Zingerman's: The Finest Meats & Cheeses

Go there to have a glorious feast

SALINE, MICHIGAN  MAY 25, 2004

$32.00 USD.  That's how much a lunch consisting of 2 turkey sandwiches, 2 drinks and a bowl of soup cost us at a recent trip over to Zingerman's deli on Detroit Street in Ann Arbor.  A rip-off?  No chance, Lance.  We'll be back next week.

Zingerman's deli is famous for those who live in Ann Arbor and many know the name throughout the world.  Opened in March of 1982 by Paul Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig, the Deli serves up thousands of made-to-order sandwiches with the world's best ingredients.  The store inside the deli sells the finest meats and cheeses, along with a huge selection of other goods such as olive oils, chocolate and more.

Most days the line to order a sandwich is out the door.  Today we slipped in from the rain and got right through to the over-the-top friendly girl taking lunch orders.  You typically wait about 15 minutes or so to get your order - you can eat next door at their coffee shop (Zingerman's Bakeshop).

To best describe Zingerman's formula, I'd refer you to the latest issue of Zingerman's News, a full sized newsletter that they publish that describes some upcoming events, new products, and so on.  A full page of the periodical was devoted to describing why the burgers they serve at their new restaurant (Zingerman's Roadhouse) are the finest known to man.  The article explains the special beef they use (along with a few paragraphs about how the ranch operates), the age the cows are slaughtered, the storage and preparation, the grinding technique, and the other measures they take to bring you the finest $15 burger in the land. 

They are not shy about their success.  The store was recently identified by Food and Wine magazine as one of the top 25 food markets in the world and they'll remind you of that a few times when you visit.  They've turned the deli business into a multi-faceted empire, now selling everything from catering services, to books, to employee training, and the word on the street is that new coffee houses and chocolate factories are on the way.  Oh, and just look around Ann Arbor today - you'll find countless coffee shops and stores selling Zingerman's bread and other goods.