We are a family-owned business, competing against the large corporate restaurant chains. We appreciate your support over the years. So have a great Thanksgiving holiday and remember to stop by on Small Business Saturday. 

Mozart and Blintzes

Max and Benny's donated the lunch today for the volunteers at the WFMT pledge drive. There were so many lovers of classical music in the room. One learned gentleman mentioned to me that Mozart loved blintzes. Imagine that!

Marvin the Maven

Pumpkinmania at Max and Benny's!

Calling all lovers of pumpkin baked goods! Max and Benny's marvelous bakery has all kinds of pumpkin goodies for you this Fall season. We have scrumptious pumpkin bread, which I especially like to have with a schmear of cream cheese to accompany my coffee at breakfast these cool November mornings. Our pumpkin slices are perfect as a side to dinner or lunch, or anytime you get the urge to nosh. And who can think of a better dessert this Fall season than Max and Benny's luscious and savory pumpkin cream pie? I must admit that I cannot think of another bakery in the area that makes a better pumpkin rugelach (no nuts) than the fine bakers here at Max and Benny's.

Marvin the Maven  

Wish for a Knish

When you wish for a knish, you don't have to go farther than Max and Benny's. These doughy Jewish favorites can be found at our deli counter. Traditional knish lovers may choose the meat knish with poppyseeds or perhaps the potato knish. Others may find the spinach and feta knish to be their choice. Anyway, when it comes to great Jewish dishes, you can't go wrong with any of our three types of knishes.

Marvin the Maven (and sometimes poet)

STRUDEL

What luscious dessert do you like to have with your coffee? Rugelach? Mandel Bread? Consider strudel. Yes strudel, and nobody makes it better than the bakers at Max and Benny's. We have three scrumptious kinds of strudel in our bakery. Believe me, all are fantastic with or without coffee. So try Max and Benny's cheese strudel, apple strudel and cherry cheese strudel. You will not be disappointed!

Marvin the Maven  

Jim Jagel, Our New Catering Manager

Jim Jagel grew up in the food business. As a young man, he worked in his family's grocery and deli, taking over the business at a young age, and transforming it into a premier catering operation in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. Jim moved to Chicago for larger city life and new career challenges. In 1999, he entered the Downtown Chicago catering arena, working at the Radisson and Doubletree Magnificent Mile. After moving to the North Shore, Jim joined Max and Benny's and today is growing and enhancing our catering operation. We welcome Jim to the Max and Benny's team.

Caramel and Chocolate Dipped Mandel Bread

If you are starting to get into the spirit of Halloween, consider picking up some of Max and Benny's caramel and chocolate dipped mandel bread. Your friends and family will love it. It's a unique and tasty Halloween treat!

Marvin the Maven

Elie Berkman

In case you haven't noticed, we have some wonderful photographic landscape prints on display in the Back Room at Max and Benny's. They are the work of Elie Berkman, an Israeli-born Glencoe resident, who specializes in black and white photography from around the world, especially the U.S., China and Israel. We hope you enjoy these beautiful photos. 

Brisk and Brisket

Our business is brisk (as well as brisket) this time of year. We are so grateful for all our wonderful customers. Check out our high holiday menus at http://www.maxandbennys.com/ or call us at 847-272-9490 and be sure to place your high holiday carryout order today or make a reservation to join us at the restaurant the first two evenings of Rosh Hashanah. 

Marvin the Maven

GOOD LUCK RAMBLERS

Once again this year, Max and Benny's has the great privilege to cater for the Loyola Academy football team. Gameday, Max and Benny's will provide wholesome breakfasts to the Ramblers. This weekend the 10th ranked Ramblers host the tough 11th ranked Montini eleven. Eat well, eat healthy Ramblers, and just remember your friends at Max and Benny's are cheering you on!

HIGH HOLIDAYS 2011

The Jewish High Holidays are nearing. Erev Rosh Hashanah is about five weeks away on  the evening of September 28. Consider Max and Benny's for all your High Holiday needs. Our High Holiday menu will be ready in print and online very soon. We will send the menu to all on our email list. Please let us know if you want to be added to that list. 

Mandel Bread

The Italians have been dipping biscottis into their coffee for hundreds of years, and we Jews have been dipping  mandel bread into our coffee for centuries as well. Rumor has it that a Jewish baker named Mandel from Genoa influenced his Italian colleagues in creating the biscotti. Fact or fiction, anybody out there in cyberspace know? What I know is the Max and Benny's has the most delicious mandel bread in the world, and that is a fact. We have delicious varieties of mandel bread, including cinnamon, chocolate chip, chocolate dipped chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, sugar free raisin and sugar free nut.  

