- Jun 28, 2022
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A few years ago I had heard that Katz's Delicatessen in Manhattan, had closed its doors... It was depressing to hear because, as a youngster, I ate many Katz's pastrami sandwiches, and since leaving home in 1987, I have not had a pastrami or a corned beef that has come anywhere close.
As a kid I used to drive a truck for a company that processed and delivered some of their specialty offerings. I was not so much into cooking at the time but I always loved making the delivery because I would get a fat pastrami sandwich after making the delivery - and it was the flat out best sandwich experience of my life. This is also where I learned that a real pastrami is made from a beef navel - not brisket. One other bit of info I do remember is that their pastrami was "pickled" (actually smelled like pickling spice) before being smoked - so whenever I have endeavored to make a pastrami at home I have dumped a table spoon of McCormick's pickling spice into the soak - and while nothing I have made yet came close to Katz's, it was better than anything I have had since...
Well, to my surprise, whomever told me the place had closed, was either full of ...., or plain wrong, and for any of you that may want to know why I love pastrami so much, they have mail order too - so I thought I would post their link in case anyone might want to take the plunge - for the experience.
I suggest buying the sliced pastrami (steam it - actually I read their instructions and they say to simmer it in the sealed bag it comes in) and a loaf of their rye bread (it makes a difference), and pile it on the rye bread with some Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and homemade Russian dressing (basically mayo, ketchup and a little hot sauce) and go to town.
I am not related to them in any way and this is not an effort to advertise for them, my only desire is to give whomever may want a way to taste a real pastrami or find out why I am obsessed with it, the opportunity to see why.
It is the best there is.
As a kid I used to drive a truck for a company that processed and delivered some of their specialty offerings. I was not so much into cooking at the time but I always loved making the delivery because I would get a fat pastrami sandwich after making the delivery - and it was the flat out best sandwich experience of my life. This is also where I learned that a real pastrami is made from a beef navel - not brisket. One other bit of info I do remember is that their pastrami was "pickled" (actually smelled like pickling spice) before being smoked - so whenever I have endeavored to make a pastrami at home I have dumped a table spoon of McCormick's pickling spice into the soak - and while nothing I have made yet came close to Katz's, it was better than anything I have had since...
Well, to my surprise, whomever told me the place had closed, was either full of ...., or plain wrong, and for any of you that may want to know why I love pastrami so much, they have mail order too - so I thought I would post their link in case anyone might want to take the plunge - for the experience.
I suggest buying the sliced pastrami (
I am not related to them in any way and this is not an effort to advertise for them, my only desire is to give whomever may want a way to taste a real pastrami or find out why I am obsessed with it, the opportunity to see why.
It is the best there is.
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