Gourmet Deli

WHO: Mr. Leiby Fisher

WHAT: Air-fried takeout

WHERE: Monsey, NY

WHEN: Always!

WHY: To promote healthy, clean eating

Takeout food that’s not deep-fried? This I wanted to see — I mean, taste! I went on quite a hunt for this Like a Local article. After finally tracking down and interviewing Mr. Leiby Fisher of Wesley Kosher Deli, I knew I had discovered a wonderful gem that I wanted to share with our readers.

Mr. Fisher, a food aficionado, shared the new method he uses which everyone is excited about. He explained, “Everyone is into eating lighter these days. Out with the grease and the preservatives that detract from the flavor and freshness of your ingredients! In today’s day and age, people want food that’s pure, air-fried, and made with fresh herbs and minimally processed ingredients.”

If you step into the takeout section at Wesley Kosher, you’ll see that his actions speak louder than his words. The takeout is changing their cooking methods. They got rid of many of their fryers, and instead, they use high-quality, commercial convection ovens. This allows them to air-fry many of their recipes, as the heat and air rotation in the ovens is extremely powerful. The food comes out fresh and crispy, and it’s a great alternative to fried food. The air-fried delicacies he serves up are just as tasty, if not more so, than typical takeout food. This is in addition, of course, to the obvious health benefits.

Take the classic schnitzel that most takeouts carry. Many drip with oil, causing that heartburn-y feeling and thoughts to the tune of, “Oh no, I ate too much of this, and I’m going to regret it!” The air-fried schnitzel offered at Wesley Kosher is as crispy and crunchy as ever, moist and flavorful, but with none of those oily, greasy aftereffects. And the same with his line of dips, sides, and many other foods. Mr. Fisher has been experimenting with different air-frying methods for eggplant recently, using the results in his specialty sabich, eggplant salads, matbucha,  and other delicious dips.