Marvin the Maven 

Sid Luckman

There is a discussion among sports fans as to who was the best Jewish baseball player. Was it the slugger Hank Greenberg or the outstanding lefty pitcher Sandy Koufax? There is no divided opinion though about who was the best Jewish football player. Only one name comes up in the discussion, and that is Sid Luckman.

Luckman played collegiate ball at Columbia University in New York City where he was an All-American. However it was with the Chicago Bears that Luckman made his name among the football greats. Playing for the Bears from 1939-1950, with a stint along the way in the Merchant Marine, Luckman led the Bears to four NFL titles. He was the first "T" formation quarterback in the pros, revolutionizing the offensive side of the game. Luckman, who is in the NFL Hall of Fame, threw for a total of 14,686 yards with 137 passing touchdowns.

Cousin Richie

Marvin the Maven's European Observations

I have been traveling around Europe to see if any of those fancy-schmanzy European bakeries can make a decent bagel, and I have learned that they fail miserably in comparison to the masters of bagelry here at Max and Benny's in Northbrook. Our bagels, in my humble opinion, are the best in the world (or at least in Europe). And speaking of those silly Europeans, I tried to order a Danish one morning at the Copenhagen airport, and nobody there knew what I was talking about. 

Marvin the Maven

REUBEN EGG ROLLS

Max and Benny's reuben egg rolls were a big hit at the Max and Benny's JDRF fundraiser this week. Our owner, Lester Schlan, personally went around the restaurant pushing a cart offering complimentary reuben egg rolls to patrons. Several customers thought that these delicious reuben egg rolls would make a wonderful appetizer for upcoming home family gatherings, sports watching events, etc. Lester says just call in a couple days before your event and we can make as many of these tasty appetizers as you like.

Marvin the Maven

Hershey "Howie" Carl

A couple of days ago a guy came into Max and Benny's and we started talking about Chicago Jewish basketball greats and the name Hershey "Howie" Carl inevitably came up. Howie, who past away a few years ago, played high school hoops at Von Steuben and college ball at DePaul. I remember schlepping down to Alumni Hall on Belden and Sheffield from our place in West Rogers Park to watch Howie play on Coach Ray Meyer's Blue Demons team. As a fellow Jewish kid from the North Side, I thought that it was pretty amazing that Howie was playing at Catholic DePaul. Howie was an incredible shooter and he played well with his backcourt mate, the late Bill Haig. I know that Howie had a brief NBA career with the Packers, but my best memories of him are those beautiful long shots going swish through the hoop on those cold winter nights in that gym by the El tracks.

Cousin Richie

ANOTHER JEWISH BALLPLAYER THAT SHOULD BE IN THE HOF

If you've been in Max and Benny's you know by the pictures on the walls how much we love baseball. We especially love our two great Jewish Hall of Fame players Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax. But there is another past Jewish baseball star who has been ignored by the HOF Veterans Committee. He is Buddy Myer, a second baseman who played for 17 years from 1925-1941, 16 of those years with the Washington Senators.

It's a shanda that Buddy Myer is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was a contemporary of HOF second baseman Billy Herman, who he had comparable lifetime statistics, and Myer had considerably better stats than  Bill Mazerowski, another HOF second sacker. Myer played in 1923 games to Herman's 1922. Myer batted .303 compared to Herman's .304. Myer scored 1174 runs and Herman had 1163. Myer had 850 RBIs to Herman's 839.

Herman had about 200 more career hits than Myer, but Myer had about 200 walks, making their On Base Percentage very similar. Herman did outpace Myer in doubles, 486-353, but Myer hit 130 triples to Herman's 67. Both players had minimal home run power, only 47 for Herman and 38 for Myer. Myer played on two losing World Series teams, and Herman played in five World Series losers (four times with the Cubs).

Mazerowski  was a lifetime .260 hitter who played more than 250 games more than Myer, yet Myer had more than 115 more career hits. Mazerowski did have 138 homers in his career, but he had paltry base speed and only stole 27 bases compared to 156 for Myer.

We Jewish baseball fans don't have much representation among players in Cooperstown. This is why I am kvelling about Myer's stats and kvetching why the HOF Veterans Committee continues to ignore him for induction. 

Cousin Richie 

GLUTEN-FREE MENU

Please check out the gluten-free items on our menu. We have gluten-free individual pizzas, chicken tenders, pancakes and chicken soup. Max and Benny's also has gluten-free bakery items including cookies, brownies, cupcakes, bagels, English muffins and sliced bread.

HOPPEL POPPEL

A guy from Sheboyan came in the other day and said "Max and Benny's has the best hoppel poppel I ever tasted and I tasted a lot of it coming from Wisconsin." Thank you sir and we appreciate the compliment. Our patrons seem to love this particular dish, which consists of scrambled eggs with chunks of salami, potatoes, green peppers and onions. Many folks ask the origin of the name of the dish. It actually is a nonsense phrase from an old German nursery rhyme.

