Coughing and Wheezing, Purging and Packing

I finally decide to go into the new place, along with your Birthday Buddy Junior (Adrian) and his best buddy (Sam), and this is the night you come down with a wheezer??

Nice work, Zane. For me, you have pretty much recreated the ambience of my childhood memories of Switzers. The joint was jumpin’, lineups to get in, service staff haulin’ ass and your guy Sandy is just outstanding, BTW. Thank gawd he isn’t selling shoes, I’d be in the poorhouse. The only thing missing was a Nu Grape.

Mazel tov. And sometimes, it’s good to let go of shit.
♥ Lori

Hello Zane,I think your deli is absolutely wonderful. My family and I had dinner last Saturday night at your place: it was a special evening for us all. All of us had smoked meat sandwiches: fatty: Joy! Fries were a great delight! Your staff is truly wonderful,and made us feel so welcome. Desserts: your pies,cakes: Wow! I will be back for breakfast,lunch,and dinner-often. You deserve your success-keep it up. My late father (Jack Bernstein,President of Famous Players Theatres) knew Sam Shopsowitz,we used to frequently go to Shopsys. To have a deli like yours in the heart of Toronto,where my father and my Zaida, Cantor Akiva Bernstein grew up,is a great blessing. The smoked meat sandwich that I had was fatty as ordered,and was a great treat. We shared: kiska, (very good) desserts (sour cherry pie,white chocolate cheesecake,apple pie: which astonished and totally delighted all of us,they were so great. I think you are such a special mench. Marc,Harriet,Samantha,Michael Bernstein.

Marc, your message fills me with such special joy. Of all the things you mentioned the one that sticks out for me is the kind words about my staff. I am blessed to have found a group of people who I can count on to run the place for a few days while I heal and pack. I admit to feeling guilty about not being able to be there but sometimes the body needs rest and my stuff won’t pack itself. That being said, I’m almost done and almost healed too. Seems I developed a chest infection and its taking its time to leave me.

Given your family’s wonderful heritage, I have to ask if you might have some old photographs of the theatre or the shul that you might be able to share with me. Please introduce yourself on your next visit and thank you so much for writing to me.

Adrian? I thought he only likes dim sum. I kid. I bet he’s a grown a bit since I last saw him. Would I even recognise him?
Sorry I missed you guys, cuz. Next time I’ll take care of you myself.

Since my glorious inaugural visit with the Rani, I have stopped by the deli a few more times, at different hours of the day, and the service has always been fantastic. Incredibly friendly, to the point where I’m wondering what these servers are on? They are all sweet and bright-eyed, right out of Disney casting. HAH!

I mowed through one of the burgers and it was KLEZMER!! The poutine was a stroke of brilliance too.

As I continue this wonderful journey of gastronomenschery, I think I know what my next order will be… but that would be telling.

–The Master

Zane,I will definately be back to your magnificent,really special deli next week,for supper,lunch (different times/days) I still can’t get over how fantastic your smoked meat sandwiches are! To have had a fatty smoked meat sandwich was heaven. My mother,Mary Simmons (stage name) remembers going with my late father,Jack Bernstein,to the original Shopsys,Switzers,as my father grew up on Palmerston Ave, (though he was born in Montreal) Alas,my mother,now 90,is in Baycrest,round’ the clock nursing care with Alzheimers. She still,thank God,has good cognitive ability,personality remains the same. I will be most happy,Zane,to share with you my own Borenstein Cantorial family heritage: I’m making you a couple of free gift CDs of my Cantorial family,as well as my father speaking. Jacjk Bernstein (I’m working on a bio of my father+of my Cantorial family,also I’m going to reissue CDs of my Cantorial family: My Zaida,Akiva Bernstein (1892-1968) my grand-uncles Henoch,(1907-1996) Pinchos: (1902-1955: State Cantor of Argentina, Hershel: Bass-Baritone: Philadelphia, (1880-1947) my uncle is Dr.”Abie” Bernstein. My Zaida married half the Jewish population of Toronto: many of whom studied with him: Bat + Bar Mitzvah!! Other family members: Hyam: Started out as Cantor in Smith Falls!! Went to Kitchener-became Kosher meat slaughterer, (1927) Archie (he married the maid) My Zaida owned a summer resort hotel in Orillia: 1944-1960. Have lots of pictures,etc to share with you. Oh,about the “Chowhound snobs” this is inane. I dismiss them as pretencious foodies and as my father used to say: “Everybody has two jobs,their own and the film business!” To me that applies to their comments and judging of you. To me,what you are doing is to be applauded,encouraged,supported. By the way,though I’m a diabetic, (type 2,on Insulin) I love smoked meat,kiska,your fries are delightful,your desserts worth it to me-usually,you don’t find desserts like these!! I want to try your hot tongue (I love hot tongue) and your brisket (my father was a great cook too) Sadly,I really didn’t know my Zaida Akiva too well: 1957,1 year after I was born,he suffered a big stroke. I knew him in his last years,a sweet,sad old man,aged,with love in his heart. On my mother’s side,my Zaida and Baba: Sam: blacksmith,craftsman (he worked for Westinghouse in Phily) Pro union,telling the bosses where to go,loved dogs,rode motorcycles, had (made) a coin machine WW 11 (made fake coins..!! Was a sweet,funny special character-died too young: diabetic heart failure in 1964 I was 8. Minnie (my Baba ) (mother’s family) dressmaker, incredible pioneer.. Irving Layton was my ex-brother in law. I knew personally,Sam and Izzy Shopsowitz, Nat Taylor,Julian Roffmann,George Heiber,Hye Bossin, started as projectionist (my father got me my job) in “Eve Porno Theatre” (1981) Started my business 2008,but have been doing this semi-professionally 30 years.. a close friend of mine is Lynn Milstone. Zaida’s (akiva) favorite song: “Because” (sung in his fractured English) Akiva was Chazzan of Goel Tzedec +Beth Tzedec from 1937-1956. on my Zaida (Sam) naturalization certificate: he listed his occupation as “Blacksmith” (he looked like Tchaikowsky) Zane,get well soon. I’m waited for a place like your gem of a deli for 30 years. Oh,Akiva loved Professional wrestling (I do too) What I do,is a labour of love,Zane,in preserving,documenting,sharing my family heritage. You are doing the same thing. Bless you and your wonderful,specially sweet staff for helping to make your deli the gem that it is. Thanks,Zane,for bringing back to Jewish Toronto deli lovers a place that they can be proud of calling home.

Zane saved my life today.

Right before the Saturday lunch rush. I live 2 stories above Caplansky’s in an apartment. I brought a card table home last night and left it on the landing, and my roommate started panicking (unlit cigarette in her mouth, coat on).

Turns out the card table had fallen against the door from the outside, jamming underneath the handle like they do in movies when they need to escape out the window of a hotel room, and there’s a gangster or cops trying to break in from the hall.

Anyway, after trying various techniques (the arm stretch-around; hammer prying open the door; potentially a car-lock type coat hanger tactic) and failing, I instantly thought of our restauranteur fellow tenants downstairs, phone the Deli, and none other than Zane Caplansky should ascend, laughing (he claimed “with us, not at us” but that sort of sounded like bullshit).

Anyway, thanks a lot for taking the time to rescue us in an emergency state. My roommate had her smoke. I plugged the parking meter. My other roomie could go to work.

Cheers
David of “The upstairs folks”

Awwwwww, shucks