Yesterday was National Pastrami Day. I love pastrami! Growing up on the Lower East Side in the ’40s and ’50s, for me pastrami was a fact of life. It may come as a surprise to learn that back then, our family didn’t go to Katz’s. Instead, we went to Gitlitz, a kosher deli on Rivington St., which was just down the block and around the corner from our Norfolk St. building. A pastrami on rye cost 65 cents.
Nowadays, while we very occasionally go to Katz’s, our favorite place for pastrami is Sarge’s Deli*, just a 10-minute walk from our apartment and, therefore, much more convenient. The style of pastrami is different from that at Katz’s but no less delicious. To insure that the meat is juicy, we always request “very fatty” and are never disappointed. Michael and I share one sandwich which is so gargantuan that we split one half and take the other half home.
Michael always starts with chicken soup with matzo ball and noodles.
They give you pickles and cole slaw.
The traditional drink? Dr. Brown’s Cream Soda, of course!
In November 2012, Sarge’s was gutted by a massive fire. Happily, like the proverbial phoenix, Sarge’s rose from the ashes and reopened in March 2014 with the interior looking the same as before.
Looking forward to many more years of pastrami sandwiches at Sarge’s!
*Note: Sarge’s is open 24/7 every day of the year. We sometimes get delivery for which there is no extra charge.
Tags: Sarge's Deli, Pastrami
The Wizard of Roz 
January 15, 2016 at 8:58 pm |
YUM!