Marvin the Maven

NEW MENUS

Max and Benny's has new restaurant and carryout menus. Check the menus out in the restaurant and online. Hope you like them. We always appreciate your feedback.

Marvin the Maven

WHITE SOX MEMORIES

I was recently reminiscing about when my uncles Julie and Jerry Schlan bought White Sox season tickets for the 1960 season after the Sox won the pennant in 1959. I remember the White Sox sending out Dizzy Trout (Steve's dad, who worked in White Sox community relations), outfielder Al Smith (of spilled beer fame) and outfielder Jim Landis (the best center fielder that has worn white and black in my lifetime) to my uncles' business, Veterans Supply in South Chicago. Smith and Landis spent over an hour schmoozing with my uncles and their employees. I was working part-time for my uncles then, a star-struck 14 year-old kid seeing and talking to a couple of my beloved White Sox heros.What a thrill! And boy has the game of baseball changed! Can you imagine today's major league players peddling tickets for the team in the off season?

Cousin Richie 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Things will be hopping during Father's Day at Max and Benny's. I especially love to see the tables filling with intergenerational fathers. Neat stuff. We have special Father's Day cookies for sale and plenty of other scrumptious bakery and deli items that you might want Dad to take home. And finally, dear children, liebe kinder, be kind to your Dad and remember him not just on Father's Day, but every day. Don't be like Mel Brooks' 2000 Year Old Man who sired hundreds of children but not one of them ever calls. All the best.

Marvin the Maven 

MAX AND BENNY'S ON THE LINKS

The rain held off today, so Max and Benny's very own Danny and Rachel hung out at our sponsored hole passing out special cookies and catering coupons to the hearty golfers who participated in the annual Northbrook Chamber of Commerce golf outing. Danny and Rachel loved the interaction with the golfers who were so pleased to have that Max and Benny's presence on the links.

Marvin the Maven  

SOUTH SHORE/SOUTH SIDER REUNION NIGHT

A South Shore/South Sider reunion night will be held at Max and Benny's on Monday, July 25th from 5:30 PM until 8:30 PM. All area high school alumni from all years are welcome. It's a great way to catch up with old friends and get reaquainted with those that you haven't seen in years. It really will be a great evening of fun and enjoyment. Complimentary commemorative plates for the event will be offered to the first 150 customers who order the special South Shore/South Sider buffet. Come early as there will be no reservations taken that night. For more information about what promises to be a wonderful event contact Richard Reeder at richard@maxandbennys.com.

JDRF FUNDRAISER AT MAX AND BENNY'S

Max and Benny's Restaurant will be having a fundraising event benefitting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) on the evening of Monday, July 11, 2011. That evening, between the hours of 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM, Max and Benny's will donate 20% of our dine-in dinner proceeds to JDRF. We encourage JDRF supporters to bring friends and family that evening to make this event a great success. We suggest that you call ahead and make reservations so that we can accommodate your group. Max and Benny's is located at 461 Waukegan Road in Northbrook, in the Brookside Shopping Center Plaza opposite the entrance to the Eden's Spur. Our telephone number is 847-272-9490.

CORPORATE CATERING IN DEERFIELD

Although Max and Benny's is officially located in Northbrook, Illinois, the largest number of our corporate catering customers seem to be located in Deerfield. After all, we are just across Waukegan Road from Deerfield. Perhaps Deerfield has more businesses than Northbrook, does anybody know that for a fact? No matter, whether you want the best and most delicious corporate or personal catering in the area, your first choice should be the scrumptious food that you can only find at Max and Benny's.

Marvin the Maven

PEOPLE OF THE BOOK

We Jews have got the reputation as being the "people of the book." So it makes sense that the the "Chicago Jewish Authors Literary Series" be hosted in the Prairie Room at Max and Benny's. The next speaker in the series is Libby Fischer Hellmann, the award-winning author of seven crime fiction thrillers, including the recent SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE. The event is on June 21 at 7:00 PM. All are welcome to attend. Complimentary refreshments will be served at the event, but come early for dinner at Max and Benny's and enjoy our wonderful food before the event.

Marvin the Maven

IN-HOUSE PARTY PLATTERS AT MAX AND BENNY'S

When you are planning to get together with family or friends for a special occasion and feel crunched for time, please consider putting Max and Benny's Party Platters to work for you. These family-style dinners, served in our restaurant on circulating rotating trays, are a fun and convenient way to enjoy our scrumptious food. 

TRADITION!

