PASTRAMI in PHILLY!! And my "MEAT-up" with DAVID SAX !! "Save the Deli", he says !!

Koch's is still good and a must-go when in University City area of Philadelphia.

YUMMY looking pastrami pics. Here in my city, there is one Jewish deli, and they charge almost the same, but the portion is less than half.

My friend and I went out a few weeks ago, and were a bit baffled. He said it has changed, and the prices used to be better, and larger portions.

Ellen & cheesewit,

Although most of the older delis in Philly are "slicer joints" I will request that they slice their pastrami or corned beef "a little thicker." This is no problem.

I frequently visit Pumpernick's in Montgomeryville. They use Vienna Beef pastrami and steam it before serving. This deli is very popular and has recently undergone an expansion. The owner, Paul Klein, is an experienced deli operator. If only they would get full sour pickles in their pickle bar.

Isn't (or wasn't) there another deli right near Hymie's?

Chris OC

Yes, Hymie's and Murray's are both on Montgomery Ave in Bala:

http://www.hymies.com/catering.html

Murray's is at 285 and Hymie's is at 342.

analei


YUMMY looking pastrami pics. Here in my city, there is one Jewish deli, and they charge almost the same, but the portion is less than half.

How far are you from TORONTO, analei ?  DAVID SAX is from Toronto, and there still seems to be some real good SMOKED MEAT
joints around !  (but  not as many as when he was growing up.... )  (he noticed that, so that's why he is trying to Save the Deli's!)
 
Have you ever tried SMOKED MEAT , analei?  I DO  want to get to MONTREAL (& perhaps Toronto) to try the famous smoked meat joints, like Schwartz's ..

Sticker on the book reads:

David Sax is the M.F.K Fisher of pickled meats!  - A.J. Jacobs
 
When you see those three names together, you know you're getting the goods???!!

acer2x


Chris OC

Yes, Hymie's and Murray's are both on Montgomery Ave in Bala: 

 
I am familiar with Murry's in Jenkintown

Murray's in Jenkintown has been closed for some time now.

acer2x

I frequently visit Pumpernick's in Montgomeryville. They use Vienna Beef pastrami and steam it before serving.

If I must eat pastrami at a "slicer joint", that VIENNA beef brand is my favorite brand I've come across, thus far... I like the way it steams ..
 
MR. BILL'S Coney Island in south Jersey uses Vienna.... of course, that is the deli you and I had our MEAT-up at... (for others not in the know, it's right off the AC Expressway almost halfway between AC and Philly)
 
Also, RUSS COWAN used to use VIENNA brand for his pastrami when he owned the KIBBUTZ deli in Ocean City, NJ... (out of business now at that location)
He used Sy Ginsburg from Chicago for his Corned Beef ...
 

 

I was so desperate for pastrami after reading this that I went out and got some Boar's Head NY style - not nearly as authentic, but it will do in a pinch. Picking up some nice fresh rye tomorrow, and dinner is already planned!

Hi Ellen, Nice to see a woman talk about Pastrami like a guy talks about a Football game. I wish the delis would make a sandwich a person could eat. Every bite should have melt in your mouth Pastrami, melted swiss cheese, Jewish rye, kraut, and dressing. I would rather see 8oz on the sand and send me home with the other pound with a loaf of Jewish rye. I would also take Pastrami over Corned beef on a Reuben. I serve these in our cafe with Beavers hot and spicy mustard it goes real nice with the pastrami........Bill

your posts are always great (and the pics too) and your an old school met's fan...wow

TnTinCT


I was so desperate for pastrami after reading this that I went out and got some Boar's Head NY style - not nearly as authentic, but it will do in a pinch.

I hear you, as CT is a tough state for homemade , house-cured pastrami...
Yes, it's all relative, as one member of David's Philly audience said a "Ben and Bill's" deli opened up inside the Price Chopper supermarket in Saratoga Springs , NY and the local residents went wild...!
 
