National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day - January 14, 2025

History of National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day

The initial concept of pastrami, originating in Romania and known as “pastrama,” was a preservation technique that involved smoking, corning, or seasoning meat with herbs and spices to keep it for longer periods without refrigeration. With the surge of Eastern European migration to the U.S. in the late 19th century, new culinary traditions, such as pastrama, arrived along with them.

The first pastrami sandwich in America is often attributed to Sussman Volk, a Lithuanian Jewish immigrant and New York butcher. The story goes that after receiving a pastrami recipe from a Romanian friend in return for a favor, Volk began to smoke and spice beef before thinly slicing and serving it in a sandwich, effectively introducing the pastrami sandwich in 1887.

The sandwich’s popularity soared among the Jewish community before becoming a main attraction in Jewish delis across New York City and then throughout the U.S. Many people credit the iconic Katz’s Delicatessen for popularizing the pastrami sandwich after it began selling these in 1888.

Classic pastrami sandwiches are made with rye bread, mustard, and sometimes accompanying pickles. Over time, the sandwich saw variations with additional toppings like coleslaw or sauerkraut or changes in bread type but always remained faithful to the star of the sandwich, the pastrami.

Eventually, a new version of the sandwich emerged: the hot pastrami sandwich. No longer served at room temperature, the meat was freshly steamed or grilled before serving, enhancing its flavor and making it even more enticing.