NEW YORK, NEW YORK — The closing of Carnegie Deli has pastrami-lovers mourning all over Manhattan. Truth is, delicious Jewish-style food is just hard to come by these days. But, lucky for New York, and all its inhabitants, Carnegie doesn’t really have “the last pastrami.” Standing in the heart of Midtown since 1996, Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers is a traditional kosher deli that prides itself on its homemade food, coleslaw, pickles, and, of course — pastrami.
Located at 209 W 38th Street, Ben’s of Manhattan is within walking distance to Penn Station, Broadway, the Empire State Building and Times Square. The appeal of Ben’s pastrami is the process that goes into getting it to the customer’s plates. According to Ben’s founder/owner, Ronnie Dragoon, “the key to great pastrami is the cut of meat.” For Ben’s, this means only the navel portion of a kosher steer, supplied by Hebrew National.
“Traditionally, any cut of meat from virtually any animal could be made into pastrami,” explains Dragoon. “But, the belly area is rich and moist, while other cuts tend to be drier or tougher. Navels are typically softer and more flavorful when handled properly.”
After the is meat coated with a rub, smoked and, finally, chilled and packaged for later use, the company’s chefs use a double-steaming process to provide the most tender and succulent pastrami, sliced to order. A dish best served warm, Ben’s Pastrami is most commonly found served on authentic seeded rye and complemented by Ben’s delicatessen mustard and pickles.
“We mourn the demise of any of our brethren delicatessens,” adds Dragoon. “And, while Carnegie Deli has been a stiff competition over the years, it has always been a New York institution, and it will be missed. Now, Ben’s on 38th Street remains one of the few midtown outposts for this traditional and beloved fare. What’s great about that is that Ben’s sandwiches are overstuffed, mouthwatering and satisfying at any, and I mean any, time of the day.”
In addition to its Midtown store, Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers is located in Bayside, Carle Place, Greenvale, Scarsdale and Woodbury, New York, and in Boca Raton, Florida. For more information regarding Ben’s, visit www.bensdeli.net.
###
About Ben’s Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers
Ben’s is a family-owned and operated delicatessen/restaurant company that has been serving up the finest authentic New York Kosher delicatessen products and eastern European comfort foods for more than 43 years. All of Ben’s sandwiches, soups and dinners are freshly prepared. Ben’s has seven convenient locations: three on Long Island in Carle Place, Greenvale and Woodbury, and one each in Midtown Manhattan; Bayside, Queens; Scarsdale in Westchester County; and Boca Raton, Florida with free delivery service available to many communities around the stores. For more information, visit www.BensDeli.net or call Ben’s Catering Hotline at 1-800-344-BENS.
