Spelling whizzes or news junkies could land themselves a free matzo ball.
Ben’s Kosher Deli of Bayside is offering a free knaidel to any customer who buys a quart of chicken soup and can spell the word that sealed a local teen’s recent victory at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Correctly spelling knaidel — a Yiddish word of German origin that means “dumpling” — sealed Arvind Mahankali’s victory on May 23.
It was the M.S. 74 eight grader’s fourth and final showing at the competition after finishing third the last two years.
“Knaidel may be hard to spell, but it is definitely delicious,” said Ronnie Dragoon, founder and owner of Ben’s Deli.
Keen customers can save about $1.50 if they nail the spelling. A quart of chicken soup costs $7.99 on its own.
The promotion runs until June 30 at the participating Ben’s in the Bay Terrace Shopping Center. It is located at 211-37 26th Avenue.
The restaurant has given away more than 50 knaidels since the promotion began on June 6, managers said.
Another Ben’s location in Rego Park recently announced a new dish named after the local spelling whiz.
Arvind dined on his “mini knaidels” with Congressmember Grace Meng on June 9.
The lawmaker also gave the spelling champ an American flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor.
“Only in Queens, the most diverse county in America, can an Indian-American kid win a national contest for correctly spelling the Yiddish word for matzo ball,” Meng said. “It is a tremendous honor to congratulate him on his outstanding achievement. He has made our borough and our city and state proud.
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