Remember the song "Tradition!" from the musical Fiddler on the Roof? Well when I think of tradition in Jewish food, I can't help think about our great offerings in the deli and restaurant at Max and Benny's. Our grandparents and great-grandparents who came to America from Central and Eastern brought with them traditional foods as gefilte fish, chopped liver, kreplach, matzo balls and kasha. Oh and did I forget the rugelach and mandel bread? These Jewish culinary traditions are kept alive and well at Max and Benny's in North Suburban Northbrook. Great comfort food not just for the Jewish community but for everyone. After all, to paraphrase a famous TV ad from years ago "you don't have to be Jewish to love Max and Benny's."

Marvin the Maven

MOTHER'S DAY

Soon we will be gathering together on Mother's Day to honor all the mothers in our family. What better idea than to treat your mom with a hassle-free, custom-made deli or dairy tray from Max and Benny's? And this year, Max and Benny's will include a complementary Mother's Day cake from our bakery with your tray order. Your mom will love you for it!

PASSOVER A LA CARTE AT MAX AND BENNY'S

So you are getting ready for your seder dinner, and you learn that you still need a few items. What to do? Come to Max and Benny's, your Passover shopping one-stop location. Not only do we get the folks from Northbrook, Deerfield and Highland Park who come to us for their last minute Peasach needs, but people come from the city of Chicago and cities in southern Wisconsin as well. So to paraphrase Julius Caesar "all roads lead to Max and Benny's during Passover. " After all, where else can you get, at the last minute, the best gefilte fish, potato kugel and chopped liver in town, if not Max and Benny's?

Marvin the Maven   

GEFILTE FISH FOR PASSOVER

We are so pleased here at Max and Benny's of the great response among our customers for our gefilte fish, especially now during the days before the Passover holiday. One customer Melvin, a born and bred New Yorker, placed an order today for thirty pieces of gefilte fish for his two holiday seders. Melvin, after the order was placed, said "Max and Benny's gefilte fish is the best I've tasted from any restaurant, and that's from a New Yorker."

Marvin the Maven 

SECOND NIGHT SEDER DINNER

Max and Benny's seder dinner for the second night of Passover is growing more popular each year. Many cooks are so tired preparing the first night's seder meal at home. Eating at Max and Benny's on the second night of Passover, with a complete seder meal with passover wine and tables with linen, makes a wonderful family experience. We hope that you join us. Give us a call at 847-272-9490 and make your reservation.

Don't Pass Over Max and Benny's for Passover

I know that it sounds a little bit corny, but I always tell customers at the deli counter to remember not to pass over Max and Benny's for all their Passover needs. What I mean by this is that we have regular customers coming and going to and from Chicago from their homes in Buffalo Grove or even as far as Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee who are always passing Max and Benny's while they are driving on the Edens Spur. I tell them that we are right off the highway, and just take a minute or two and you can come in and load up for all your Passover food needs at Max and Benny's, your one-stop Passover food center.

Marvin the Maven

GOING BANANAS AT MAX AND BENNY'S

Are you getting tired eating the same old breakfast fare? Stop by Max and Benny's for breakfast and see how we are going bananas to make your breakfast a more unique experience. We are now offering, as breakfast specials, banana bread french toast and healthy banana pancakes, made with bananas, low fat yogurt, bran and egg whites. So come to Max and Benny's for breakfast, where we are going bananas for you!

Cousin Richie  

MORE THAN A JEWISH DELI IN SUBURBAN CHICAGO

I can't tell you the number of times that new customers have come into Max and Benny's and told me that they came here expecting to find pretty much a Jewish deli, but once here they discover a welcoming 300+ seat restaurant with a menu encompassing all types and varieties of foods. Yes we do have our standard Jewish deli offerings, and we take pride in being the best there is in that culinary arena in the Chicago area.. But we have some of the best standard American dining fare around with tantalizing chicken, fish, meat and vegetarian specials that will delight your taste buds. New customers are also plesantly surprised to see our wide and inviting pastry selections, and are dazzled by our ability to customize any type of cookie or cake for them. And Max and Benny's, also surprisingly to many, has some of the most reasonably priced alcoholic beverages in the greater Chicago North Shore area. Come to Max and Benny's, a Chicagoland Jewish deli but oh so much more!

Marvin the Maven    

CARRYOUT PASSOVER DESSERTS

Are you invited to a seder and are asked to bring a Passover dessert? Then you should come over to Max and Benny's which has one of the largest selections of Passover desserts in the Chicago area, from scrumptious honey cake to key lime macaroon pie. One of my favorites is flourless chocolate cake. But there is plenty more, so stop by and see.

