I love sandwiches. I’ve been called a “Sandwich Whore” by those who know me, because I never met a sandwich I didn’t like. Below is a list of my “Top Ten Favorite Sandwiches”.
10. BLT on Garlic Bread – Many years ago, I was making bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches for dinner and discovered that I was out of bread. Since the bacon was already frying, the tomato had already been sliced, and the lettuce separated, washed and dried, I was pretty well hacked that someone had seen fit to eat the last of the bread and not mention it to me. Then I remembered that I had a loaf of garlic bread in the freezer. In a moment of desperation, I figured “Why not?”. Let me tell you, it’s awesome. Ever since, we don’t eat BLT’s any other way.
9. Turkey Bacon Club – I generally get this at Bob Evan’s Restaurant, but it would be simple to make at home. It’s nothing more than sliced turkey, bacon, cheese, lettuce and tomato on a kaiser roll. I add honey mustard to mine.
8. Roast Beef & Swiss – Where I grew up (in New Jersey), you can go into any delicatessen and order a sandwich. They’ll slice the meat while you wait, and put the sandwich together however you like it. In the case of roast beef, I like it sliced paper thin, piled high on a buttered hard roll, with Swiss cheese and mayo, salt & pepper. I don’t want veggies on my roast beef (not even lettuce). A roast beef sandwich is not supposed to crunch, and it’s not supposed to drip. YMMV.
7. Jersey Mike’s # 13 – The ultimate Italian sub. Provolone, ham, proscuittini, cappacuolo, salami and pepperoni served on an Italian sub roll. Get it “Mike’s Way” (with lettuce, tomato, mayo, oil, vinegar, and oregano), and add some banana peppers for good measure.
6. Cold, Leftover Meatloaf – I love meatloaf. It’s one of my favorites. The only thing I like better than hot meatloaf for dinner is a cold meatloaf sandwich the next day. Served on plain old white bread with ketchup. An American classic.
5. Meatball Parmesan – Meatballs, mozarella cheese, and marinara sauce on a sub roll. Served hot so the cheese is melted. Messy and difficult to eat, but worth all the effort.
4. Taylor Ham and Egg on a Hard Roll – You can take the girl out of New Jersey, but there’s just some things about Jersey that you’ll never take out of the girl, such as the way I pronounce the word “coffee”, and my love of Taylor Ham. “Taylor” is a brand name, but in NJ it’s the only name for molasses-cured pork roll. Sliced very thin, grilled, and piled high on a hard roll (another Jersey thing), with or without a fried egg, and mandatory ketchup. I’ve never seen Taylor Ham in a restaurant outside of NJ; I seldom see it in the grocery store here in North Carolina. My first stop when I cross the state line.
3. Buffalo Chicken Sandwich – A fried chicken breast spun in Buffalo wing sauce, served on a kaiser roll with lettuce, tomato, onion and bleu cheese dressing. Try this at Jax in Raleigh, or at the Garner Ale House. Goes best with fries and a cold beer.
2. The Classic Reuben – Corned beef, swiss, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on grilled rye bread. Whoever Reuben is (was), he’s my hero.
1. Philly Cheese Steak – This is absolutely my favorite sandwich. However, there is only one restaurant where I will order it, and I’ve never attempted to duplicate it at home because I know I’d be disappointed in the result. But if you’re ever in Cary, North Carolina, make it a point to stop in at Woody’s Sports Bar on Chapel Hill Road. Order the Philly with Provolone, mushrooms, and grilled peppers and onions. The few times I’ve tried to eat a Philly elsewhere, it just wasn’t the same. I even tried a Philly in Philly – but I didn’t like it as well as what I get at Woody’s. I’ll grant that their version isn’t “traditional”; IMHO it’s better.
Honorable Mention. Mater Sammich – Ripe tomato sliced warm off the vine, with mayo, salt & pepper, on the bread of your choice (I like potato bread, or just plain white bread for this).
Mo K
Apr 08, 2007 @ 10:56:43
I was introduced to Jersey Mike’s by my parents who live in the So.Pines, NC area. It was Dad’s favorite sub shop. A shame we don’t have them in NoVA!
Jeffro
Apr 08, 2007 @ 13:24:34
Gaak! Thousand Island on a Reuben? Mustard only for me, please.
There used to be a sub sandwich chain around here called Sub’nStuff that served Philly Steak sandwiches – I’ve never found any better. Never been to Philly, tho.
Thanksgiving leftovers are great ingredients – turkey, sliced dressing, cheeze whiz and mustard on whole wheat toast makes a decent sammich.
I’ve gotta try some of the others on your list – they sound great!
MorningGlory
Apr 08, 2007 @ 14:12:35
Mo – They recently closed the Jersey Mike’s here in Sanford – Sean and I were really hacked.
Jeffro – If it doesn’t have Thousand Island (aka Russian) dressing, it’s NOT a Reuben. It’s just a corned beef sandwich.
Mark D
Apr 09, 2007 @ 09:47:37
MG,
If you want a Ruben, you gotta get one from the Carnegie Deli in NYC. First, they make their own corned beef. Second, they put about a pound of the stuff on it. Then kraut, cheese, dressing. Gotta eat it with a knife and fork. The first time I went there was before my wife and I and another couple were going to a play, I could only eat about half the sandwich and it broke my heart not to be able to take it with me (no way to keep it cold).
And there ain’t nuthin’ wrong with a Mater Sammich!
jean
Apr 19, 2007 @ 05:35:56
they closed jersey mikes? NO WAY!!! what? i leave the country and the whole damn town goes to hell? GOSH!!!!!!!!!
Lisa
Sep 08, 2007 @ 01:03:16
The best Roast beef sandwich is rare to med rare sliced very thin, piled high on a buttered grilled bun and smothered in a tangy sweet bbq sauce with cheese. Or have it with a wonderful horse radish sauce..So yummy.
Underhanded « Morning Glory
May 28, 2008 @ 14:13:49
Statistics « Morning Glory
Jun 10, 2008 @ 09:46:10
Bob
Jul 14, 2008 @ 17:08:05
As someone who thinks there is no such things as too much garlic in practically anything I cook I have to thank you for the idea of BLTs on garlic bread.
The tomato sandwich ranks much higher on my list. Fresh from the vine, there are few things more satisfying when the season comes around.
And it might be a New England thing, but Thanksgiving leftovers should be served on a sub roll with turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce and mayo. One local sandwich shop sells it year round as “The Day After.”