I had pastrami and eggs at the Carnegie Deli on 7th Avenue for breakfast one day last week and while I was sitting there thinking about what a unique New York food experience this was, it dawned on me that I could eat pastrami and eggs in Houston anytime I felt like it. And it would probably cost me a lot less money. (Although I have to admit that pastrami at Carnegie Deli was awfully good.)

The reason we don't think about New York Jewish deli breakfasts in Houston is that we are too busy wolfing down Czech kolaches; Tex-Mex migas and huevos rancheros; Mexican barbacoa and carnitas; and Southern catfish and grits, chicken and waffles, and biscuits and gravy. In fact, we have so many great breakfast traditions around here it's hard to get around to all of them.

The lady sitting beside me at the Carnegie Deli was eating fried ring bologna and eggs. When I commented about how good the fried bologna looked, she told me to mind my own business. Pointing at my camera, she also told me I shouldn't even think about taking a picture of her breakfast. It did look good though.

Should you get the hankering this weekend, Katz's on Westheimer does pastrami and eggs with a potato pancake and a bagel for just under ten bucks. The New York Bagel Shop & Deli on Hillcroft sells a pastrami omelet for $6.60. (Tell Jay that Robb sent you.) And Kenny & Ziggy's on Post Oak in the Galleria will serve you two fried eggs with hash browns and your choice of pastrami or fried bologna for ten bucks.

-Robb Walsh