Apparently, there was no Jewish style deli around, so this place is the closest example!
The pastrami and corned beef is not storemade, but the  "best we could find anywhere"..
The cheesecake is from the Carnegie Deli...
the turkey and roast beef IS storemade, and so is the RYE BREAD...(and probably some of the other desserts)  www.pricechopper.com for menu  ... BEN & BILL'S
 
Hey, it ain't the CARNEGIE or LANGER'S, but it's way better than anything they had before...!
(which was not MUCH)
 I see deli's so proud that they carry Hebrew National Brand pastrami, espescially if they are in a pastrami-tough area.... often that might be the only Hebrew National pastrami available for MILES and MILES so for THEM , it's a big deal...
 
Hope you enjoyed that sandwich, TnTinCT!
(and I hope we can partake again in that killer garlic bread at Joe's Pizza in Northampton, MA !)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Great post Ellen!  If you're in the city and jonesing for a pastrami sandwich, I'd love to meet up with you.  I have yet to try Carnegie Deli and Second Avenue Deli (since the move anyway).  I did finally have a pastrami at Katz's and it was awesome!  Oh, how I wish I could have stayed for Joe's in Northampton!!

BillyB


Hi Ellen, Nice to see a woman talk about Pastrami like a guy talks about a Football game.

Hi BillyB ! So NOW we've got a BILLYB, to go along with our BILLYBOY (see post above this one from BillyBOY, another great Billy.
Had the pleasure of "MEAT-ing" up with Billyboy in NYC for brisket and ribs from the Hill Country BBQ...
and hopefully I can patronize YOUR cafe, BILLYB, wherever on EARTH it is located, lol !
 
Yes, BILLYB, I talk pastrami like a MAN ! I don't go for girly type food like wraps, etc...
I like my MEAT !   I've done threads on here where I show the HUGE sizzling PORTERHOUSE I've gotten from Wolfgang's in NYC
(a Peter Luger "offshoot")
 
I love my burgers, beef ribs, pastrami, and steaks !!

 

ellen4641

BillyB


Hi Ellen, Nice to see a woman talk about Pastrami like a guy talks about a Football game.

Hi BillyB ! So NOW we've got a BILLYB, to go along with our BILLYBOY (see post above this one from BillyBOY, another great Billy.
Had the pleasure of "MEAT-ing" up with Billyboy in NYC for brisket and ribs from the Hill Country BBQ...
and hopefully I can patronize YOUR cafe, BILLYB, wherever on EARTH it is located, lol !
 
Yes, BILLYB, I talk pastrami like a MAN ! I don't go for girly type food like wraps, etc...
I like my MEAT !   I've done threads on here where I show the HUGE sizzling PORTERHOUSE I've gotten from Wolfgang's in NYC
(a Peter Luger "offshoot")
 
I love my burgers, beef ribs, pastrami, and steaks !! 

Ellen certainly knows how to eat.  Are you sure you don't have any Italian in you?

joerogo

ellen4641

BillyB


Hi Ellen, Nice to see a woman talk about Pastrami like a guy talks about a Football game.

Hi BillyB ! So NOW we've got a BILLYB, to go along with our BILLYBOY (see post above this one from BillyBOY, another great Billy.
Had the pleasure of "MEAT-ing" up with Billyboy in NYC for brisket and ribs from the Hill Country BBQ...
and hopefully I can patronize YOUR cafe, BILLYB, wherever on EARTH it is located, lol !
 
Yes, BILLYB, I talk pastrami like a MAN ! I don't go for girly type food like wraps, etc...
I like my MEAT !   I've done threads on here where I show the HUGE sizzling PORTERHOUSE I've gotten from Wolfgang's in NYC
(a Peter Luger "offshoot")
 
I love my burgers, beef ribs, pastrami, and steaks !! 