Marvin the Maven 

PASSOVER DINNERS TO GO AT MAX AND BENNY'S

Why labor over your hot kitchen stove this Passover, when Max and Benny's has all the delicious and familiar food for your Passover Seder ready for you to take home? Our dinners to go for the Passover Seder have been a Chicago area tradition now for twenty-five years. Besides your Bubbie, who makes brisket and chicken better than Max and Benny's? Not to mention the best gefilte fish, matzo ball soup and potato kugel in greater Chicagoland. And Passover desserts to die for! Macaroons, honey cakes, key lime macaroon pie and oh so much more! Make your life easier and more enjoyable by ordering your Passover dinner to go from Max and Benny's today. 

TSIMMES

My favorite Passover side dish at the Seder meal is tsimmes. Nobody makes this holiday delicacy of cooked vegtables and fruits better than the deli mavens at Max and Benny's in Northbrook. Since preparing tsimmes back in the day was a long process, the term "tsimmes" became Yiddish slang for a big deal or a long drawn-out process. But today with modern kitchen technology being what it is, the preparation time has been dramatically reduced and we can truly say that it's no big tsimmes to find wonderful and scrumptious tsimmes for Passover at Max and Benny's. Enjoy!

Marvin the Maven  

Matzah Brei

You know when Passover is around the corner when the regulars at Max and Benny's start ordering matzah brei for breakfast on a regular basis. Matzah brei, or fried matzah in Yiddish, is basically matzah soaked with water which is then mixed with eggs and fried in butter. It's so good! I like to eat it with sugar, but others like it with jelly or syrup.

Marvin the Maven

HAMENTASCHEN

Purim is the holiday where Jews around the world celebrate our people's victory over persecution and oppression personified by the evil Haman. We remember Haman, who received his just dessert (pun intended) in being hanged, by baking a triangular fruit-filled pastry for Purim called hamentaschen (Haman's pockets in Yiddish) which represents Haman's three-cornered hat. Max and Benny's takes pride in offering our delicious hamentaschen to the community during the Purim season. Stop by our bakery today and take some home with you.

KUGEL

Max and Benny's kugel has gained the reputation as the best "Jewish noodle pudding" in the world. It is the ideal side dish to complement your meal. Now through the miracle of the internet, with a click of a button, it can be ordered and enjoyed by everyone.

RUGELACH

Legend has it that our Bubbie Gussie was once asked to prepare rugelach for the court of the Russian czar. This is why we call our rugelach the "crown jewel" of Max and Benny's bakery. 

BAGELS

The bagel is the Jewish food product that has become part of the American culinary mainstream. However there are bagels and there are Max and Benny's bagels. Our bagels, boiled and baked with loving care, have that distinctive and flavorable taste that can only be found in our Bubbie Gussie's recipe.  

SEEDED RYE BREAD

Rye bread lovers crave Max and Benny's seeded rye. Flavored with delicious caraway seeds, it makes a perfect sandwich with corned beef or pastrami. Some people love eating it with just a schmear of butter or cream cheese. It is also wonderful when grilled for Reuben sandwiches.

MUSHROOM BARLEY SOUP

Max and Benny's mushroom barley soup has its origins in the small Lithuanian shtetl where our Bubbie Gussie was born. It represents the consummate Jewish comfort food, with extraordinary health benefits. Mushrooms are high in fiber, iron and niacin, while barley is also plentiful in fiber as well. Our guarantee is that our mushroom barley soup will soothe both your body and soul.

KASHA

I don't know about you, but I love kasha. For the unitiated, kasha is a buckwheat groat that when cooked can be eaten in a variety of ways. In the Eastern Jewish culinary tradition, kasha is prepared with bow tie pastas (kasha varnishkas) and frequently smothered with onions and brown gravy. I personally prefer the kasha without the varnishkas as a side dish to brisket and roast chicken. Many people like to put kasha in their matzoh ball soup or as filling for knishes. So the next time that you dine at Max and Benny's, consider enhancing your matzoh ball soup with some kasha, and be sure to stop at our deli counter and take home some kasha varnishkas.

Marvin the Maven

MARVIN THE MAVEN RETURNS FROM OVERSEAS

Hi folks. It's been awhile. Sorry for not posting sooner, but I just returned from India where I was opening up a new deli. I brought over some Max and Benny's halavah, and I must admit that it was a big hit. The people of India have been eating halavah for centuries, but they seem to have taken a special liking to Max and Benny's halavah. Bagels are a big hit in India, especially among the younger call center set. However the jury is still out on lox and cream cheese.   

Marvin the Maven

THE GREAT MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR TEAMS

Many of the Max and Benny's customers have noticed the photos of the Marshall High School Junior basketball teams that are on a wall in the Back Room of the restaurant. These teams, coached by the legendary Lou Weintraub, dominated their Chicago Public League competition from 1939 through 1944. Our uncle, Jerry Schlan, who is now 88 and lives in South Florida, was a member of the 1939-40 team along with West Side basketball legends Whitey Siegel, Izzy Acker and Alex Eisenstein.

