I’m still in conch paradise (a.k.a. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos), but just wanted to give a shout-out to the Rye & Pastrami Croissant ($6) at Momofuku Milk Bar. The Rye & Pastrami Croissant is as good as it sounds. It’s a rye croissant with lots of rye seeds filled with thickly sliced pastrami, Russian dressing, and sauerkraut. (Interestingly enough, according to the ingredients, the croissants also contain Sriracha, but there’s no discernible spiciness.) The pastrami, although juicy, doesn’t have the depth of flavor as Katz’s pastrami, but when it’s stuffed in a buttery croissant with sauerkraut and Russian dressing, it really doesn’t matter.
The Rye & Pastrami pictured above is from the East Village Milk Bar, but it’s sold at all Milk Bar locations and at Stumptown Coffee in the Ace Hotel (quantities/availability vary per location/per day so check @momomilkbar for updates), but wherever you get it, get it to-go and pop it in the toaster oven for 5-10 minutes at home. Sold wrapped in plastic, the croissants invariably lose their outer crunch. Hot out of the toaster oven though, it’s like a crunchy Hot Pocket done right. And to take it over the top, squirt on some spicy mustard. The moist croissant innards don’t really need it, but pastrami just isn’t pastrami without mustard. It’s like milk and cookies, ramyun and kimchi, and evidently, rye croissants and pastrami.
Momofuku Milk Bar
251 E 13th Street (b/n 2nd & 3rd Ave; map)
New York, NY 10003
