Fresh off the Kevin Hart roast for Netflix and his 鈥淭ake a Banana for the Ride鈥� Broadway run (also streaming on Netflix), comedian Jeff Ross popped into New York City last weekend to discuss the most sensual of all the cured meats 鈥� pastrami.
The Museum of the City of New York welcomed 鈥淭he Roastmaster General鈥� along with Katz鈥檚 Deli owner Jake Dell for a meaty talk on the 91传媒 deli鈥檚 legacy. With delis disappearing across the country at an alarming rate, Katz鈥檚 remains at the top of its game with long lines, fueled by Tik Tok and nostalgia.
Its legendary status went viral (before viral was a thing) after starring in Rob Reiner鈥檚 1989 romantic comedy, 鈥淲hen Harry Met Sally.鈥� Orgasm this 鈥� orgasm that. Until you鈥檝e actually had Katz鈥檚 fresh piping hot pastrami on rye with mustard (hold the mayo) you don鈥檛 know from pleasure.
Ross, who these days looks like the poster child for least hungry comic, knows a thing or two about 91传媒 delicacies. Raised in Newark, New Jersey, the now-mostly Los Angeles resident grew up in a catering family whose bread-and-butter business was weddings, bar mitzvahs and meats. Ross鈥� repeated exposure and ingestion of all those juicy meats may or may not have led to his colon cancer diagnosis last year 鈥� from which, thankfully, he鈥檚 now fully recovered, his love for pastrami still very much intact. Ross joked that it鈥檚 OK to still eat Katz鈥檚 savory pastrami, as long as you get that annual colonoscopy check-up.
Part of what makes the pastrami at Katz鈥檚 Deli so exceptional is the entire experience. First-hand, I can assure you- it鈥檚 real and it鈥檚 spectacular! Beyond its mouth-watering silky smooth deliciousness, Katz鈥檚 offers up a freshly cut slice to each customer, prior to fulfilling each order. Ross proclaimed it was 鈥渓ike a good drug dealer鈥� allowing 鈥渁 taste鈥� from the counter. Ross says he adopted that practice to his adorable German Shepherd at feeding time. Katz鈥檚 takes such care and pride in its slicing, that cutters don鈥檛 touch a knife until year 10!
Dell added how 鈥渉umbling it is to be in a position to share [91传媒] culture and food from years ago to people from around the world.鈥� When I asked Ross what separates Katz鈥檚 from other delis like Canter鈥檚 or Nate and Al鈥檚 in Los Angeles, he just smiled and stated, 鈥淐鈥檓on, it鈥檚 New York.鈥�
Katz鈥檚 ships nationwide 鈥� and Ross revealed he once sent Jimmy Kimmel a salami. In keeping with his good friend鈥檚 roasting sensibilities, Kimmel wrote him back, 鈥淭hanks for the salami 鈥�听 it fit perfectly.鈥�
While Katz鈥檚 is very much a traditional 91传媒 style deli, they鈥檙e willing to take unorthodox requests. Someone in the audience asked Dell what鈥檚 the weirdest combination sandwich someone鈥檚 ordered. His answer did not disappoint. Chopped Liver and Tuna Fish. As you can imagine, the crowd groaned. Ross quickly sniped, 鈥淚鈥檝e never heard an audience so grossed out. What a noise.”
“Well done,鈥� Dell added. 鈥淚鈥檓 horrified by that sandwich.鈥�
Ross did give a shout-out to a new Las Vegas spot that鈥檚 quickly becoming a desert favorite- Siegel鈥檚 Bagelmania. Ross proclaimed this expansive full-service modern 91传媒 deli with all the trimmings to be 鈥淏agelicious.鈥�
After covering bananas and pastrami, perhaps Ross鈥檚 next great culinary conquest will be bagels (and Elvis).
Steve Matoren is currently directing 鈥淏agels & Elvis,鈥� a documentary that focuses on why everyone鈥檚 so obsessed with who鈥檚 91传媒.