During that era, the Chicago Public Schools had two Leagues, a Junior League for boys who were 5'8" or under, and a Senior League for the bigger boys. The Marshall Juniors put together an amazing string of ninety-eight consecutive wins from 1939-1944, capturing four city championships along the way. This winning streak remains a national record, and the Marshall teams from those four seasons are now enshrined in the Chicago Public Schools, Illinois Basketball Coaches and the National Basketball Halls of Fame.

Lester Schlan and Richard Reeder

Niles Township High Schools Night

Max and Benny's is hosting a Niles Township High Schools night for those of you who attended Niles North, Niles West and Niles East on Tuesday, January 25th from 5:00pm until 8:30pm. We will have a special buffet for $12.95 per person or order from the menu. Although reservations are not needed, we suggest that you reserve a spot by calling Crystal at 847-272-9458 or emailing Richard@maxandbennys.com . This should be a fun-filled event and a wonderful opportunity to connect with old friends and meet new ones. Hope to see you there!

Chicago Jewish Authors Literary Series

I hope that you will join me on Tuesday evening, January 18, 2011, as Max and Benny's launches the  first chapter in our Chicago Jewish Authors Literary Series. I will be discussing Saul Bellow's "Letters." We will meet in the Back Room of the restaurant beginning at 7:00 PM. There will be complimentary cookies and coffee. Bellow, who grew up in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood, would have enjoyed this venue to discuss his writing, as he loved to eat at some of the great Jewish eateries such as Joe Pierce's on Division and Braverman's on Chicago as a youngster and young man. Please let us know if you will be attending by emailing crystal@maxandbennys.com.

Richard Reeder    

Reuben Sandwich

I'm somewhat biased but I truly believe that the Max and Benny's Reuben Sandwich is the best of its kind in the Chicago area. I've taste tested Reubens far and wide, and nobody, and I mean nobody, can beat our grilled sandwich on rye filled with corned beef, swiss cheese and sauerkraut and topped with Russian dressing. I don't know why a Reuben is called a Reuben, but I do know it tastes great. So order one soon!

Marvin the Maven 

SUFGANIYOT

Sufganiyot, those little jelly doughnuts so popular in Israel during Hanukkah, have been a big treat this year at Max and Benny's bakery. So many Hebrew schools are now making sufganiyot part of their Hanukkah festivities, that Jewish American children are learning to love these sweet treats as much as their Israeli counterparts. Max and Benny's has sufganiyot all through these days of Hanukkah. Come on in and enjoy these tasty morsels.

Marvin the Maven

SWEET AND SOUR MEATBALLS

Sweet and sour meatballs are always popular at Max and Benny's, but it seems especially so during Hanukkah. They go along so well with latkes! Customers can order them at the deli counter to carry out, or if they prefer to dine-in the restaurant, the sweet and sour meatballs can be ordered as either an appetizer or as a main course with potatoes. In any case, they are so, so good!

Marvin the Maven

Hanukkah at Max and Benny's

I love Hanukkah. It's a holiday of lights and joy, of dreidels and presents. What better place than Max and Benny's to be your one-stop Hanukkah location? We even have our own Hanukkah menu! How many other restaurants can say that? Dine-in or takeout your Hanukkah meals from Max and Benny's scrumptious selections. My favorite is the brisket and chicken dinner, with latkes and chopped liver. What better gift than a tin of Hanukkah cookies from our marvelous bakery? And while you are at Max and Benny's don't forget to pick up the chocolate Hanukkah gelt and dreidels for the kids. We appreciate your business, and all the best to you and yours this Hanukkah Holiday.

Marvin the Maven

COMING TOGETHER OVER A CORNED BEEF ON RYE

It was nice to see Governor Quinn and his erstwhile political foe Bill Brady coming together yesterday at Manny's deli cafeteria Downtown, burying the hatchet over corned beef sandwiches on rye. In our 25 years of business, Max and Benny's has noticed that the consumption of corned beef on your favorite bread or roll, tends to bring out warm feelings among customers. A corned beef sandwich is a great comfort food, especially over the Holiday Season. So folks, if you want to get warm and fuzzy, come visit us at Max and Benny's and order your corned beef sandwich!

Marvin the Maven      

TURKEY AND LATKES!

So many Thanksgiving carryout orders at Max and Benny's! Thank you customers. So when you pick up your turkey and sides Thanksgiving Day, please remember that Hanukkah follows in just a few days. So you might want to consider purchasing latkes, Hanukkah gelt and other wonderful Hanukkah goodies on your visit to Max and Benny's on Turkey Day.

Marvin the Maven

SULLIVAN TURNS OUT! MATHER STAYS HOME!

