So, General Manager Kim (the great beauty scurrying around the floor most days at the Deli) has finally used her not inconsiderable persuasive powers to convince Ken to schedule his famous Sunday Family Dinners (though it's rumored he went along rather willingly!).  You want to reserve easly for these as they've been known to sell out fast:

Ken Gordon has been serving his now famous Sunday Family Dinners for 8 years now - 4 at Ken’s Place and 4 at Kenny and Zuke’s.  Some of these dinners are now legendary and the following bordering on the fanatical.  The wide ranging menus showcase the best of Ken’s homey cooking with incredible value and a terrific sense of community.

    We’ll kick of the 2012 season with the most popular of the dinners - The Tapas Dinner - one that has sold out all 8 times it’s been held, and we expect no different the 9th.  And the menu has been different every time, full of delectable surprises for the palate.  And all washed down with an amazing Pomegranate Sangria that will have you strutting like a Toreador...No bull!

    Then several more dinners that are can’t-miss events.  We suggest you sign up early as these dinners tend to sell-out.

February 26:  The Reign of Spain - An Evening of Tapas
    
    The 9th edition of Our most popular dinner, hands down.  Ken keeps challenging himself to make these better and better, and to keep adding more and more variety, and this one should prove no exception.  Usually 14 or so different dishes arrive at your table, and just when you think you’re ready to cry “Tio!,” another savory tidbit beckons.  All downed with some terrific Pomegranate Sangria.  Don’t miss it!

Seatings at 4:30 and 7:15
  $42.50 per person, including Sangria
$35.50 without wine
Kids under 12 $19.75


March 25:  Roll Up Your Sleeves Crab Feed

    This dinner has become an annual tradition.  Just think - newspaper covered tables, bibs tied snugly and ready for flying crab juices, luscious chowder, sourdough and salad and slaw and your own 2 lb. crab to tear into and dip in a variety of tempting sauces.  Finished with a fruit crisp or cobbler and ice cream.  Only question is:  Are you an eat-as-you-shell person or do you make one big pile of crab to consume at the end.

Seatings at 4:30 and 7:15
  $38.50 per person
Beer and wine available for purchase
Kids under 12 - $19.75


April 29:  Married to the Mob - Italian America Food from a Queens N.Y. Childhhod

    When Ken was growing up, eating out meant one of several things - Chinese/American food (we’ve come a long way from then!), a local Deli (ya think?), a great N.Y. Steakhouse, or a Long Island Shore Dinner.  Or a visit to one of the seemingly hundreds of terrific Italian/American restaurants that seemed to inhabit almost every block in Queens, N.Y.  The flavors - while perhaps not authenticly Italian in their orthodoxy - were rich and warm and exotic, and the restaurants themselves were lively and boisterous and reeked of family.  Arancini, Antipasto, Meatballs and Sausages, Baked Stuffed Clams, Garlic Bread, Ricotta Cheesecake et al will all be well represented at this dinner, and we’ll be sure to have some great Chianti and Valpolicella accompanied by Dino and Frankie on the box.

Seatings at 4:30 and 7:15
  $37.50 per person
Beer and wine available for purchase
Kids under 12 - $18.75

Reservations are highly suggested - Deposit of 50% required at time of booking
No cancellations within 72 hours of dinner - gratuities not included.

Special Offer: Reserve for all 3 of the Dinners for the price of $108.50/person - a savings of $10.00!

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Working on the plans for next July's Second Annual Kenny and Zuke's Pickle Fest.  The first was a huge success, with about 500 people showing up. 12 participating restaurants, and almost $3000 raised for the Oregon Food Bank.  This year we plan on moving the event to a local park near Sandwichworks, at least double the number of participants, have an amateur section of competitors, offer music and more food and drink options, and make the logistics of the event more user-friendly.  More details on the way as they develop, but we thing this event will evolve into one of Portland's treasured annual festivals...with your help, of course!

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Speaking of Pickles - Any of you who have eaten at the Deli in recent weeks may have noticed a sign on the table that speaks to our trouble sourcing decent pickling cucumbers.  This was a subject at the Deli Summit in Berkeley that Ken participated in as a panelist last Spring.  We've always made our own pickles, but it's always been a problem getting hold of good raw product in the months of November through around March or April.  Late Spring through early Fall we're good to go with Local and California cukes.  But the rest of the time they're from Mexico and South America, and the quality is often iffy.  So we've taken - during the off months - to pickling other vegetables from closer to home - green beans, carrots, squash, green tomatoes, okra, etc.  I think - while a bit different than the classic kosher dill - you'll find the results interesting and quite satisfying.

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We're getting close to working out a deal that may soon allow us to wholesale our Pastrami and make it available at area markets and out of our metro area - We'll keep you posted.

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We're also getting close to obtaining our full liquor license at the Deli.  Should happen sometime in mid to late February, we hope.  That means some yummy cocktails during Happy Hour and Dinner, not to mention a few great options for Saturday and Sunday Brunch - including a couple or few versions of Bloody Marys that include our terrific pickles as garnishes.

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Finally, we'll be closing both the Deli and Sandwichworks for a few days next week - from Sunday, 1/15 at 5 PM through the end of Wednesday, 1/18 - to refinish our floors, clean from top to bottom, and hold our annual staff party.  We should re-open Thursday brighter and with a slightly enhanced attitude!

Check out this great video from America's Best Bites!

http://www.americasbestbites.com/restaurants/865/americas-best-sandwich-pastrami-reuben-kenny-and-zukes/

America’s Best Sandwich: Pastrami Reuben @ Kenny and Zukes

Nov 18th, 2011 | 0 Reviews