Pastrami on rye facts for kids
A pastrami sandwich from Katz's Delicatessen
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| Type | Sandwich |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | New York City, New York |
| Main ingredients | pastrami, rye bread, spicy brown mustard |
Pastrami on rye is a super famous sandwich, especially known from Jewish delis in New York City. It was first made way back in 1888 by a person named Sussman Volk. He served it at his deli on Delancey Street in New York City.
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The Story of Pastrami on Rye
The story of this tasty sandwich begins with Sussman Volk. He moved to America from Lithuania in the late 1800s. He opened a small butcher shop in a part of New York called the Lower East Side.
Volk became friends with another immigrant, this time from Romania. He let his friend keep meat in his big icebox. To say thank you, the friend shared a special recipe for pastrami with Volk. Volk started selling this new meat to his customers.
The pastrami was a huge hit! It became so popular that in 1888, Volk opened a special food shop called a delicatessen, or "deli." It was at 88 Delancey Street and was one of the first delis in New York City. There, he started serving the delicious pastrami on rye bread.
Soon, other delis in New York City started making pastrami on rye too. They served it on rye bread with a dollop of spicy brown mustard. Famous delis like Katz's Delicatessen became well-known for their amazing pastrami on rye sandwiches. A food writer named Florence Fabricant even said a book about Katz's was "as overstuffed as Katz's pastrami on rye."
The pastrami on rye sandwich has become a symbol of the classic New York Jewish deli. You can find delis all over the world trying to copy the feel of the original New York delis. These places are in cities like Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and San Diego, California. The classic sandwich is simple: just sliced pastrami, placed on rye bread, and topped with spicy brown mustard. It usually comes with a Kosher dill pickle on the side.
Famous Places to Find Pastrami on Rye
Many delis are famous for their pastrami on rye sandwiches. Here are a few well-known ones:
- Canter's – In the Fairfax District, Los Angeles
- Carnegie Deli – In Midtown Manhattan
- Dunn's – In Montreal, Quebec
- Katz's Delicatessen – In the Lower East Side, Manhattan
- Langer's Deli – In Westlake, Los Angeles
- Second Avenue Deli – In Murray Hill, Manhattan
- Schwartz's – In Montreal, Quebec
Different Ways to Enjoy Pastrami on Rye
There are a few fun twists on the classic pastrami on rye sandwich:
Corned Beef and Pastrami on Rye
This version uses both pastrami and corned beef! It's made with rye bread, pastrami, corned beef, coleslaw, and Russian dressing. To make it, both meats are placed on a slice of rye bread. Then, coleslaw is added on top. Russian dressing can be spread on the second slice of bread before putting it on top.
Pastrami, Lettuce, and Tomato (PLT)
This sandwich is like a BLT, but with pastrami! It uses two slices of toasted sourdough bread, mayonnaise, pastrami, lettuce, and tomato slices. First, the pastrami goes on a toasted slice of sourdough bread. Then, lettuce and tomato slices are placed on top. Mayonnaise can be spread on the second slice of sourdough, and then it's placed on top of the sandwich.
