Sandwiches That We Ate

We love sandwiches! We hope you enjoy sandwiches, too. Join us as we eat all the sandwiches in the documentary, "Sandwiches That You Will Like," and more. Love, Qbertplaya + Bestest Boy

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Tue 01.18.11 - Defonte's: Roast Pork Sandwich

Parting is such sweet sorrow!

Qbertplaya sold her apartment in Brooklyn Heights and temporarily moved into Bestest Boy's apartment in Astoria, Queens, so to say farewell to Brooklyn, they made a last trip for the time being to Defonte's in Red Hook.

They celebrated the end of a nice run in Brooklyn (she had lived in the Heights for just over nine years) with a roast pork sandwich dressed with provolone, fried eggplant and broccoli rabe.

Moving to Astoria meant being that much farther away from what had become a favorite sandwich stop in Brooklyn.  What did the future hold for the two of them?  Where would they find a place to move into together?  Would there be good sandwiches nearby?  Stay tuned for another episode of "As the Sandwich Gets Eaten..."

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Sat 01.01.11 - Homemade: BLT

...'cause sometimes you just want a simple BLT, ya know?

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Tue 11.30.10 - Mile End Deli: Smoked Meat Sandwich

Mile End Deli opened up in the nearby Brooklyn neighborhood of Boerum Hill in early 2010. It is a tiny location, with only a few tables, and a short counter, with a short menu carrying the owner's favorite dishes from the Jewish delicatessens of his hometown of Montreal.  It opened to much acclaim and is consistently busy.  We finally got around to checking out the place for lunch on a weekday and got their highly touted smoked meat sandwich platter, which is beef brisket that has been seasoned and smoked, resulting in a peppery coating much like a pastrami.

Though my blurry cell phone picture may not do it justice, we both agree that Mile End definitely ranks amongst the best in the city when it comes to Jewish deli style brisket.  I had fallen out of unconditional love with Katz's on recent visits, finding the meat sometimes a little chewy or fatty but not in a good way.  We find that while Mile End may feel a little hipster trendy, and you don't get the same mile high pile of meat, the smoked brisket here is seasoned, cooked and cut with care, thus ensuring a more consistent and happy tummy-inducing sandwich.  We also like the availability of poutine (french fries with melted cheese curds and gravy, smoked meat addition optional).

Plus, being able to walk to a restaurant and not having to deal with a busload of tourists blocking your way is always a good thing in our book.

Mile End Deli, 97A Hoyt St., Brooklyn, NY 11217, 718-852-7510

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Sun 10.31.10 - Taipei Night Market: Ice Cream Sandwich Wrap

On top of the crêpe is a layer of freshly shaved peanut brittle.

This stall served the wrap with 3 scoops of different ice cream -- I think they were something akin to vanilla, coffee and peanut.  Additionally, fresh cilantro leaves were thrown into the mix.  Then, the dessert was carefully rolled up.

We weren't so sure how the cilantro would figure into the flavors, but it worked in an odd way, perhaps working that sweet and savory angle.

The cost was the equivalent of a buck.  We all agreed that we should introduce them to the hipsters of Brooklyn and sell them for at least $7 each.

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Sat 10.30.10 - Somewhere in Taipei: Shaobing Youtiao

My brother got married in September 2010, so to celebrate and introduce his wife and Bestest Boy to our distant relatives, my parents took us on a family trip to their homeland of Taiwan.  During that trip, we "kids" very much played the tourist, checking out all kinds of attractions and eating many unfamiliar things.

After being on a plane for almost a day, we arrived in the city of Taipei starving. We found a late-night snack place that was still open (I think it was roughly 2am local time, but with the severe jet lag, one could not be too sure).

While this place had a lot of items already familiar to us, including dumplings and noodles, it felt exciting to be having our first meal in the land of our parents.

In the picture above, I'm biting into what is known as a shaobing youtiao (油條), or what I like to call a bread sandwich.  It's basically a long piece of fried dough sandwiched within a flat pastry with flaky layers and sesame seeds.  You can dip this carb-heavy combo in some soy milk (either sweet or salty) for an added element of flavor and sogginess.

So many good eats in Taiwan!

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Sat 10.02.10 - Pig Island: Pork! Pork! Pork!

I met up with Jenn on our bikes and rode down to Pier 6 in Brooklyn Heights to catch the ferry to Governors Island, which in recent years, has been open to the public on weekends during the summer.  It's a great park, with no cars and many pedestrian and bike paths, and a nice little escape from the City.  There have been a number of events held there, including concerts and food festivals.  

My first visit to the island coincided with an annual event called Pig Island, which is a food festival focused entirely on, you guessed it, pork.  Jenn and I got to the island late and weren't really feeling the expensive ticket, especially since we had already eaten brunch.  Luckily, this couple who left the festival area early handed us their bracelets, so we were able to sneak in for a gander.

We found some friends there, so we grabbed a little bit of grub and hung out for a bit before continuing our ride around the island.  I somehow ended up in a set of photos a photographer shot for some site.  I think it pretty much captures how shameless I am when it comes to pork, and a good sandwich.

