Ziggy Gruber was the star of the show as Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives focused on Kenny & Ziggy's New York Delicatessen Restaurant, located on Post Oak at Westheimer. Gruber showed host Guy Fieri how to cook such Eastern European Jewish delicacies as fried kreplach (it's Jewish won ton) and kasha varnishka (buckwheat and bowtie noodles). The show, filmed in July, aired Monday night on the Food Network, so Gruber invited about 100 of his closest Houston friends to watch it in the deli's new private party space, The Schmooze Room.
We were a little puzzled because Kenny & Ziggy's is not a diner, a drive-in nor a dive. But it is a great New York style deli. The episode concentrated on viewer's favorites, including a fried chicken emporium in Oklahoma and a tamale shop in Los Angeles. But Fieri seemed most dazzled by Gruber's quips and his devotion to the art of deli food.
Gruber's easy banner with Fieri made him a natural for a show of his own. Are you listening Food Network?
