HNY
I have returned from a pilgrimage to Katz’s deli on the Lower East Side. Katz’s is best known outside NY as being the deli where Sally fakes an orgasm and Harry is embarrassed by her.
Today there were no orgasms to be heard, but it was a total ZOO with people lined up out the door waiting for their meat to be cut. In this part of NY Christmas is nowhere to be seen or heard, no decorations or cute outfits, only hungry cranky New Yorkers and questioning tourists.
I waited almost half an hour to order my pastrami sandwich. Fortunately, it was early and I could enjoy overhearing fathers explaining deli maneuvers to their daughters. There were also elderly women sniping at everyone who would listen–the usual deli crowd.
One of the rules of the deli is that once you get to the much envied front-of-the-line to order your sandwich they cut you a hunk of meat to chew while they prepare your food. The guy in front of me was ordering sandwiches for his whole family, so he consumed lots of meaty chunks while he waited.
After I ordered my pastrami on rye with mustard and half-sour pickles, I had to move to another line to get my soda and fries. When I first saw the food, I had no doubt that I would be able to gobble it all down. My eyes truly were much bigger than my stomach. Less than 20 minutes later after much fat and ketchup and soda hit my belly, I needed to admit defeat and bring my pickles and half of the sandwich up to a counter to get them wrapped up.
The young woman at the counter was a strict adherent to the MAIN rule of Dec 25 at Katz’s, “For when it comes, ” she smiled, “Happy New Year.”
December 25, 2007 at 7:21 pm
I could use a little bit of “christmas nowhere to be seen” right now. Back when I was a carnivore, I used to love a good pastrami on rye at our local deli. Sigh.
December 26, 2007 at 11:47 am
If I ever come down to NYC again, I’ll have to drag Gregg down to this deli. He usually only takes me to Woody Allen movie sites. But if this one has good food too, we’ll be going.