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How's California Pastrami? Someone on another forum said they were the best sandwich shop in town.
That all depends on how much you like pastrami...it's in the name for a reason. It looks like they've added some things in recent years, but pastrami is very much their focus.
Also...I see the El Michaocano has closed. What a shame I was looking forward going there when I do my trip. I was hoping to run into Mike and Tuco, lol!
Last edited by Rich Cabeza; 02-13-2018 at 11:02 AM..
Reason: spelling
"California Pastrami" sounds like an oxymoron. Rightly or wrongly, when I think of pastrami I think of Jewish delis in New York. What has California contributed to pastrami?
"California Pastrami" sounds like an oxymoron. Rightly or wrongly, when I think of pastrami I think of Jewish delis in New York. What has California contributed to pastrami?
I am no expert, but apparently Los Angeles has long had its own local pastrami/deli culture and are quite proud of their take on it...
"California Pastrami" sounds like an oxymoron. Rightly or wrongly, when I think of pastrami I think of Jewish delis in New York. What has California contributed to pastrami?
Quite a few terrific delis in SoCal. I miss them a lot. I've spent a fair amount of time in NYC and never had deli that was noticeably better than what you get in L.A. -- some popular places near Times Sq. definitely worse.
Quite a few terrific delis in SoCal. I miss them a lot. I've spent a fair amount of time in NYC and never had deli that was noticeably better than what you get in L.A. -- some popular places near Times Sq. definitely worse.
Well then try "California Pastrami" in Albuquerque and tell us what you think...
I grew up about a mile from The Hat in East LA. Actually it is in Monterey Park but across the street is ELA. While different from a traditional NY Style Pastrami, it certainly is awesome. When I visit LA, there are three places I make sure to eat while visiting. In-N-Out, The Hat and Lupe's Burritos.
Basically, the people who ran the delis are no longer there (bar a few holdouts); they have moved to places like Florida and California (hence the California delis, I suppose). I think a lot of people don't think of LA as having a thriving Jewish culture compared to NY, but then again, think Hollywood/entertainment, not to stereotype.
Meanwhile, in the last 10 years in New York, taking their place are transplants who don't care about NY Deli culture combined with a tourist market that is willing to overspend on a substandard product, more interested in where Meg sat when she mimiced an orgasm than the food culture.
That is not to say that you still can't get one of the best deli sandwiches in the world in NYC (the article above notwithstanding), it's just that there isn't a great one on every corner anymore. Even some of the most famous deli's are simply closing up shop.
So, I have had pastrami and corned beef sandwiches in NYC from the early 80s until as recently as maybe 2010, and I have had sandwiches from California Pastrami.
To me, and I do consider myself pretty discerning, they are pretty much the same product in its most basic form, and they offer a California style, with yellow mustard on a hero with pickles), and a New York style on rye with brown, deli mustard.
I thought it was pretty good for the price, but I thought the meat was sliced waaay too thin. It should be almost 1/4 inch thick in my opinion.
Last edited by ABQConvict; 02-14-2018 at 04:09 PM..
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