Deli Lingo
Balebos – Boss.
Blintz – A Crepé.
Bris – Circumcision; Catered by Pumpernick’s.
Bubbie – Grandmother.
Bupkis – Nada, nothing or as your friend would say, “He’s not worth Bupkis”
Challah – Braided egg bread, “Pumpernick’s French Toast”
Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls – Pumpernick’s penicillin. This is the real Rx to cure what ails you. Like Bubbie said “It might not help, but it couldn’t hoit”!
Chutzpah – “A lotta noive.” It takes lots of chutzpa to think you can finish a sandwich at Pumpernick’s
Fleishig – Meat product.
Forshpies – An Appetizer. Also, nosh.
Fresser – A big eater. One who never takes a doggy-bag home from Pumpernick’s.
Gefilte Fish – It’s a fish and it used to swim. That’s about all we know. Served as forshpies on holidays.
Gelt – Money. Chanukah money.
Gribenes – Bits of well fried chicken skin. Jewish bacon. A delicacy to the old timers, and you know who you are.
Horseradish – Jewish salsa. Great with that other fish (Gefilte).
Kasha and Varnishkes – Buckwheat with bow tie pasta (needs gravy on the side).
Kibitz – Joking around.
Klutz – Clumsy person.
Kishke – Stuffed derma. Kinda like stuffing.
Knish – Pastry dough stuffed with different goodies. Potato is my favorite.
Kreplach – Jewish won ton with beef.
Kugel – Noodle pudding with lots of things. Sweet is the best.
Kvell – Expressing pleasure over Pumpernick’s food.
Kvetch – To Whine. And we all know that Pumpernick’s is a no kvetching zone.
Latke – A potato pancake, served with sour cream & apple sauce. Also, can be used as a compliment to a good looking lady. “She is a good lukin latke.”
Lox – Used to be a Sunday brunch special. Not anymore…Served daily with bagels & cream cheese. (Nova Scotia Lox is less salty than Regular Lox.)
Macher – A big shot. You are always a Macher at Pumpernick’s.
Machatunim – Your children’s in-laws.
Mandel Bread – Jewish biscotti.
Maven – An expert. Everyone at Pumpernick’s is a maven.
Mensch – A good person.
Meshpuchah – Family.
Meshuganneh – Crazy. If you don’t like the food at Pumpernick’s you are a Meshuganneh.
Naches – Feeling of pride (from our grandchildren, of course).
Nebish – A Nerd. Even the nebish find their way to Pumpernick’s.
Nosh – A little bit to eat. No calories, cause it’s just a nosh.
Nu? – “Wattsup?”
Oy – Oy.
Pate – Chopped liver at a fancy party.
Prake – Stuffed cabbage in a sweet ‘n sour tomato sauce.
Punim – Face. A happy punim is always welcomed to Pumpernick’s.
Rugallahs – Hand-made mini strudels. Ours are delish.
Schlemiel – A clumsy person.
Schlimazel – An unlucky person.
Schmear – A spread on a bagel.
Schmooze – Talk, talk, talk about the other place.
Schnorrer – Someone who takes advantage of you. A beggar.
Shlep – To carry or to drag, even yourself. “ Let’s shlep to Pumpernick’s.”
Tochis – Rear end (butt).
Tsuris – Trouble.
Zaftig – Pleasantly plump.
Zaidy – Grandfather.
