In the 1965 film "The Sound of Music," Maria (played by Julie Andrews) sings about "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens" as some of her favorite things. When I sing the song, the tune is the same but my favorite things include (c'mon, sing it with me) "thinly sliced corned beef on rye bread with car'way."

From a historical perspective, corned beef (salt cured beef) has been around for a long time in many cultures. While Britain and Ireland played a significant role in its popularity, the corned beef that's the hero of this story became popular in the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries in New York's densely populated Jewish communities. At that time, it was prepared by kosher butchers using brisket that would be cured with salt (corns), sugar, spices, garlic and herbs before cooking. In some cases, the same brisket would be cured and smoked, giving rise to pastrami.

My earliest memory goes back to a deli encounter at a time when a half sandwich of corned beef on rye with mustard was all I could handle. What impressed me the most was the way the meat was piled high between two slices of rye bread (with caraway seeds, of course). This was nothing like the flat cheese or PB&J sandwiches I was used to at home. Then there was the way in which the texture and flavor of the thinly sliced meat contrasted with the bread and mustard. One bite and I was in heaven.

It's important to remember that, when I was a kid, I could barely wrap my mouth around what seemed like a beast of a sandwich. Jumping ahead about 20 years, I would discover (and continue to find) true bliss from oversized triple deckers loaded with corned beef, coleslaw, Swiss cheese, chopped liver, mustard and Russian dressing. If you can imagine the way a shark rolls its eyes before taking a bite, that would be me with one of these corned beef goliaths. Of course, my adult mouth cannot open as wide as a shark, making these mammoth creations unwieldy for sure and a challenge to get past my lips.

As a die-hard fan, I believe the best corned beef still comes from the lower east side of New York. While I've mourned the loss of so many of the great New York delis (Carnegie and Stage most recently) there are noteworthy kosher (adhering to kosher laws) and kosher-style delis (non-kosher foods are on their menus) still in operation. In New York, you'll want to check out Katz's (since 1888), 2nd Ave Deli (since 1954) and Sarge's (since 1964) that are maintaining the culinary tradition with aplomb. Manny's, a Chicago institution since 1942, is a fierce contender. So is Attman's (since 1915), the lone survivor on downtown Baltimore's celebrated (but mostly abandoned) Corned Beef Row. Needless to say, whenever I visit these cities, these are the places that I eagerly seek out.

If your appetite is as voracious as mine, here are a few noteworthy corned beef creations that merit attention. Of course, after the meal, you'll need some belt loosening and perhaps even a nap.

Katz's Delicatessen
There is no one item on their menu that ranks higher than others. Order one of everything, mix and match, eat your fill, and roll out happy.

2nd Ave Deli
ROYAL 2ND AVENUE - a sandwich containing everything but the kitchen sink.

Sarge's
THE MONSTER - thick sliced rye bread, with corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, fresh turkey, salami, sliced tomato, lettuce, cole slaw & russian dressing.

Manny's
THE CHAZZER - corned beef and pastrami piled high on rye with cole slaw and muenster cheese and a side of 1,000 island dressing.

Attman's Delicatessen
"THE ORIGINAL" CLOAK AND DAGGER - Corned beef, coleslaw, russian dressing.

Studio Spear has been writing about food, developing recipes and producing cookbooks for many years. If you're looking to enhance the impact of your communications, believe some recipes will add value, or need someone to tell your story in ways that are both engaging and informative, give us a call: 866 787 8761 - ask for Jeff - or shoot us an email: jeff@studiospear.com