OT- BEST PASTRAMI EVER!!!

we were up in new york city on saturday, having taken sydney up the rest of her college stuff. ...after dropping off her gear, we took her into the city for lunch... rather than the usual Times Square foray, we decided to head down to Houston street to Katz's Deli for lunch and the to Russ and Daughter's to stock up on "soul food". . ..



Katz's is one of the more well known deli's even if its not in the broadway district. . . one of the things its famous for is the "orgasm" scene from "when harry met sally" you know when meg ryan fakes the orgasm in the deli....place is packed all the time. ...



they even have a sign right over the table where the movie was filmed. . ..



but what katz's is really known for is the pastrami. .. its hand sliced (as are all the meats there). . .you go up to the counter, tell the countermen what you want for lunch, and they prepare your sandwiches while you watch. ..when they need fresh briskets (corned beef, roast briskets, or pastramies), they turn behind them to these big steamer bins, and reach in a pull out fresh steaming hot briskets on the spot and carve them by hand on the spot!!. . .not an electric slicer to be scene anywhere in the place!! . ..oh, and while you are standing there waiting, they put up little piles of meat on the counter for you to taste. ...gotta love it!!



here's pics of my pastrami sandwich, catherine's chicken liver sandwich, and spawn's tongue sandwich. . ..all were fantastic (well, i don't touch the chicken liver, but catherine said it was some of the best she's ever had). ...i also had half a corned beef sandwich, but i'd eaten that before i remembered to pull the camera out. .heee







i usually prefer corned beef to pastrami, but i'll tell you, this pastrami was the best i've ever eaten, anywhere!!!. ...moist as could be with just the right amount of pepper/smoke. ... it melted in your mouth!!

after stuffing ourselves at katz's, we walked a block, yep, just one block, up houston street to russ and daughters, purveyors of the best jewish soul food (15 kinds of smoked salmon, whitefish, pickled herring, sable, sturgeon, etc), bagels, cream cheeses, etc. . .) you've ever seen in your life. . .you should see these guys slice salmon, its so paper thin you could read the newspaper through the slices!!. . .sent the spawn home with a goody bag and we took a goody bag home to virginia as well (norwegian smoked salmon, whitefish salad, pickled herring). ...



here's my breakfast from sunday morning back at the house (smoked norwegian salmon with a schmear of cream cheese on an everything bagel with pickled herring and onions). . . .it just doesn't get any better than this. . .i keep saying i'm gonna try to cold smoke a salmon fillet on the egg. ..gotta try one of these days. .



if you ever get to NYC you have to make a trip down to houston street!!!