Between two slices of bread
I like lists. I've got lists for everything; things to do, favorite movies, books, travel destinations, the always hopeful "Laminated List", grocery list, etc...the list goes on and on. Today I reflect on one of my favorites, the Top 5 Sandwiches of all time! (at least in my eyes.) With infinite combinations, no wonder this is Joey Trebbiani's favorite food. I'll forgo the history of the sandwich, most know it, and just cut to the chase:
5. Jambon et beurre- Mobile carts all over France. French for ham and butter, this treasure is served on a baguette that's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. My first encounter with this was in St. Malo back in the Summer of '84. Super simple, but fantastic!
4. The Burger- "Father's Office", Santa Monica, California. I saw this on a Travel Channel show and immediately called my brother in LA to ask if he has heard of it. He said, "Hell fuckin' yeah! That burger is the shit!" How could I pass up that kind of endorsement? It's a burger with blue cheese, gruyere, and bacon mixed into the meat, topped with balsamic caramelized onions, tomato compote, and arugula, all on an oval roll. It's served this way and this way only.
3. #1 Po Boy (Bahn Mi)- "Kien Giang", Nashville, Tennessee. This is a Vietnamese restaurant that is a favorite of all the great chefs in Nashville. The sandwich is roast pork, with carrots, daikon radish, cucumber, cilantro, jalapenos, and garlic aioli on a baguette that's about 8 inches long. It's served warm, and costs a whopping $3.00. Too ridiculously good for words!
2. Pot Roast Sandwich- The Exxon station at the corner of Hwy. 54 and I-40 in Graham, North Carolina. I got turned on to this bad boy by a wine competitor when I was living in Chapel Hill. It's theee most delicious pot roast I have ever imagined, heaped onto a crappy Wonder Bread bun. That's it! The magic is that the juice soaks into the bun about an 1/8 of an inch and takes on an almost ethereal composition. It's only served M-F starting at High Noon. If you get there long after that, you're gonna be SOL because they always sell out.
1. Pulled pork with slaw- "Allen & Sons" Hwy 86 outside Chapel Hill, NC. I love Eastern NC BBQ! While CH is not exactly east NC, this barbecue is the real deal. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. This place is a cinderblock building that you would easily drive passed if you weren't looking for it. Luckily, the smell of hickory smoke let's you know you are near. The meat is perfect. Melt in your mouth texture with the right amount of smoke. The slaw is a must. It's located near a set of train tracks where I've actually seen not only a stopped train, but the conductor with a bag of sandwiches in his hand hauling ass back to that train to get it revved back up . That's dedication to a sandwich! (It takes about a mile or so to stop a train, fyi.)
You should check out some of these places. If you see me get in line behind you, go ahead and order for me, you already know what I want.
Ciao,
Penn
5. Jambon et beurre- Mobile carts all over France. French for ham and butter, this treasure is served on a baguette that's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. My first encounter with this was in St. Malo back in the Summer of '84. Super simple, but fantastic!
4. The Burger- "Father's Office", Santa Monica, California. I saw this on a Travel Channel show and immediately called my brother in LA to ask if he has heard of it. He said, "Hell fuckin' yeah! That burger is the shit!" How could I pass up that kind of endorsement? It's a burger with blue cheese, gruyere, and bacon mixed into the meat, topped with balsamic caramelized onions, tomato compote, and arugula, all on an oval roll. It's served this way and this way only.
3. #1 Po Boy (Bahn Mi)- "Kien Giang", Nashville, Tennessee. This is a Vietnamese restaurant that is a favorite of all the great chefs in Nashville. The sandwich is roast pork, with carrots, daikon radish, cucumber, cilantro, jalapenos, and garlic aioli on a baguette that's about 8 inches long. It's served warm, and costs a whopping $3.00. Too ridiculously good for words!
2. Pot Roast Sandwich- The Exxon station at the corner of Hwy. 54 and I-40 in Graham, North Carolina. I got turned on to this bad boy by a wine competitor when I was living in Chapel Hill. It's theee most delicious pot roast I have ever imagined, heaped onto a crappy Wonder Bread bun. That's it! The magic is that the juice soaks into the bun about an 1/8 of an inch and takes on an almost ethereal composition. It's only served M-F starting at High Noon. If you get there long after that, you're gonna be SOL because they always sell out.
1. Pulled pork with slaw- "Allen & Sons" Hwy 86 outside Chapel Hill, NC. I love Eastern NC BBQ! While CH is not exactly east NC, this barbecue is the real deal. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. This place is a cinderblock building that you would easily drive passed if you weren't looking for it. Luckily, the smell of hickory smoke let's you know you are near. The meat is perfect. Melt in your mouth texture with the right amount of smoke. The slaw is a must. It's located near a set of train tracks where I've actually seen not only a stopped train, but the conductor with a bag of sandwiches in his hand hauling ass back to that train to get it revved back up . That's dedication to a sandwich! (It takes about a mile or so to stop a train, fyi.)
You should check out some of these places. If you see me get in line behind you, go ahead and order for me, you already know what I want.
Ciao,
Penn
salivating now.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... will have to check out the Exxon. Also, you should really get to B's BBQ in Greenville, NC. It will re-define your scale fro Eastern NC BBQ. Gotta get there early though - they make a certain amount and close...
ReplyDeleteYep, Father's Office is the shit! When you come back, I have to introduce you to another place...Umami Burger. Not saying it's better than Father's Office, but on the same level. My stomach is starting to get a boner just thinking of it.
ReplyDelete