the historic launch of the California Post newspaper,<\/a> we took the opportunity to put the clear favorites from both coasts to the test. <\/p>\nStaging blind tastings in both of our newsrooms, we fed hungry journalists (is there any other kind?) all the pastrami, rye bread and mustard they could eat \u2014\u00a0then asked them to pick a winner. <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what happened.<\/p>\n
NEW YORK WEIGHS IN<\/p>\n
Langer\u2019s triumphs \u2014 4 to 3<\/p>\n
Lia Eustachewich, the New York Post\u2019s Managing Editor, News, was among the crew of diligent noshers who were given identical samples from both delis to try, before delivering a verdict. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n
In a final moment of calm before last weekend\u2019s snowstorm, seven willing tasters gathered at the New York Post\u2019s offices in Midtown, where they were presented with two identical spreads of pastrami, rye bread and mustard. One was from Langer\u2019s, dubbed \u201cPastrami 1\u201d \u2014 the other from Katz\u2019s (\u201cPastrami 2\u201d). The results were nothing short of astonishing, with a relative unknown edging out the pride of NYC.<\/p>\n
Each participant tried Langer\u2019s first, tasting the pastrami on its own before building a sandwich \u2014 with crusty, fennel-flecked rye bread and Morehouse-brand mustard. <\/p>\n
Then it was on to Katz\u2019s \u2014\u00a0which came with bread from Rockland Bakery, house-made mustard and NYC\u2019s favorite pastrami. Finally, everyone delivered their scores \u2014\u00a0from 1-10 \u2014\u00a0for both. <\/p>\n
Post restaurant critic and eagle-eyed New Yorker was able to tell the difference between Katz\u2019s and Langer\u2019s \u2014\u00a0though he had reservations about both versions of the same sandwich. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter eating this, I think I\u2019ll be orgasming like Meg Ryan,\u201d said Lifestyle desk staffer Andrew Court of the Langer\u2019s sandwich, which he pronounced \u201csuper tasty. \u201cI think this one is Katz\u2019s,\u201d he said, giving it an 8.5 out of 10.<\/p>\n
Post restaurant critic and all-around New York expert Steve Cuozzo appeared to know an out-of-towner when he spotted one, pronouncing the LA fave \u201cgood, but nothing special.\u201d He gave the sandwich a 6 out of 10, calling the bread \u201ctoo big,\u201d saying there was \u201ca lot of fat in the meat,\u201d and that it was \u201ccut too thick.\u201d <\/p>\n
Head of Lifestyle Natasha Pearlman, who grew up eating \u201csalt beef\u201d in the U.K., had more mixed feelings, saying that while Langer\u2019s pastrami had a \u201cnice amount of fattiness to it,\u201d she found it \u201ca little disappointing\u201d without the mustard and bread, which she ranked highly, partly for its \u201cnice crust.\u201d Overall, it was a 6.5\/10. <\/p>\n
Not just a classic NYC restaurant but a major tourist attraction as well, the pastrami at the Big Apple\u2019s most iconic deli is sought out by fans from all over the world. Christopher Sadowski<\/p>\n
Managing Editor, News Lia Eustachewich found Langer\u2019s to be a \u201cgood pastrami,\u201d with the combo of the three \u201cwhat I think of when I want a pastrami sandwich,\u201d calling it \u201creally tasty and not overly salty,\u201d with a \u201creally good bite.\u201d She also found the rye bread to be \u201ca standout,\u201d saying that \u201cwith the mustard and the bread, I don\u2019t think this sandwich is missing anything.\u201d For her, Langer\u2019s was an 8\/10.<\/p>\n
Then it was time to tackle Katz\u2019s. \u201cThis meat looks a little better and juicier,\u201d Court said of Katz\u2019s. But, biting in, he found it \u201cfattier, and not in a good way.\u201d It was also cut too thick, chewier and drier, he noted. Score: 6\/10. <\/p>\n
After razzing Langer\u2019s, Cuozzo turned to hometown favorite \u2014\u00a0which he was able to identify on sight. \u201cThis tastes like New York,\u201d he announced, handing it an easy 8\/10. \u201cI like this one better,\u201d he said. \u201cIt has a slightly deeper flavor and isn\u2019t as salty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Behind the scenes in the kitchen at Langer\u2019s, where employees, some of whom have worked at the restaurant for decades, spend much of their day slicing up hot, fresh pastrami by the trayful. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Pearlman loved the \u201cfruity\u201d mustard and the meat from Katz\u2019s, but had harsh words for their off-the-shelf rye. \u201cI feel almost certain that the first one is Katz\u2019s, because Katz\u2019s would never dare serve to serve you bread that isn\u2019t rye with fennel seeds.\u201d Overall? 5.5\/10.<\/p>\n
Eustachewich loved the \u201cbark and the char\u201d of Pastrami #2, pronouncing it \u201cmore appetizing\u201d on sight. But she also razzed the rye, pronouncing it \u201cnot enough,\u201d explaining that she \u201cneeds the fennel seeds.\u201d <\/p>\n
Tasting the meat brought further disappointment. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t have the signature pastrami taste that I think of. I wish I could make the meat more flavorful,\u201d she said. \u201cIf I was blindfolded and I ate the meat from Pastrami 2, I wouldn\u2019t be like \u2018oh, I\u2019m eating pastrami right now.\u2019 I\u2019d be like, \u2018I\u2019m eating roast beef.\u2019\u201d Her score? A tragic 2 out of 10.<\/p>\n
New Yorker Eustachewich had tough words for Katz\u2019s pastrami, pictured at right, selecting Langer\u2019s (left) as her clear favorite. Stefano Giovannini for NY Post<\/p>\n
