deepundergroundpoetry.com
The Road to Pastrami
I don't need a guru
I've no use for a swami
I just need a trip back home
to find the best pastrami
The Jewish delis of my childhood
gleaming buckets of sauerkraut
pastrami so hot it steamed the bread,
sharp-crusted rye, without a doubt
Frilly toothpicks
red or blue
secured the mountains of beef
so much food, but I could eat it all
to exactly no one's relief
Maybe it's just stupidity
but I'm craving Miami's humidity
I want the ocean and the burning sand
I want to reexplore my childhood land
It's been years,
I know much has changed
but I'm sure a great pastrami sandwich
could still be arranged.
I've no use for a swami
I just need a trip back home
to find the best pastrami
The Jewish delis of my childhood
gleaming buckets of sauerkraut
pastrami so hot it steamed the bread,
sharp-crusted rye, without a doubt
Frilly toothpicks
red or blue
secured the mountains of beef
so much food, but I could eat it all
to exactly no one's relief
Maybe it's just stupidity
but I'm craving Miami's humidity
I want the ocean and the burning sand
I want to reexplore my childhood land
It's been years,
I know much has changed
but I'm sure a great pastrami sandwich
could still be arranged.
Published 22nd Sep 2024
Author's Note
I recently discovered an authentic Jewish deli just a few miles away with great pastrami, but they serve it on cold bread and it's just not the same.
If anyone is wondering why my finishing a lot of food was "to no one's relief" it's because my parents and grandmother were obsessed with keeping my weight down. I was taught to LEAVE food on my plate (a habit I still usually maintain). Weird, I know.
If anyone is wondering why my finishing a lot of food was "to no one's relief" it's because my parents and grandmother were obsessed with keeping my weight down. I was taught to LEAVE food on my plate (a habit I still usually maintain). Weird, I know.
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likes 8
reading list entries 1
comments 15
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22nd Sep 2024 7:40pm
22nd Sep 2024 8:11pm
Hopefully you are in an urban enough place to get a good one.
Thanks for reading.
Thanks for reading.
22nd Sep 2024 7:42pm
Swami pastrami isn't just a great rhyme,
but a fabulous marketing opportunity 😏
but a fabulous marketing opportunity 😏
22nd Sep 2024 8:07pm
Kind of liked the swami pastrami thing myself. Maybe that's my road out of teaching (please, please...) selling pastrami to the enlightened -although they'd probably be vegan, and I'd have to do tofurami.
Tofurami 🤔
I'm carnivorous, but I would try that.
And sauerkraut without a doubt is also inspired rhyme 😇
I'm carnivorous, but I would try that.
And sauerkraut without a doubt is also inspired rhyme 😇
22nd Sep 2024 8:43pm
Pastrami is a religious experience in NYC.
I must be a heathen because I don’t like it.
It’s corned beef and tongue on warm rye all the way…
I also like drinking rye.
BTW the going rate for a pastrami sandwich at Katz’s Delicatessen is like $26. Bring lawyers, guns and money …
BIG LiKE
I must be a heathen because I don’t like it.
It’s corned beef and tongue on warm rye all the way…
I also like drinking rye.
BTW the going rate for a pastrami sandwich at Katz’s Delicatessen is like $26. Bring lawyers, guns and money …
BIG LiKE
22nd Sep 2024 11:36pm
I love corned beef too, but I need a safe word for tongue.
Big thanks on warm rye for the Big Like.
Oh, I heard Katz's sandwiches are now $31. I'd splurge.
Big thanks on warm rye for the Big Like.
Oh, I heard Katz's sandwiches are now $31. I'd splurge.
22nd Sep 2024 10:53pm
We were the opposite lol, I'm 6ft 4 and always had a healthy appetite... our Gran used to say clean your plate as there's starving kids in the world what I've passed down to my kids lol 🙃❤️
22nd Sep 2024 11:32pm
One of my closest friends is 6'4. He can eat like a monster, and not gain weight. No fair! I'm 5'5, and adjusted for my appetite need to be about 7'8.
23rd Sep 2024 1:37am
23rd Sep 2024 2:07am
I'm not great about sharing personal orders of food (MINE!) so let's call it a dining companion. Pastrami or corned beef sandwiches with cole slaw and potato salad, or whatever strikes your fancy.
23rd Sep 2024 2:41am
Dear PD,
Fab blend of nostalgia, food and fun. This was a fun read and made me think of a turkey reuben. I also want pickles. H🌷
Fab blend of nostalgia, food and fun. This was a fun read and made me think of a turkey reuben. I also want pickles. H🌷
23rd Sep 2024 3:07am
Turkey Reubens are awesome. Now I want one too.
Thanks for the nice comments.
Thanks for the nice comments.
24th Sep 2024 1:42am
I love a good pastrami toasted sandwich!!
I totally agree with you - it needs to be warm.
Speaking of food - one of my best friends is Jewish. She could not find any place
that has lox eggs. Just so happens a new restaurant opened up and guess what - they have it on the breakfast menu. I'm treating her this Friday for breakfast:)
Great food write with lots of angst!!
I totally agree with you - it needs to be warm.
Speaking of food - one of my best friends is Jewish. She could not find any place
that has lox eggs. Just so happens a new restaurant opened up and guess what - they have it on the breakfast menu. I'm treating her this Friday for breakfast:)
Great food write with lots of angst!!
25th Sep 2024 3:17am
I'm a weird Jew in that I hate lox. Never even tasted it to be honest, but I sure grew up around it. Traditionally it's served with bagels, cream cheese, capers, and thinly sliced red onion, but if your friend likes hers with eggs, glad she'll get to have it. And here's how angsty I am about pastrami- I'm now mildly obsessed with rediscovered steamed- not cold, not toasted, but steamed bread. Thanks for reading and commenting on my latest bit of silliness.
