January 14th is observed as National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day, one of the many informal national food holidays celebrated in the United States.

Pastrami, a delicatessen meat, was brought to the USA by Jewish immigrants from Romania and Bessarabia in the late 19th century. Traditionally crafted from beef, turkey pastrami has also gained popularity. Originally developed as a method of meat preservation, the pastrami-making process involves brining the raw meat, followed by partial drying and seasoning with a blend of spices and herbs, such as cloves, garlic, allspice, mustard seed, coriander, paprika, and black pepper. The final steps include smoking and steaming, resulting in the flavorful pastrami enjoyed in hot sandwiches.