Carry-On Food: Lox in a Box

Off we go, into the wild blue yonder--with a box of lox, sturgeon, cod, whitefish, bagels, cream cheese, Jack cheese, olives and rugelach cookies tucked under the seat.

This carry-on “deli in the sky” isn’t for eating on board, no matter what you may think of airline food. It’s a care package for the folks at your destination, packed by Junior’s Restaurant, Delicatessen & Bakery in Los Angeles.

In just 30 minutes, Junior’s will assemble a feast for 10 to 15 people, wrap each item separately and tuck it into a cardboard attachecase with enough cold packs to keep the food chilled for eight hours.

Owner Marvin Saul has drawn up four fly-away menus that range from the high ticket $119.95 seafood and bagel assortment to a $49.95 variety case that includes a dozen cheese blintzes, four knishes, noodle kugel, six potato pirogen, one quart of kasha varnishkes with a half-pint of beef gravy, a turkey pot pie, corn rye bread, rice pudding and a pound of rugelach.

The $89.95 meat pack gives you corned beef, roast beef, turkey breast, pepper beef, brisket, kishke, potato salad, cole slaw, pickles, mustard, hallah, corn rye and rugelach. For $10 less, you can take along a Junior’s sampler composed of kosher salami, lox, chicken salad, creamed herring, canned sardines, bagels, cream cheese, corn rye, hallah, pickles, mustard, halvah and rugelach.

Saul’s not beyond sending along a bit of advertising. “Best chicken soup in L.A.,” boasts the fine print on the boxes. And you can probably get that packed to go too.

Junior’s Restaurant, Delicatessen & Bakery, 2379 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles (at the corner of Pico and Westwood). (310) 475-5771. Open 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, to 12:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.