NYC: Quintessential Deli Tour of the Lower East Side (Part I)

I feel good walking around the Lower East Side.  I feel insignificant but purposeful, the grit of the neighborhood exciting every bone in my body.  And I'm suddenly a character in one of Tom Waits' bluesy tunes.  Today's purpose: to partake in a walking tour of the quintessential deli experiences in LES Manhattan.  From unctuous pastrami to silky egg cream, at least on this Tuesday morning, the LES is where it's at.

KATZ's DELI

205 E. Houston St. (at Ludlow St.)

What is Katz's famous for?: PASTRAMI

I ordered directly from one of the pastrami carvers behind the counter

A thing of BEAUTY. My camera has never caught the reflection of such greasy goodness.  The grease, permeating out of the pastrami onto my hands, burned SO good.

Half sour picklez :D