New York delis

I remember when I first stepped into a gourmet midtown deli when I started my first temp assignment at a major advertising firm.  I was very impressed with the selection.  This wasn't the Finagle a Bagel and Au Bon Pain stuff I had for lunch in Boston.  Most of these places had sushi, noodle soups, salad bars, and small groceries in the back.  I saw one reason New York was considered such a mecca for food lovers; even during their lunch hour they could find something gourmet, international, and fresh.

Now that I'm working in midtown again, I've been observing the delis more and even picking up some Korean from some of the more friendly workers.  There are 2 aspects of the quintessential New York midtown deli that impress me most:

1.  The workers
I've never seen people work faster than midtown deli employees, who work at least twelve hours for probably less than minimum wage and seem more alert and responsive than most of the people who buy their coffee.  These people are machines.  They test the boundaries of humans' capabilities.  Only in New York.

2. The by-pound buffet
I sometimes bemoan our country's food system on this blog, the results of which I see in the fast food chains that populate my neighborhood of Crown Heights.  This is why I appreciate the by-pound buffets at gourmet delis.  The stuff isn't organic or even local, but at least there's less processed food than grocery stores, and eating fruits and vegetables won't break your wallet.  It's comprised of mostly fruits and vegetables and the lightest stuff is cheapest, which encourages people to stick with the vegetarian and salad options.  I wish our grocery stores could look the same way.