Max and Benny's 1st Annual Sullivan-Mather Night last evening was a huge success, with Sullivan grads outnumbering Mather alums by 7-1. There was even a sprinkling of Senn Bulldogs who attended the event. Lots of hugs and kisses and smiles galore. The Max and Benny's buffet evoked memories of the great tastes of  Rogers Park and West Rogers Park, which included Ashkenaz corned beef sandwiches, Sally's BBQ beef sandwiches and even Hilda's chocolate phosphates. The next high school reunion night at Max and Benny's is already being planned for January and it will be for graduates who attended a north suburban high school. Which one? Stay tuned.

Cousin Richie
Mather '63

Hanukkah, Chanukah or Hanukah?

When the festive Jewish holiday of candles and latkes is transliterated from Hebrew or Yiddish it gets spelled many ways, Hanukkah or Chanukah or Hanukah and then some. However, by far the most popular usage is Hanukkah. In ranking popularity according to Google hits, Hanukkah had 12,700,000 hits, compared to 2,440,000 for Chanukah and 739,000 for Hanukah.

Marvin the Maven

WHAT A NIGHT!

What a night last evening! About 300 plus alumni from Von Steuben, Roosevelt and Senn High Schools gathered together at Max and Benny's to meet and mingle, swap stories of today and yesteryear, and of course to eat some of our delicious food. Judging from the hugs exchanged and the smiles on the faces of folks as they were leaving the restaurant after celebrating with their friends, I think that I can safely say that the first Max and Benny's North Side High School Night was a success.

Cousin Richie

A ROOM OF YOUR OWN

Most of you who read this blog know that Max and Benny's has a room in the back of the restaurant that is perfect for any event. The room can hold up to eighty guests. The room is used for many occasions, including business and networking meetings, holiday and birthday parties, shivas and bar and bat mitzvah receptions. Truly a multi-purpose room! What many folks don't realize is that we have a full liquor bar that serves the room. So as the Holidays approach, a room your own is awaiting at Max and Benny's!

Marvin the Maven

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    

HOT DIGGITY DOG

Kids and adults, well let's say just about everybody, loves Max and Benny's hot dogs and bagel dogs. You can get a jumbo half-pounder, a quarter-pounder, francheezie, plain bagel dog, bagel dog francheezie and bagel dog supreme.What, pray tell, is the bagel dog supreme? Well it's a Jumbo Vienna hot dog wrapped in bagel dough and stuffed with corned beef, american cheese, onions and green peppers. Enjoy your favorite Max and Benny's hot dog creation soon!

Cousin Richie

FRENCH TOAST

I don't know exactly why, but I love to have French Toast for breakfast this time of the year. Maybe it's the changing weather affecting my tastebuds. Anyway, Max and Benny's has seven terrific choices of French Toast on our menu. My personal favorite is Grilled Thick Challah. What's your favorite?

Marvin the Maven

Max and Benny's Diner?

It was great that we were mentioned in Time Magazine recently when famous journalist Joe Klein interviewed Congressional candidate Dan Seals one evening in the restaurant. However the captioned picture in the story identified us as "Max and Benny's Diner in Northbrook." Mr.Klein----better fact checking please!

Cousin Richie 

DELI BARD

Every deli-restaurant should have a favotite poet. Ours is Bubeleh Bobbie, who scribes the following:

Blintzes,bialys, bagels and borscht

Max and Benny's has the best

From me that's not forced

My favorite is corned beef with pickle and rye

Other restaurants can't cut it.

No matter how hard they try.



We at Max and Benny's thank  Bubeleh Bobbie for her poem in good taste.

Veal Brisket Sandwich

The sandwich that Chef Gale Gand of Tru loves so much at Max and Benny's is the veal brisket on challah. We think that you will love it too.

Cousin Richie

North Side High School Nights

As we plan for our two Chicago North Side High School Nights in November, please tell us some of your favorite restaurants and delis in the old neighborhood and some of the foods that you liked best. We want your input as we develop some special menu items those two evenings. Example: BBQ beef sandwich on a sesame seed bun at Sally's on Western near Devon.

Marvin the Maven
 

Try a Max and Benny's Bialy

Although the bagel has made it into mainstream American culture, the bialy remains somewhat of a "stranger" to most Americans. Simply put, a bialy is only baked, not boiled and baked like a bagel. A bagel has a hole in its middle, while a bialy has a slight depression on its surface, traditionally filled with diced onions. However at Max and Benny's you can choose from the following type of bialys: plain, onion, oat bran, onion stick, plain stick and oat bran stick. So the next time that you are at the deli counter, think about complementing your bagel order with some bialys.

Cousin Richie 

Chopped Liver

Customers say the darnest things! A lady comes into the deli today and points to the chopped liver and says to me "chopped liver, never had it, but what a strange name for a food." I say "lady would you like to try some." She says "sure, why not? " After a taste, the chopped liver novice lady remarks "awesome, delicious, give me a pound of the stuff."