Ellen certainly knows how to eat.  Are you sure you don't have any Italian in you?[8D]

You know how they say "someone looks Jewish" But the response is, what does someone who looks Jewish look like? Well, Ellen is the poster child for someone who looks Jewish.  Besides us Jews love to eat too

So do I "look" Jewish?

I think I can pass.

acer2x


Ellen & cheesewit,

Although most of the older delis in Philly are "slicer joints" I will request that they slice their pastrami or corned beef "a little thicker." This is no problem.

I frequently visit Pumpernick's in Montgomeryville. They use Vienna Beef pastrami and steam it before serving. This deli is very popular and has recently undergone an expansion. The owner, Paul Klein, is an experienced deli operator. If only they would get full sour pickles in their pickle bar.

Thanks for the tip!  I drive past that place all the time, but assumed it was yet another chain restaurant because almost all the other places in the shopping centers along 309 are.

Oh, Dale and that silver tongue of his again, sayin' all the things tha ladieez like to hear.

Nancypalooza


Oh, Dale and that silver tongue of his again, sayin' all the things tha ladieez like to hear.

Come on now.....Nancy,

What's wrong with looking Jewish...

It's not meant to be an insult or a compliment- just a statement

wanderingjew

Nancypalooza


Oh, Dale and that silver tongue of his again, sayin' all the things tha ladieez like to hear.

Come on now.....Nancy,
What's wrong with looking Jewish...
It's not meant to be an insult or a compliment- just a statement

Hey, Wandering Jew, all is cool.........       &  believe it or NOT, some people even mistake me for being ITALIAN !!!
And when I'm in Los Angeles, many people think I'm a Senorita ! (and they start talking Mexican to me..)
And when I get a nice suntan, some folks think I'm Egyptian..
 
Hey, Wandering Jew, I guess most of us don't want to be thought of us looking Jewish, cause it tends to be "big NOSE", right?!
(and mine is not getting any smaller!)........
 
 

 

Foodosaurus

wheregreggeats.com


In my opinion, David isn't the cute one in the picture.

I was just thinking the same thing, Gregg.

Yeah, he's not as cute as our, Ellen.

wanderingjew

joerogo

ellen4641

BillyB


Hi Ellen, Nice to see a woman talk about Pastrami like a guy talks about a Football game.

Hi BillyB ! So NOW we've got a BILLYB, to go along with our BILLYBOY (see post above this one from BillyBOY, another great Billy.
Had the pleasure of "MEAT-ing" up with Billyboy in NYC for brisket and ribs from the Hill Country BBQ...
and hopefully I can patronize YOUR cafe, BILLYB, wherever on EARTH it is located, lol !
 
Yes, BILLYB, I talk pastrami like a MAN ! I don't go for girly type food like wraps, etc...
I like my MEAT !   I've done threads on here where I show the HUGE sizzling PORTERHOUSE I've gotten from Wolfgang's in NYC
(a Peter Luger "offshoot")
 
I love my burgers, beef ribs, pastrami, and steaks !! 

Ellen certainly knows how to eat.  Are you sure you don't have any Italian in you?[8D]

You know how they say "someone looks Jewish" But the response is, what does someone who looks Jewish look like? Well, Ellen is the poster child for someone who looks Jewish.  Besides us Jews love to eat too

 

Yup! Ellen sure has a shana punem. That's a, "cute face" to our non Yiddish speaking Roadfoodies.

billyboy


Great post Ellen!  If you're in the city and jonesing for a pastrami sandwich, I'd love to meet up with you.  I have yet to try Carnegie Deli and Second Avenue Deli (since the move anyway).  I did finally have a pastrami at Katz's and it was awesome!  Oh, how I wish I could have stayed for Joe's in Northampton!!

Billy, just know, It's all down hill after Katz's

Maybe, but I think it'll be one heckuva ride!

wanderingjew

joerogo

ellen4641

BillyB


Hi Ellen, Nice to see a woman talk about Pastrami like a guy talks about a Football game.