After three more diligent eaters had their say, the New York team delivered a final, stunning verdict \u2014\u00a0the winner was Langer\u2019s, by one point, leaving the two deli titans tied in this bi-coastal match-up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of respect for Katz\u2019s, but when you\u2019ve been doing pastrami the right way for generations, the food usually speaks for itself.\u201d said Langer\u2019s owner Norm Langer, when reached by The Post with news of the shock East Coast verdict. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re always happy when people discover what our customers have known for decades \u2014 the results didn\u2019t really surprise us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The battle in Los Angeles<\/p>\n
Katz\u2019s knocks it out of the park, 5 to 2<\/p>\n
Page Six Hollywood reporter Katcy Stephan was the first staffer to sample the pastrami from both cities at a tasting at the California Post\u2019s LA offices. Tamara Beckwith<\/p>\n
Once again, seven staffers gathered at the California Post\u2019s new offices in Century City, where they were presented with two identical spreads from Langer\u2019s (Pastrami #1) and Katz\u2019s (Pastrami #2) \u2014\u00a0result-wise, let\u2019s just hope this crew is still welcome at Langer\u2019s.<\/p>\n
First up was Katcy Stephan, Media Reporter for Page Six Hollywood, who right away \u201cliked the look of the seeded bread\u201d that came with the Langer\u2019s spread, selecting just one slice for her sandwich, \u201cbecause in LA we don\u2019t eat carbs.\u201d The meat she found \u201cplain\u201d in appearance \u2014\u00a0finding the combo ultimately worthy of a 6 out of 10.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis one is kind of like California,\u201d joked Sports Editor Ryan Kostecka after a bite of the Langer\u2019s offering. \u201cNew, upcoming, good still learning as we grow.\u201d While he liked the sandwich well enough, saying he\u2019d be \u201cpleased\u201d to be served another one, he wouldn\u2019t \u201cdrive out of my way\u201d for it. His score \u2014 another 6 out of 10. <\/p>\n
California Postie Luisa Rodriguez shows off the bi-coastal spread before biting in and delivering her verdict. Tamara Beckwith<\/p>\n
Veteran Dodgers reporter Dylan Hernandez, now batting for the California Post team, found the Langer\u2019s meat \u201cnice and fatty,\u201d soft and \u201cfall apart in the mouth.\u201d Calling the sandwich \u201creally good,\u201d he gave it an 8 out of 10. <\/p>\n
Senior Sports Reporter Edward Lewis was even more bullish on Langer\u2019s \u2014\u00a0finding it \u201csignificantly\u201d better, pronouncing it \u201cfattier, but more flavorful,\u201d a \u201csteak dinner that tastes like pastrami, for a 9 out of 10. <\/p>\n
Entertainment reporter Luisa Rodriguez delivered the same score, calling Langer\u2019s \u201creally good,\u201d while politics reporter Ben Brown found it \u201ca little fatty\u201d and \u201cchewy\u201d \u2014\u00a0earning Langer\u2019s just 6.5 out of 10. <\/p>\n
\u201cA steak dinner that tastes like pastrami,\u201d pronounced Senior Sports Reporter Edward Lewis of the Langer\u2019s sandwich \u2014\u00a0earning it a 9 out of 10. Tamara Beckwith<\/p>\n
Overall, enthusiasm seemed to build when it was time to taste Katz\u2019s. <\/p>\n
\u201cOh, it\u2019s this one \u2014\u00a0this one is so good,\u201d raved Stephan, declaring it \u201cno contest\u201d between the two. \u201cI don\u2019t know where it\u2019s from, but I would like to go to this place,\u201d she said \u2014 handing down a 9 out of 10 for the New York fare.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so much more flavor,\u201d said Kostecka. \u201cYou can tell this one has been mastered through decades and decades of experience, experimentation and perfection,\u201d he explained \u2014 giving Katz\u2019s another 9 out of 10. <\/p>\n
\u201cPlease don\u2019t poison me if I happen to walk near your deli,\u201d Native Angeleno Hernandez pleaded, before declaring Katz\u2019s his favorite for its \u201cbolder\u201d pastrami \u2014\u00a0yielding yet another 9 out of 10. <\/p>\n
On the voting went, until seven tasters in total had given their reviews and scores. And in the end, it wasn\u2019t even close \u2014\u00a0our crew of Los Angeles eaters preferred Katz\u2019s by a mile, 5 to 2. <\/p>\n
with Marissa Matozzo in New York and Chris Nesi in Los Angeles<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New York and Los Angeles \u2014 two world-class burgs, divided by thousands of miles of flyover country, disagreeing…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":114157,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[2136,68,289,4010,232,1016,57,9,24,56,63,65,64,36609],"class_list":["post-114156","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-city","tag-california","tag-exclusive","tag-food-drink","tag-katzs-delicatessen","tag-lifestyle","tag-los-angeles","tag-metro","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-ny","tag-nyc","tag-nyc-headlines","tag-nyc-news","tag-when-harry-met-sally"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114156","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114156"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114156\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/114157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114156"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114156"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114156"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}