Posted on 01/14/2025 6:48:15 AM PST by Red Badger
NATIONAL HOT PASTRAMI SANDWICH DAY
Pastrami lovers across the country look forward to their favorite sandwich on January 14th as they recognize National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day.
#HotPastramiSandwichDay
Popular delicatessen meat, pastrami is usually made from beef. Others make their pastrami sandwich with pork, mutton, or turkey. Before refrigeration, butchers originally created pastrami as a way to preserve meat. To make pastrami, they placed the raw meat in brine. Then they partially dried it and seasoned it with various herbs and spices to be smoked and steamed.
A wave of Romanian Jewish immigration introduced pastrami (pronounced pastróme), a Romanian specialty, in the second half of the 19th century. Early English references used the spelling “pastrama” before the modified “pastrami” spelling was used.
New York kosher butcher, Sussman Volk earns credit for producing the first pastrami sandwich in 1887. He claimed to have gotten the recipe from a Romanian friend in exchange for storing his luggage. Due to the popularity of his sandwich, Volk converted his butcher shop into a restaurant to sell pastrami sandwiches.
Classic Pastrami
When served, the deli typically slices the pastrami and places it between two slices of rye bread. Sometimes, the classic New York deli sandwich (pastrami on rye) is served with coleslaw and Russian dressing.
When pastrami and coleslaw combine, it's called a Rachel sandwich. Similar to a Reuben which is made with corned beef and sauerkraut.
In Los Angeles, they serve the classic pastrami sandwich with hot pastrami right out of the steamer. They slice it very thin and wet from the brine then layered on double-baked Jewish-style rye bread. It is traditionally accompanied by yellow mustard and pickles.
In Salt Lake City, in the early 1960s, Greek immigrants introduced a hamburger topped with pastrami and a special sauce. This pastrami burger remains a staple of local burger chains in Utah.
HOW TO OBSERVE HOT PASTRAMI SANDWICH DAY
Serve up your favorite pastrami sandwich. What toppings will you add? Try making several versions. Here are some other suggestions for celebrating:
Add sliced green apples and sharp cheddar cheese to your sandwich.
Invite friends to build their own sandwiches.
Give a shout-out to your favorite restaurant and deli with the best pastrami sandwich.
While you're at it, what's the best beverage to wash down a hot pastrami sandwich?
Are you a master sandwich maker? Share your sandwich stacking tips.
When it comes to the bread only the best will do. Pastrami and rye are classic. What other bread makes terrific pastrami sandwiches?
Mix up a variety of spreads. Make them hot, spicy, sweet, sour, or creamy, and find out which one compliments pastrami best.
Read the Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli by Ted Merwin while munching on your creation.
Watch a food show while enjoying your delicious pastrami sandwich.
Try this Hot Pastrami Sandwich recipe.
LINK AT SITE........
Use #HotPastramiSandwichDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL HOT PASTRAMI SANDWICH DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar continues researching the origins of this sandwich day. While we do, we're going to make a Dagwood-sized pastrami on rye.
Pastrami FAQ
Q. Is a Reuben made with pastrami?
A. No. A Reuben sandwich is made with corned beef and sauerkraut. The Rachel sandwich uses pastrami and coleslaw.
Q. What animal is pastrami made from?
A. Primarily butchers use beef to make pastrami. However, they also use pork, mutton, or turkey.
Q. How long is pastrami cured?
A. Typically, butchers cure their pastrami for 2-4 weeks.
Q. Can I eat pastrami cold?
A. Yes. Pastrami is delicious whether it's hot or cold. Though when it's hot, pastrami's flavor really comes through.
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Notable Birthdays and January 14
William Whipple (1730-1785) - Signatory of the Declaration of Independence.
Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) - Distinguished American general who became a traitor to the country.
Hugh Judson Kilpatrick (1836-1881) - Major General for the Union Army.
Richard F. Outcault (1863-1928) - Pioneer comic strip illustrator and creator of Buster Brown.
Hal Roach (1892-1992) - Actor, producer and founder of Hal Roach Studios.
Bebe Daniels (1901-1971) - Child star actress who played Dorothy in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910).
Mildred Albert (1905-1991) - Fashion commentator often referred to as the First Lady of Fashion.
Dudley Randall (1914-2000) - Black poet and founder of Broadside Press.
