Kravitz Deli celebrates founder with food fest

Staff report

liberty

When the late Rose Kravitz opened her deli in 1939, she had more courage than money.

In fact, she and her husband, Herbert, had to borrow money to make change for the first day of business at what was then called the Elm Street Delicatessen.

The necessary thriftiness didn’t stop there. The young couple also walked to work every day to save the bus fare, and charismatic Rose got through the month by bartering work-for-food from local businesses and craftsmen.

At age 23, Rose wasn’t thinking about her pioneering role as a Mahoning Valley female entrepreneur. It was much more practical than that. She just needed to make a living while balancing the care of her often-ill husband and her family. She took the expertise she gained from working at the gourmet food department at McKelvey’s Department store and applied it to the deli business.

For Rose, it wasn’t about opening a business, it was about creating a lifestyle even if that meant working from the morning til midnight.

Her dedication and leadership will be recognized this month as Kravitz Deli, as it’s now known, celebrates with Rose Kravitz’s 100th Birthday and Jewish Food Fest. The weeklong event begins Monday and runs through Jan. 29 at both Kravitz locations: 3135 Belmont Ave., Liberty, and inside the Poland library.

“My mom taught us everything about this business, and we wouldn’t be here without her,” said Jack Kravitz, president of Kravitz Deli and youngest child of the founder who died in 2011 at age 95. “We thought it would be appropriate to mark what would have been this milestone birthday by bringing back some of her favorite Eastern European recipes and featuring her favorite items.”

Some of these items include stuffed cabbage, knishes, blintzes, sweet noodle kugel, brisket, as well the unique Chicken Mish Mosh Soup. More familiar favorites, such as corned beef and kipfels, will be on special.

An extra special feature of this event will be the limited-time release of Rose’s Original Bagel.

In 1950, Rose wanted to bring this classic deli favorite to Youngstown. After being turned down by Schwebel Bakery to commercially supply the bagels, Rose’s contemporary, Dora Schwebel, taught her how to make them herself. Rose bought out a bakery’s equipment for $500 and moved it into her location. Thus, the original Kravitz Bagel was born – a sweet, boiled egg bagel that people could not get enough of.

As tastes and nutritional requirements changed, the egg-bagel recipe was changed to a more traditional style bagel made without egg. “This hand-boiled bagel, made with a liberal dose of egg and oil, surely didn’t fit a low-fat profile,” said Jack Kravitz. “But they are really tasty, so for Mom’s birthday we are bringing it back!”

Taking the love of the bagel one step further and recognizing the Polish origins of this deli favorite, Kravitz will be the guest chef at Polish- Youngstown’s January’s Polska Kuchina cooking class Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Kravitz Belmont Avenue location. Participants in this hands-on class will have the opportunity to learn some history and make the Rose’s Original Bagel and its Polish cousin, the Bialy. Cost is $25 per person. For information, call 330-333-9724.