Deli Debut

Have you heard this one?

What do a CPA, a lawyer, a chef and a fertility specialist have in common?

Answer: a kosher deli.

No joke. Four folks meeting those descriptions are moonlighting as the unlikely partners in the new Kosher Connection delicatessen in Agoura Hills.

There’s Avi Ben Harouch, former chef at Dockside Terrace in Westlake Village handling food preparation; Ben Harouch’s wife, Janet, doing organizational work; Dr. Michael Feinman, a Westlake reproductive specialist who conceived of the idea; and Susan Carlisle, a certified public accountant who oversees finances.

And as rare as this combination of culinary folk may seem, even more striking is the presence of a kosher deli in the area.

“They are impossible to find--we’re it, the only one in the Conejo Valley,” Carlisle said. “People are coming from as far away as Ventura and Simi Valley.”

Like any deli worth its kosher salt, the Kosher Connection stocks corned beef, chopped liver, hot pastrami, potato knishes and chicken soup. The deli is primarily a take-out operation but there are a few tables for sit-down customers. What sets this place apart from other delis is its gourmet approach.

Thanks to Ben Harouch’s influence, the deli also serves a Mediterranean marinated rotisserie roast chicken, barbecue herb-roasted turkey, garlic-and-herb-roasted lamb, roasted red potatoes with leeks, Chinese chicken salad, a Mediterranean cabbage salad with shredded lemon and herbs, and veggie burgers.

And next to the usual deli baked goods are some amazing desserts: a tiramisu, a Grand Marnier-flavored chocolate cake encased in a hard chocolate and a sugar-free--yes, sugar-free--apple strudel.

The selection of products should please older customers and the younger contingent.

“It’s only recently that there’s been a heavy Jewish influx here, and in the last decade there has been a strong Orthodox community developing in this area,” Carlisle said.

Despite the growing interest, Carlisle is not ready to speculate on whether there will be more Kosher Connections down the road.

“They say it takes two years to break even in this business--we’re five weeks into those two years,” she said. “If I were to say we’re taking over the city, that would be grandiose.”

The deli is at 30313 Canwood St., off the Reyes Adobe exit of the 101 Freeway. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Web site: www.kosherconnect.com.

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Wines from Old Creek Ranch Winery of Oak View and the Giessinger Winery of Fillmore will be featured in the Fillmore & Western Railway Company’s wine-tasting and train ride Friday night. There will be music, nonalcoholic beverages and a chance to meet the winemakers.

The train will board at 7 p.m. at Central Park and Santa Clara Avenue in Fillmore. Cost is $30. For reservations, call (800) 773-8724.