Mark Goodson (1915-1992) - Game show producer who created the Family Feud and The Price Is Right.
Andy Rooney (1919-2011) - Journalist on 60 Minutes.
Nathaniel Rochester (1919-2001) - Computer scientist and architect of the IBM 701.
Ken Sailors (1921-2016) - Professional basketball player credited with inventing the jump shot.
Don Garlits (1932-Still Living) - Considered the father of drag racing.
Faye Dunaway (1941-Still Living) - Award winning actress who gained fame for the character Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde (1967).
Carl Weathers (1948-2024) - Actor who played Apollo Creed in Rocky I-IV.
LL Cool J (1968-Still Living) - Rapper and actor who played Agent Sam Hanna in NCIS: Los Angeles.
Jason Bateman (1969-Still Living) - Actor, director, and producer who has been gaining accolades since his debut on Little House on the Prairie.
Dave Grohl (1969-Still Living) - Lead singer for the Foo Fighters.
Memorable Events for January 14
1639 - Connecticut adopts their first constitution entitled Fundamental Orders.
1699 - Massachusetts holds day of fasting for wrongly persecuting people accused of being witches.
1784 - Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain (Ratification Day).
1794 - The first successful Cesarean section is performed by Dr. Jesse Bennett, who was also his wife.
1799 - Gun inventor Eli Whitney receives a government contract for 10,000 muskets.
1943 – President Roosevelt meets with Winston Churchill in Casablanca Conference to discuss WWII.
1952 - The Today Show makes it's debut.
1960 - The Army promotes Elvis Presley to Sergeant.
1973 - Elvis Presley's concert from Hawaii sets the record as the most watched television broadcast by an entertainer.
1979 - President Carter declares Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a federal holiday.
PASTRAMI PING!.......................
Damn…this article made me hungry. 😋
Love pastrami as long as there is no garlic in it. Rye bread or marbled bread, brown mustard, a bag o chips, and a soft drink. Heaven on earth almost
I remember the first time I ever had pastrami. It was love at first bite!...........
I purchase my pastrami from a true kosher deli in St Louis Park, a suburb of Minneapolis.
I stand out like a sore thumb when I go in there because I’m not wearing a yarmulke but they still treat me well anyways.
Me too lol!
I was in Katz’s Deli in Manhattan once with my boss back in the 70’s. The best pastrami sandwich I ever had. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I think they are still in business, maybe I’ll make it there again.
Back in the 60s, “The Miracle Mile” deli at the Christown Mall in Phoenix. Best pastrami sandwich in the world. I’ve never been able to find anything like it.
I like to make them with pastrami and sauerkraut. Still call it a Reuben even if it technically isn't. There's probably a tranny joke in there somewhere.
I like real German sauerkraut, not the American pickled stuff.........
I made a corn beef brisket a few days ago. Still have a little bit left in the fridge. Enough to make a couple of glorious sandwiches! Thanks for the inspiration! I have all the ingredients on hand to make a fantastic Reuben. :)
Pastrami absolutely makes the superior Reuben.
I make do with the grocery store stuff in jars. Not as good, certainly. Someday I might try fermenting my own.
Agreed.
No need to go to NY, have anything from Katz’s Deli at your door by Football time this weekend.
https://katzsdelicatessen.com/shipping.html
I send the Birthday Box to some folks every year, they love it.
My favorite pastrami sandwich is that of The Hat chain in L.A.’s San Gabriel Valley. Anyone else love The Hat???
Good Rye Bread for the base.
Swiss cheese on top of the bread slice. Fit to the bread.
Nice thick layer of Kraut 1/4"+ that's been drained well and then heated in skillet to dry out better, warmed through and then fitted to the edge of the bread on top of the cheese so that the bread doesn't get soggy.
Thinly sliced Corned Beef 1/4"+ layer again to fit the bread.
Thinly sliced Pastrami 1/4"+ layer again to fit the bread.
Another nice thick layer of Kraut 1/4"+
Swiss Cheese to protect the bread from being soggy.
Top bread layer.
Lightly butter outside of the bread and put in hot pan to toast and warm through, same for the other side.
Also a couple of good Kosher Dill pickle spears. Tater Chips optional. Beverage of choice.
Geez, is there anything better?
I sneak one in every few months even though I know it’s terrible on your health.
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