The Great Pastrami Caper: When a NYC Deli Disappeared Like a Smoked Brisket in the Night
Ah, New York City delis. Those temples of towering sandwiches, rivers of pickles, and enough cheesecake to feed a small village. But amongst these titans of nosh, there once existed a legend: The Carnegie Deli.
A Pastrami Paradise Lost
This wasn't your average corner bodega slinging wilted ham and cheese. Carnegie's was a monument to meat, a Carnegie Hall of corned beef, if you will. Their sandwiches were legendary, piled high with enough pastrami to qualify as a state secret. Celebrities flocked to it like pigeons to a dropped hot dog (though hopefully, the pastrami was fresher).
The End of an Era (Hold the Mustard)
But then, in a plot twist worthy of a Woody Allen film (and hey, Woody Allen was a Carnegie regular!), the unthinkable happened. The Carnegie Deli closed its doors in 2016. Yes, folks, you read that right. A culinary landmark vanished faster than a knish at a bar mitzvah.
Conspiracy Theories and Culinary Crimes
Some say it was a plot by the health department, finally fed up with the sheer tonnage of meat being consumed within those walls. Others whisper of a pastrami mafia, a secret society of sandwich overlords who saw Carnegie as a threat. The truth, most likely, is a bit more mundane – rising rent prices and changing tastes.
But Fear Not, Pastrami Peeps!
Don't despair, lovers of lox! New York City is still a haven for delis. Katz's remains a stalwart, with its pastrami-slinging scene immortalized in "When Harry Met Sally." Sarratt's in Brooklyn offers up comfort food piled high, and Russ & Daughters will satisfy your smoked salmon cravings.
So, the Carnegie Deli may be gone, but its spirit lives on. In every juicy corned beef on rye, in every overstuffed pastrami on a hero roll, there's a little bit of Carnegie's magic. Just remember, when you visit a deli these days, bring your appetite and maybe a bigger plate – those sandwiches aren't shrinking anytime soon.
