mmm-yoso!!! is a food blog, mostly written by Kirk, ed (from Yuma) and Cathy. A few others contribute as well, all of us writing about food we eat and sometimes the reason why we like it, or don't. Today, Cathy is writing about something she likes.
Hi. One of my earlier posts, about decorating Rose parade floats and having a pastrami sandwich at The Hat, mentioned... a pastrami sandwich. Which I really liked. I got a question from "H", asking me where good pastrami sandwiches were to be found in San Diego, because her hubby is a sucker for them, and realized I pretty much always order pastrami (smoked corn beef) sandwiches whenever it is available, although I like sandwiches of all kinds. I don't make this type of sandwich at home. I did mention pastrami in my post about BMH Italian and remembered again the other day, when I was driving in an industrial area of El Cajon, just off Highway 67 and Fletcher Parkway and saw this sign:
and pulled into the lot. I have been here, but it was years ago (it opened in 1984, back when the Unemployment Office was still next door) and had basically forgotten about it, only stopping in when I was buying tires, looking for plumbing supplies or somehow stayed on Magnolia instead of getting onto the 67. Silly me. The food here is great.
Nice and clean inside. You walk up, order and pay, grab a beverage if you ordered one, then sit down. Your food will be brought out to you. Eight tables (all of which are filled from about 11 a.m. on). They serve breakfast sandwiches all day and also have two soups of the day and make a very nice chili with cheddar cheese and onions ($3.50/$4.25).
I ordered a pastrami, no cheese, on rye with kraut. $7.05 with tax. A very flavorful, soft rye bread (the website states all breads are made fresh daily-wheat, white, rye, sourdough, sqaw and sub roll). It comes with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, Mayo, mustard, salt and pepper.
An excellent amount of flavorful pastrami with a nice amount of fat, grilled to some crispness and warmed sauerkraut. Of course served with a pickle.
Just the right amount of juice and not too peppery. There are breakfast sandwiches and an excellent cold liverwurst sandwich served here also. This is just a Pastrami Post. Thanks for "making" me have to do this research, "H"!!! I shall continue to post about every one I can find in the county.
Antonelli's Deli 1354 North Magnolia (south of Bradley) El Cajon 92020 (619)440-8460
website Open M-F 7-4, Sat 8-4, closed Sunday
So is pastrami better with roughage or without? Then again the meat might be a little to over powering.
But heck I ain't going to be picky where there is none to be found where I live.
Posted by: bill | Friday, 12 February 2010 at 06:03 AM
Love love love pastrami sandwiches. I confess that I'm a sucker for Togo's pastrami (very thinly sliced but lots of it). Antonelli's is a bit too far just for a sandwich but it does look good.
Posted by: Carol | Friday, 12 February 2010 at 12:48 PM
The lettuce and tomatoes complimented the warm meat and kraut, Bill. It was different than most of the pastrami sandwiches I have had, not bad. The soft rye, without the layer of cheese to protect it, got mushy in a good, juicy way.
Togo's will be mentioned soon Carol. The meat here was also plentiful and thinly sliced and the crispy fat just made it so nice for me.
Posted by: Cathy | Friday, 12 February 2010 at 01:09 PM
If you go at lunchtime, you should call in your order beforehand as there is usually at least a 30 minute wait after ordering the sandwich.
My favorite is the #1, a Sub Sandwich with ham , salami. mortadella and provolone cheese. The owner told me he thinks the capocollo and cheese is his best sandwich.
Posted by: scott | Friday, 12 February 2010 at 02:24 PM
Wow...that sounds great. And I'm a huge fan of BMH.
Posted by: James | Friday, 12 February 2010 at 02:54 PM
Yes, the subs here are really good, scott. I will do a follow up post on my other favorites. You are right about how crowded it gets. No parking in the lot most weekdays.
It is really good, James. I hit BMH when I am in La Mesa and Antonellis when I am in that part of El Cajon. I just had never thought to blog about either until recently. There are other sandwich places around town...you'll see.
Posted by: Cathy | Friday, 12 February 2010 at 04:33 PM
DZ Akins has great pastrami too. And they're a bit closer. Pastrami with mayo, lettuce and tomatoes? Say it ain't so. LOL. A little spicy mustard with the sandwich and the kraut is all ya need. =]
Posted by: Stephen | Friday, 12 February 2010 at 05:25 PM
You caught that, Stephen:)There was mustard on the pastrami side. I eat the lettuce/tomato/mayo as a salad when I scrape it off...thanks for reading my posts. I will be doing a DZAikins one also-I love their rye-but it is farther away for me.
Posted by: Cathy | Friday, 12 February 2010 at 09:03 PM
Elijah's (La Jolla near Whole Foods, and Del Mar) has a pastrami on homemade fresh-baked rye bread that's got my vote for best pastrami ever, it's really hard to beat. It's succulent and flavorful. The corned beef is a real winner, too. Their chicken soup is worth checking out as well, it tastes like they make it fresh daily. Show up between 2:30-5:30 on M-F and you can get several of their regular-menu items at a discount.
www.elijahsrestaurant.com
Posted by: Kelly the K | Saturday, 13 February 2010 at 09:53 AM
Pastrami with mayo lettuce and tomato? You communist! lol
DZ Aikens - ton of meat, rye bread, russian dressing or mustard. Only other stuff might be acceptable is another type of meat, cole slaw and/or cheese.
Posted by: Loren | Sunday, 14 February 2010 at 11:21 AM