How Much Is That?

Went to the deli counter today and ordered 2/3lb of pastrami. The clerk looked puzzled and then asked: " How much is 2/3lb"?
I had to do the fraction to decimal conversion for her. Sad.

Happens all the time. Even you ask for 3/4ths of lb, you still have to tell them 12 oz.

Why would they try to sell you 2/3 of a pound? What use is that?

If you want pastrami, just ask them to keep slicing the meat until the pile looks tall enough. That's the only way I've ever seen to measure pastrami for a sandwich.

Why would they try to sell you 2/3 of a pound? What use is that?

If you want pastrami, just ask them to keep slicing the meat until the pile looks tall enough. That's the only way I've ever seen to measure pastrami for a sandwich.

Bernie, thanks for letting me know the proper way to order pastrami. From experience, I've learned that 2/3 lb is just the right size for us, so that is how I order it and they are more than happy to sell it to me that way.

Happens all the time. Even you ask for 3/4ths of lb, you still have to tell them 12 oz.

If they don't understand 2/3s of a pound, surprised ounces help- every deli I know has digital scale reading decimally. Sad commentary on math skills, but I guess 99% of customers order by multiples of a quarter-pound.

Why would they try to sell you 2/3 of a pound? What use is that?

If you want pastrami, just ask them to keep slicing the meat until the pile looks tall enough. That's the only way I've ever seen to measure pastrami for a sandwich.

Bernie, thanks for letting me know the proper way to order pastrami. From experience, I've learned that 2/3 lb is just the right size for us, so that is how I order it and they are more than happy to sell it to me that way.

Oblivious to the sliced tongue planted firmly in cheek?

But it is a little silly asking for 10 and 2/3 ounces, or .67 pounds. Why make the counter person's life difficult? You often see deli meats sold by the quarter pound. Is the extra 1.3333 ounces too much to contend with that you need to show off your mathematical acumen to a guy that slices meat for a living? How about 10 ounces, a nice demarcation on the scale? Or why not just ask for 0.3 KG and force his mind to think metric?

Why would they try to sell you 2/3 of a pound? What use is that?

If you want pastrami, just ask them to keep slicing the meat until the pile looks tall enough. That's the only way I've ever seen to measure pastrami for a sandwich.

Bernie, thanks for letting me know the proper way to order pastrami. From experience, I've learned that 2/3 lb is just the right size for us, so that is how I order it and they are more than happy to sell it to me that way.

Oblivious to the sliced tongue planted firmly in cheek?

But it is a little silly asking for 10 and 2/3 ounces, or .67 pounds. Why make the counter person's life difficult? You often see deli meats sold by the quarter pound. Is the extra 1.3333 ounces too much to contend with that you need to show off your mathematical acumen to a guy that slices meat for a living? How about 10 ounces, a nice demarcation on the scale? Or why not just ask for 0.3 KG and force his mind to think metric?

You are absolutely right. I placed my order merely to show off superior "mathematical acumen" and embarrass the clerk. That's how I get my kicks. Thanks so much for the suggestion about ordering ounces. Since all the scales in shops I frequent are in decimals, ordering 10 ounces will provide another means for me to demean the clerk. Can't wait for my next trip to the deli.

[Robin Garr]

Can't wait for my next trip to the deli.

If you really want to wind them up, try avoirdupois. 10 ounces equals 4,375 grains, just to get you started ...

Oh, let's don't stop there.

Go Troy:
24 grains in a pennyweight, which is abbreviated "dwt".
20 pennyweight in a troy ounce.
12 troy ounces in a troy pound.

Oh, let's don't stop there.

Go Troy:
24 grains in a pennyweight, which is abbreviated "dwt".
20 pennyweight in a troy ounce.
12 troy ounces in a troy pound.

Aren't those units only used for horse meat?

Mark Lipton

Humm....When I buy sliced meats at the deli, I order by the slice. Usually we have family coming, and I may make eight sandwiches and I know how many slices I need for that. I don't want any left around to freeze, because we rarely eat it and if it is in the freezer, it dies before we get to it. I've never had a problem...they weigh it, and the scale prints out a tag - that's it.

[David M. Bueker]

I buy deli meat for sandwiches virtually every week, and not once has anyone ever had a problem with odd fractions (thirds versus quarters) or any other measure I have chosen to use (I buy cheese for sandwiches by the slide since I use 1 per). Enfield, CT is not known as a hotbed of mathematical acumen, but I never see this type of issue.

Oh dear...when are you Norte Americanos going to finally switch over to the metric system? Think of it, no more worries about inches, feet, yards, fathoms, rods, chains, furlongs, miles, nautical miles and leagues. All in meters or hypersimple centimeters, kilometers.... And in the kitchen, no more ounces or pounds but everything in terms of grams or kilograms.

12" = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
5,280 feet = 1 mile.

Ye gods!!!!!

Best
Rogov

Grams are too small.
Meters are too big.
Kilograms are too big.
Kilometers are too small.

The metric system has its drawbacks.

Oh dear...when are you Norte Americanos going to finally switch over to the metric system? Think of it, no more worries about inches, feet, yards, fathoms, rods, chains, furlongs, miles, nautical miles and leagues. All in meters or hypersimple centimeters, kilometers.... And in the kitchen, no more ounces or pounds but everything in terms of grams or kilograms.

12" = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
5,280 feet = 1 mile.

Ye gods!!!!!

Best
Rogov

Fortunately our kitchen scale and other gadgets have readings in both systems. Still don't have a measure for a dessertspoon!

[David M. Bueker]

Grams are too small.
Meters are too big.
Kilograms are too big.
Kilometers are too small.

The metric system has its drawbacks.

Kilograms are great! It's the only way I weigh under 100!

If you like fractions you can always switch to the short ton.

[Robin Garr]

Oh dear...when are you Norte Americanos going to finally switch over to the metric system?

We were on track to change over to meet the rest of the world in the 1970s. Even Nixon was for it. But Reagan came in 1980 and put the kibosh on that and a lot of other godless commanistic things like labor unions and a just economy.

[Robin Garr]

Kilograms are great! It's the only way I weigh under 100!

Hey, me too! I haven't weighed under 80 since I was in the fifth grade.

It's not the only way, though. Don't forget the old British stone = 14 pounds.

Oh dear...when are you Norte Americanos going to finally switch over to the metric system?

Uh - the best ones already have......

Humm....When I buy sliced meats at the deli, I order by the slice. Usually we have family coming, and I may make eight sandwiches and I know how many slices I need for that. I don't want any left around to freeze, because we rarely eat it and if it is in the freezer, it dies before we get to it. I've never had a problem...they weigh it, and the scale prints out a tag - that's it.

Okay, you got me. I have to ask how many slices are there in a corned beef, pastrami, Rueben sandwiches?

George, Hi...

I can speak only for myself but close to the ideal is that as prepared in Katz' Delicatessen in Manhattan.

Best
Rogov

katz-pastrami.jpg

George, Hi...

I can speak only for myself but close to the ideal is that as prepared in Katz' Delicatessen in Manhattan.

Best
Rogov

Look wonderful but I prefer mine on pumpernickle.

Look wonderful but I prefer mine on pumpernickle.

You're an old-fashioned man, Geo. I like that.