February 26, 2009
Dear Clusterflock: What’s the best sandwich you ever had?
Ok, so I would do almost anything if I could have this delicious Italian cold-cut hero sandwich to enter my pie hole right now. Unfortunately it lives in NYC, and me in Dallas, so it will remain a long distance love affair for the time being.
So people, if sandwich is one of your favorite food groups like it is mine, tell me what the best sandwich was that you ever had. I’m in need of some food porn right now.
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25 Responses to “Dear Clusterflock: What’s the best sandwich you ever had?”
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I call it a BLTPPT. That’s bacon, lettuce, tomato, provolone, pesto, and turkey. On sourdough bread. Oh lordy, that’s a good sandwich.
The pulled-pork sandwich at Trotter’s-to-Go (Fullerton and Southport, Chicago): I remember that as pretty danged good. Pulled pork, vinegary sauce, napa cabbage, and caramelized sweet onions.
When I was a police officer and on the early shift (which started at 6am at that time) we used to go to a greasy spoon cafe close to the station right after we got in. My poison was always roast pork and beetroot.
Damn, nothing has every tasted so good as those early morning sandwiches.
The muffuletta at Cafe Maspero in the French Quarter. It is the sandwich against which all others are judged.
For example, I see the sandwich up above, and I think, “Boy, I’m sure that’d be a tasty sandwich, if they doubled the meat and cheese, topped it with olive salad, and put it on a sesame roll.”
K
I make a mean egg-and-onion. Simple as all-get-out, seasoned with Aleppo pepper.
I must say, I like mine simple. I hate too many conflicting flavours. So, if I were in need of one now or pretty much any time I’d probably go with rare roast beef with lashings of horseradish.
There you go, Phil, with those lashings again. Is that some kind of English vice?
Oh, we like our pleasure with a little discomfort!
My very best all time favorite every Saturday night was a hero from Joey’s on 145th street in the Bronx–salami, provolone, fried eggplant (no bread crumbs) on a hardy, chewy, crispy crusted bread moist with olive oil….
Ye old standby at University Market in Hyde Park, Chicago:
Fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, roasted red pepper, basil, tomato, lettuce on fresh ciabatta with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. With something from the weird selection of root beer, ginger beer, sasparilla, etc. Perfect picnic on the quads.
Overpriced? Maybe a little, but it’s a huge sandwich and my default comfort food.
I went to Chicago with my sister to help her move for grad school. We walked a lot that week and one day, stopped in to this little shop and ordered sandwiches. All I can remember is that it was a variety of italian meat and cheese on a warm, buttery, garlicy, grilled roll. Even though I can’t remember the exact details, it still rings in my head as the best sandwich I have ever had. My sister told me she went back at a later date and it was never the same. Must have been the work of some sort of sandwich genius and we were at the right place at the right time.
Oh… I’ll also throw in a carnitas torta from Hank’s Mexican food (Costa Mesa, CA). Amazing warm roll, perfectly moist carnitas with crispy edges, fresh guacamole and finely shredded cheese, with salsa verde on the side. No other torta I have had compares… and were spoiled rotten here with mexican food.
they do a pretty mean tuna salad at university market too. currently digging the sandwiches at the greene grape provisions in brooklyn.
I’ll give you three.
The first is my everyday kind of sandwhich from The Meat Spot in Watertown, MA. It’s prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato and basil, with flavored oil on a fresh baked roll.
Second would be Chacarero’s in Boston. Chilean sammy. Fresh bread, green beans, chicken, munster cheese, tomatoes, avocado spread, and some sort of hot sauce. If you are in Boston it’s a must have!
Third would be from Pine State Biscuit’s in Portland, OR. Warm buttermilk biscuits as the bread, fried chicken, cheddar cheese, bacon and gravy as the condiment! Holy heart attack, but so tasty. This is where I take people when they come to visit!
What’s tricky is the bread-to-filling ratio.
A sandwich from a little shop in Cambridge, England. Mini baguette, sliced in half, lined with just a little baby spinach, and then filled with cubed tandoori-style chicken.
Best sandwich in my life.
I think it depends on the time of year. And the time of day.
For the summer I don’t think you can beat a honey roast ham, lettuce and Heinz Salad cream on a French baguette.
Winter, I’d go for hot roast pork with loads (or lashings, whichever you prefer) of English mustard.
Sandwiches are too awesome to narrow them down to just one. Sometimes you want something complicated like the ones in previous posts, sometimes a chip butty is the only thing you want.
BTW, am I in a shrinking demographic of people who butter their sandwiches?
Surely, a chip butty without butter must be a crime in most places! I mean, what would be the point?
Oh, I could live on sandwiches. My favorite is probably one that’s a summer staple for us: Whole Foods ciabatta; a little olive oil; fresh mozzarella (or, if we want something a bit heartier, a good goat cheese); basil leaves; slices of fresh-off-the-vine tomato; salt and pepper. If I’m ambitious, I’ll heat it with our little panini maker. Served with kettle chips and an ice-cold beer.
Oh, I want one bad.
Rein’s Deli in Vernon, CT has amazing roast beef, Ruben’s, etc
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcn/15004377/
I’m hungry now.
-m
Sandwiches aren’t the same without meat, so I often lust over the hot Pastrami on rye sandwiches at Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles. Haven’t had one in three years. You want to know pure sandwich hell? become a vegetarian.
Oh! How could I have neglected to mention… Day after Thanksgiving, fresh turkey with mayo on one of my 101 year old grandma’s potato rolls. We look forward to that all year!
Johnny’s Italian Beef w/ hot in the western Chicago burbs.
Any decently prepared banh mi. I like the one with the pate and weird vietnamese cold cuts. God dam that is a genius sandwich!
Aaron, the place way out in Westmont or the joint in Elmwood Park that Big Nick used to run? (I mix up my Johnnies.)
Thyme for Chicken sandwich @ Tubs Subs – Seattle WA
Grilled Tri-Tip Sandwich @ Brazil Cafe – Berkeley CA
Fried Chicken Sandwich @ Bakesale Betty – Oakland CA
Any Sandwich @ Genova Delicatessen – Oakland CA
Home-made Sandwich:
Bacon, Avocado, Mayo, Crystal Hot Sauce, Peppadew Suite Peppers
The Italian beef with provolone and peppers and onions dipt in the “gravy” from Rocky’s Corner in Hot Springs, Arkansas is a major major treat.
Favorite homemade is a lovely and simple egg salad and bacon with a few shots of Chipotle Tabasco on Columbo sour dough, washed down with a cold Anchor Steam.