OUR COMMUNITY

I

t’s chicken soup season. As the temperature drops 
and the snow begins to fall, there’s nothing quite 
like sitting down to a steaming hot bowl of soup. 
COVID-19 has accelerated soup sales even fur-
ther, say local delis. 
Luckily, whether you want to sit down or carry out, 
there’s no shortage of delis in Metro Detroit ready to 
make you a bowl of this Jewish comfort food. There’s 
someone up early stirring giant pots of broth, carrots, 
onion, celery and more at every establishment. 
Steven Goldberg, owner of the Stage Deli in West 
Bloomfield, has vivid memories of making kreplach 
and matzah balls at his grandmother’s side as a young 
child. And he’s been serving chicken soup based on 
his grandmothers’ recipes since the restaurant opened 
its doors 60 years ago. His late father, Jack, blended 
the flavors his maternal and paternal 
grandmothers, from Russia and 
Western Poland respectively, 
used to make their soups 
shine. And it’s led to a 
soup generations can 
enjoy. 
“It’s very heartening 
to me to be able to 
continue the tradition 
that goes well beyond 
my grandparents,
” 
he says. “It feels great. 
Chicken soup has cultural 

What could me more 
comforting on a cold 
winter day than a hot 
bowl of chicken soup?

Food for 
the Soul

continued on page 16

KAREN SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

14 | JANUARY 13 • 2022 

Chicken soup to-go 
is available at 
Steve’s Deli.

PICKLES & RYE

The Mish Mash at 
Steve’s Deli