Hi BillyB ! So NOW we've got a BILLYB, to go along with our BILLYBOY (see post above this one from BillyBOY, another great Billy.
Had the pleasure of "MEAT-ing" up with Billyboy in NYC for brisket and ribs from the Hill Country BBQ...
and hopefully I can patronize YOUR cafe, BILLYB, wherever on EARTH it is located, lol !
 
Yes, BILLYB, I talk pastrami like a MAN ! I don't go for girly type food like wraps, etc...
I like my MEAT !   I've done threads on here where I show the HUGE sizzling PORTERHOUSE I've gotten from Wolfgang's in NYC
(a Peter Luger "offshoot")
 
I love my burgers, beef ribs, pastrami, and steaks !! 

Ellen certainly knows how to eat.  Are you sure you don't have any Italian in you?[8D]

You know how they say "someone looks Jewish" But the response is, what does someone who looks Jewish look like? Well, Ellen is the poster child for someone who looks Jewish.  Besides us Jews love to eat too

 
My initial smart alec response to this was "Ellen's Jewish?" or WJ, Great pick-up line" or "WJ is Jewish?".  But because I'm scared as hell of WJ, I won't say any of those things.
 
And Ellen, Just as cute as ever.  You just keep on being the best Ellen you can be.
 
 
 
 

joerogo

wanderingjew

joerogo

ellen4641

BillyB


Hi Ellen, Nice to see a woman talk about Pastrami like a guy talks about a Football game.

Hi BillyB ! So NOW we've got a BILLYB, to go along with our BILLYBOY (see post above this one from BillyBOY, another great Billy.
Had the pleasure of "MEAT-ing" up with Billyboy in NYC for brisket and ribs from the Hill Country BBQ...
and hopefully I can patronize YOUR cafe, BILLYB, wherever on EARTH it is located, lol !
 
Yes, BILLYB, I talk pastrami like a MAN ! I don't go for girly type food like wraps, etc...
I like my MEAT !   I've done threads on here where I show the HUGE sizzling PORTERHOUSE I've gotten from Wolfgang's in NYC
(a Peter Luger "offshoot")
 
I love my burgers, beef ribs, pastrami, and steaks !! 

Ellen certainly knows how to eat.  Are you sure you don't have any Italian in you?[8D]

You know how they say "someone looks Jewish" But the response is, what does someone who looks Jewish look like? Well, Ellen is the poster child for someone who looks Jewish.  Besides us Jews love to eat too

 
My initial smart alec response to this was "Ellen's Jewish?" or WJ, Great pick-up line" or "WJ is Jewish?".  But because I'm scared as hell of WJ, I won't say any of those things.
 
And Ellen, Just as cute as ever.  You just keep on being the best Ellen you can be. 

 

 
 
I betcha I fear Michael Hoffman more than you fear me  
 
Sometimes not looking "Jewish" has it's advantages like the time I encountered my "interesting" dining companions at Louis Basque Corner in Reno this past August. Remember I don't usually introduce myself as "wanderingjew" so unless someone knows my last name, many take me for being Irish.

 Walking into a New York Deli to me is like walking through the gates of Disneyland. The cast of charcters are behind the counter. I can't wait for the show to begin. I haven't been back East for many years and I miss the heart and soul of these places. I have been a Chef for 30 years and have always tried to give my customer the best I could offer. Looking back on the Delis in New York I don't think I even came close. The Deli's talked about in this post are the best of the best. After seeing Ellen's pictures and Billyboys trip report on the $15 Roast Beef sand I now know a Roadfood trip is necessary. These places are a dyeing breed and I for one have missed them over the years. I just need to figure out where to start the trip and end it. It's great to see the passion and dedication you all show in Deli food.
  Ellen, isn't Chicken liver pate a must in these places ?????   Earth is Washington and Oregon, Just a part of earth no Deli's in my area. ..........Bill