The Borscht Belt Cuts The Ribbon On New St. Mary Medical Center Deli

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The Borscht Belt Delicatessen officially cut the ribbon on Monday at its second location inside the St. Mary Medical Center cafeteria.

Applause filled the air as Bucks County native and celebrity chef Nick Liberato, co-founder and executive chef of the New York-style Jewish deli in Newtown, traded a slicer for a giant pair of scissors to make it official.

“We’re excited to join forces with St. Mary Medical Center, bringing some favorites from our menu to their cafeteria,” said Liberato. “We’re here to provide the hospital with the comfort that great food provides.”

Through a partnership with Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic, the Borscht Belt is operating the deli inside the hospital's cafeteria Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The deli will be available to
patients, visitors and employees.

In addition, the deli will be providing catering services to other medical centers and hospitals within the Trinity Health network.

The menu at St. Mary features iconic Ess-a-bagels from New York City, avocado toast, homemade salads, classic sandwiches, a selection of specialty sandwiches, chocolate babka, black and white cookies, and lots more.

“People will get a good peek at what we are doing over at the Borscht Belt and what we can do,” said The Borscht Belt co-owner Mike Dalewitz.

"It’s a beautiful thing to be in a hospital and to see so many people smiling and coming over and having that Borscht Belt 1950s, 1960s experience inside the hospital. It’s truly special to see," he said.

“St. Mary Medical is the perfect place for the deli to be,” adds Dalewitz, noting that their food will bring comfort and inspiration to the medical staff, visitors and patients who stop there for
breakfast and lunch.

“And also the fact is matzoh ball soup is Jewish penicillin. It cures a lot,” he adds.

“Having Chef Nick, one of the greats, to be part of the Borscht Belt and now part of St. Mary where his own daughter was born, is special to him and I hope is special to the community here,” said
Dalewitz.

The Borscht Belt Delicatessen's collaboration with St. Mary represents a major enhancement to the hospital’s dining experience.

“We are thrilled to offer a variety of delicious new menu offerings from The Borscht Belt Delicatessen right here in the St. Mary Medical Center cafeteria,” said Suzette Cunicelli, vice president of Professional and Support Services at St. Mary Medical Center. “Just as we strive to provide the highest level of patient care possible, we also prioritize the patient experience. The convenient availability of high-quality food options is a big part of that experience.”

After building a successful catering career in Los Angeles and appearing on several food-themed television shows, Liberato returned home to Bucks County in 2020 to form a hospitality group that launched the original Borscht Belt location in Stockton, N.J., in June 2021.

The Borscht Belt relocated to its current location in the Village at Newtown South in May.