Unbreaded

Smoked Meat Sandwiches Coming To Brooklyn

Jewish delicatessen in Montreal is a spectacle to behold. Smoked meat is the cornerstone of it all; it’s not really corned beef, nor pastrami, but rather the ultimate combination of the two. First sold by the almost mythical Lesters Foods and Schwartz Hebrew Delicatessen, smoked meat sandwiches still attract hordes of locals and tourists alike to Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Shockingly however, smoked meat has never really caught on in the U.S.

Thankfully, Noah Bernamoff plans to change that. The Montreal native left his homeland three years ago to attend law school in Brooklyn, but was quickly disenchanted with attending classes. Instead, he decided to pursue his love for smoked meat sandwiches, and open a Montreal-style delicatessen. Mile End Delicatessen will serve smoked meat sandwiches as well as other delicacies from up North including poutine, the cheese curd and gravy doused fries that we can never seem to get enough of.

Bernamoff has been experimenting with different cuts of brisket, from different vendors as well as cooking methods to achieve what he believes is the best tasting smoked meat. After brining and curing the brisket in a complex rub consisting of about fifteen spices for over a week, it’s cleaned, rubbed again with another mixture, and smoked over dry oak for an unbelievable ten hours. After letting it rest, the meat is steamed until hot, then hand sliced and plated up right from the chopping block. The meat is so flavorful, it’s almost a sin to try to describe with words. A higher fat content than corned beef, and a smokier flavor than pastrami makes for a melt in your mouth sandwich. Served on two inch slices of rye from famous Orwasher’s bakery and smeared with a Guinness-infused housemade mustard, we are fully confident that these sandwiches are going to be an incredible hit.

Shooting for a January launch, Bernamoff is doing everything he can to get the space in order. He’s also working on pickling a variety of items that will be offered to customers including red cabbage sauerkraut, tomatillos, and more. Check back for more coverage of Mile End when their doors officially open.

Mile End
97A Hoyt Street – Brooklyn, NY 11217 (Google Map)