I'm so excited to finally announce and share with you my "Metro Deli" sandwiches, inspired by authentic New York delicatessens where I've had the greatest sandwiches in the world. When I say the greatest, I mean the greatest.
Here's a little background on my newest special...
Between 1880 and 1920, two-million plus Yiddish speaking Jews from Eastern Europe immigrated to New York. The New York they arrived to was heavily populated by Germans and German culture. Many foods we consider American were originally made, sold and popularized by Germans in their delis. To name a few: "…sausages, beef frankfurters, sauerkraut, hamburgers, meat loaf, liverwurst, many cold cuts, noodle dishes, dill pickles, herring in cream sauce, lager beer, seltzer water, pretzels (including the big, doughy New York-style pretzels), potato salad, muenster cheese, rolls (like the Kaiser), pastries, rye bread, and pumpernickel." As the Jews settled in New York, they opened their own kosher delis all over the city and the New York Jewish Deli was born. "Delicatessen (or Delikatessen) is a German word that combines 'delicious' or 'delicacies' and eating. It means either 'delicacies to eat,' or 'to eat delicious things.' In Yiddish, a mostly Germanic language, it means the same thing. Yiddish Jews right off the boat knew what the word meant." The early Jewish delis weren't much different from the German ones, except for one thing: their lack of dairy and pork on the menu. Because of the abundance of beef in America, brisket (a kosher beef cut from the breast and marbled with fat), corned beef, and pastrami became Jewish traditions along with those mile-high sandwiches New Yorkers know and love.
I am I fan of those very sandwiches. I grew up in Nutley, NJ, right outside of NYC. As I grew, so did my appreciation for Jewish delicatessens and the great food they made including matzo ball soup, potato pancakes, corned beef, and of course, hot pastrami. I've ate at the best of the best: Pastrami King, Second Ave Deli, Carnegie Deli, The Stage, and Katz's, to name a few. There, it's a religion. Here in Philadelphia we have the Famous 4th Street Deli, but other than that there aren't many true New York style Jewish delicatessens. That is why I decided to master my very own "Metro Deli" sandwiches for Zachary's customers, right here in the suburbs.
These sandwiches will knock your socks off! This week we announced that our Facebook friends could stop in for a deluxe free sample. Choose from: Flat Smoked Ham, House Smoked Pastrami, or Chef's Corned Beef. Come get some, and let us know what you think!
Chef Keith Taylor
Credit: Pastrami Land, The Jewish Deli in New York City by Harry G. Levine
