Great Sandwiches

Though I am not much of a sandwich eater, I do appreciate great sandwiches. In fact I put a lot of effort into making my own Cubano a few months ago. If you believe making a sandwich is a simple affair, you haven’t had a really great one. I understand that there are some specifics on which we may not agree, such as I prefer my bread toasted, and you may not, but that is not a deal breaker. I also prefer hot sandwiches to cold. When I eat a cold sandwich (which I do only when I have no other option) I end up removing the filling, and leaving the soggy bread on the plate.

There are some epic sandwiches I’ve had here in Philadelphia, sandwiches I have consumed entirely! They are each very different, and each one represents a different aspect of sandwich excellence. These are sandwiches I crave, and find excuses to go out of my way to eat. I try to get friends to go with me to try them, because what good is a great sandwich if you don’t have someone to share it with?

The Sidecar Bar & Grille‘s Mushroom Dip is definitely on my top five list. Like anything that has very few components, every single one plays a critical role, and can make or break the whole. This sandwich comes on brioche bread, sliced thick and grilled to buttery, crisp perfection. Between the bread is gooey gruyère and a saucy, truffled, duxelles (which is a mushroom mixture reduced with shallots and herbs). It is a bit messy (I really love a messy sandwich), and all I have to say about that is if you live anywhere near Philadelphia come eat this sandwich!

When a friend introduced me to The Soup Kitchen  it was love at first sight/bite. It is a plain, almost austere setting, and still somehow is warm too. Right across the street is one of the most beautiful gardens I’ve seen, so going in the late spring and early summer is extra nice! Despite their name, it is the sandwiches there that make it great (IMO). I love Meatloaf sandwiches, and often am disappointed by them. Diners serve them on lousy bread, and generally smother them in some sort of brown gravy, yuk. This one comes on a toasted baguette, and the meatloaf is sliced just thick enough to make a hearty handful that I can still get in my mouth without embarrassing myself. The meatloaf is really good, and the addition of excellent bacon and almost melted cheddar bring it home! The tomato-y mayonnaise is a nice substitute for the ketchup I usually put on my meatloaf sandwiches. (The only place I like ketchup.) A truly crave-able sandwich.

I had been going to the Famous 4th Street Deli (famous for their obscenely gigantic portions) for years before I tried their Dekalb & Broadway sandwich. Forget trying to eat this yourself, it can’t be done! The sandwich(es) comes on two onion rolls, the rolls are soft and egg-y and topped with toasted onions. It is Romanian tenderloin, which is really skirt steak, cooked until tender and smothered with a gravy of mushroom and fried onions. The first time I tried it I was out with two co-workers, so I tried to maintain my composure, and focus on the conversation, but I don’t think I succeeded. The situation was helped somewhat by the fact that I was sharing it with one of them, and she was as enthusiastic as I was. Within a week I was back with my friend Corrine to share it with her, and she too was besotted.

Philadelphia is home to a large Vietnamese population, so we are graced with many options for Banh Mi sandwiches. As a disclaimer, I must confess I am not a connoisseur of Banh Mi, and I have only had them from a bakery near my house; Ba Le on Washington Avenue but I have never been disappointed. Where else can you get a sandwich filled with fresh vegetables and meat or tofu of your choice, made on a freshly baked baguette for $4.50?

I am aware that I made no mentions of cheese-steaks. Cheese-steaks are really in a class by themselves. I don’t know if I have lived in Philadelphia long enough to be qualified to discuss them with any credibility. I do like the ones from Shanks on the Pier (a short walk from my house) but I rarely go there unless I am entertaining an out of town friend who feels like they need a cheese-steak as part of their Philly experience.

What is your favorite sandwich? How far are you willing to go for a really great one?