Marvin the Maven

Thank You Mrs. Kray and Ms. Rubin

Our thanks to Bonnie Miller Rubin for her excellent piece about dining out on Rosh HaShana in today's Chicago Tribune. Max and Benny's is one of the featured restaurants in the piece and there is a wonderful quote from one of our customers, Mitzi Kray of Northbrook, who says of Max and Benny's "the food here is delicious, the ambience is warm and we're with family. Isn't that what the holidays are all about."

Cousin Richie

Rugelach

Dorothy, a customer of many years always says to me "Max and Benny's rugelach is to die for." I wouldn't be so extreme, but boy oh boy our rugelach is so very good. Apricot is my favorite. What is yours?

Marvin the Maven

Corporate Catering

We want to thank our many corporate customers for choosing Max and Benny's as the caterer for their events. Although the majority of these corporate events are in the Northbrook/Deerfield/Highland Park area, we have delivered orders to Downtown Chicago, southern Wisconsin and McHenry County. So please consider us as your choice of caterer as you plan your next corporate function.

Cousin Richie

GO YOU NORTHWESTERN!

I was talking to a few fellas this morning from the Milwaukee area who stopped by the deli to buy some items for Rosh HaShanah. They love the food at Max and Benny's. They are Northwestern University alumni who have season tickets for Wildcat football games. This year they are planning to stop by the restaurant for breakfast before each game, since we are so easily accessible by getting off at the Waukegan exit on the Eden's spur. Then they said they plan to get off the Edens on the way back home, exit at Dundee West, make a right on to Waukegan Road, and stop by to buy some more food at the deli. It's so convenient, since they can exit from our parking lot, enter the Spur on Waukegan that leads to the highway back to Wisconsin. One of the guys in the group (Ben was his name, there wasn't a Max in the group by the way) said that Max and Benny's was the best Jewish food he ever tasted and he mentioned that we are becoming an increasing favorite food destination for Wisconsin residents.

Marvin the Maven      

Norway

I just came back from Norway, where the lox (spelled lachs there) is pretty good. They just haven't figured out yet to combine it with a bagel and cream cheese.

Cousin Richie

Joe Girardi's Turkey Chili

Although I'm a White Sox fan, we at Max and Benny's have a very special relationship with Yankee manager Joe Girardi. Joe and his family have been coming to the restaurant for many years. First when he lived in the area when he played for the Cubs, and now when he and his family visit his in-laws during the off-season. Joe loves our turkey chili, always orders it, so we decided to put an item on our menu called "Joe Girardi's Favorite Turkey Chili."

At last Sunday's game with the Yankees, we brought some turkey chili down to the Yankee skipper, and he was so very happy to receive it game day. Joe-----keep coming back to Max and Benny's, but don't be so tough on the White Sox!

Lester   

Chocolate Phosphate

According to Ken Green in his book "I"m from Division Street," the chocolate phosphate was created at the Joe Pierce Deli by counterman Hyman Weiss. "He mixed chocolate syrup with seltzer water and it became the most popular drink in Chicago."

Good Luck and Thank You Loyola Academy

We want to thank all our friends at Loyola Academy for giving us the opportunity to feed their football players and their supporters. We really appreciate the business, and we want to let you know that we're hoping for a spectacular season this year. GO RAMBLERS !!!

Danny from Max and Benny's

Fun Things Happening at Max and Benny's

As the owner of  Max and Benny's, one of the aspects of this business that gives me the greatest pleasure is seeing intergenerational members of families enjoying themselves at our restaurant. One generation loves our Jewish comfort foods that bring back memories of their Bubbies' and Tanties' kitchens when the world was a little slower paced than today. And the younger generations are finding joy in discovering these foods as well. I also take delight in seeing how our customers react so favorably to new products at Max and Benny's, such as the Whoopie Pie that can now be found in our bakery. So I hope to see you real soon, and let us know what you think of our website and blog.

Lester Schlan

White Sox "Big Hurt"

Max and Benny's Frank Thomas' "Big Hurt" Cookie was featured on the Comcast White Sox post-game show on August 12, 2010. What is your favorite Max and Benny's Cookie? Let us know.

"Cousin Richie"

North Side High School Days!

Here's a shoutout to all graduates of Roosevelt, Von Steuben, Senn, Mather and Sullivan High Schools. Max and Benny's will be having two events in early November to reconnect with your friends from high school in the old neighborhood. One will be for the Roosevelt, Von Stueben and Senn crowd. The other will be for the guys and gals from Sullivan and Mather. Definite dates to follow soon. Let us hear from you if you are planning to come and if you have any ideas on how to make these events very special!

"Cousin Richie"