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Thu 06.15.10 - Defonte’s: Roast Pork Sandwich

After we made our inaugural trip to Defonte's for the roast pork sandwich, we found out there was a second location that had opened up more recently in the Manhattan neighborhood of Gramercy. It doesn't have the old school charm of the original, and might be slightly pricier, but the sandwiches there are arguably more delicious than any other in Manhattan.  This time I opted for that thinly sliced roast pork again, but with provolone, sautéed broccoli rabe and fried eggplant, aka The Firehouse.  I walked it down to Union Square Park, chose a bench in the sun, and enjoyed the heck out of that sandwich.

The hours at this location are longer, and it's all the way on Third Avenue, so still not a complete zoo during the times I've gone.

Defonte's of Brooklyn (even though this one is in Manhattan), 261 Third Ave., New York, NY 10010, 212-614-1500

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Mon 05.10.10 - Defonte’s: Roast Pork Sandwich

For several years, we had been hearing about a great Italian deli in the somewhat out of the way Brooklyn neighborhood of Red Hook called Defonte's. The day finally came to hop in the car and try this much-lauded deli, and I daresay it's my favorite NYC sandwich shop.  It's old school, and not overrun with foodies or tourists.  Usually, the customers we see are cops or construction workers.

Do you ever try something you had never had before, and worry that it will never be as good that that first time?  Pictured above is our very first of many sandwiches at Defonte's.  We ordered the roast pork, which is sliced paper thin to order, and piled on delicious bread with provolone, hot salad, lettuce and tomato.  If you want to be naughty, you can even ask them to dip the sliced roll of bread in the juices of the pan before making your sandwich.  I am happy to tell you that every time we've gone back, which is maybe three times a year, each sandwich is as mesmerizing as the first. For some sandwiches they put in a slice of fried eggplant, which is about as close to a religious experience this heathen will get.

Now, when we occasionally need to go to Red Hook usually for Ikea or Fairway, we try to stop at Defonte's first for lunch, making sure that it's during an hour they're actually open because who really wants to eat Swedish meatballs.

Defonte's, 379 Columbia St., Brooklyn, NY 11231, 718-625-8052

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Fri 05.07.10 - Schwabl's: Beef on Weck

For Stop #15, we took a bit of a road trip, driving across New York State, and across the border to check out Niagara Falls, which Bestest Boy had never seen. We spent the night there, and headed back east towards a suburb of Buffalo for an old restaurant (since 1837!) named Schwabl's, where they serve a sandwich called Beef on Weck.

My pal Jane grew up in the Buffalo area and always talked about this sandwich so I was particularly excited to try it.  What the heck is weck, you might ask?  Weck is short for kummelweck, which is a type of German roll that is round and is encrusted in caraway seeds and coarse salt, adding a texture/flavor.  The roast beef is seasoned and slow cooked.  The hunk of meat is kept at the bar and sliced to order with skillful precision.

We got our sandwiches with some delicious German potato salad and a side of gravy.

So this is what beefy heaven tastes like!

Though it is quite a haul for us to drive to Western New York, we would gladly make the trip back for Schwabl's.  Amazing food, amazing service.

Schwabl's, 789 Center Rd., West Seneca, NY 14224, 716-675-BEEF (2333)

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Thu 11.12.09 - Homemade: Turkey Meatloaf Sandwich

Sometimes you have to make your own sandwich when the mood strikes you.  For this I put leftover homemade turkey meatloaf on Portuguese peasant bread with sliced tomato, extra sharp cheddar, caramelized onions, bacon, a touch of dill relish, mayo and a bit of Sriracha. Any questions?

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Sun 09.06.09 - Red’s Eats: Lobster Roll

The day after attending a wedding in Boston, we headed up the New England coast for Stop #14 - Red's Eats in Wiscasset, ME, for the classic lobster roll.  When Qbertplaya was an undergrad at MIT, she often passed by this seasonal roadside restaurant while visiting friends in nearby Boothbay Harbor.  This  day trip on a beautiful Labor Day weekend was a perfect excuse to show Bestest Boy the region where she had many memories, but it was probably also the longest line for a sandwich they had encountered to date.

The line moved slowly for over an hour as the masses waited for their last bite of summer, but it would be well worth it.  And what's a little sun burn, anyway?

We ordered an assortment of fried and fresh items from the traditional seafood menu, including the main(e) [HAHA, GET IT?] for being there, the lobstah roll.

The lobster roll at Red's Eats is prepared very simply -- over a pound of fresh lobster meat, on a buttered and toasted top split hot dog roll, with a cup of drawn butter to pour on top, should you desire.  No mayo, no celery salt, no parsley - nothing!  If the lobster is truly fresh, it will be moist, tender and slightly sweet, and that's really all you need.  And it was cheaper than the $25+ you'll pay for one in a restaurant in NYC, and about 1000x better.

Red's Eats, 41 Water St., Wiscasset, ME 04578, 207-882-6128

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Tue 09.01.09 - Dalessandro’s: Cheesesteak

Stop #13 took us outside of downtown Philly to a corner sandwich shop called Dalessandro's, providing a nice respite in contrast to the chaos of Pat's vs. Geno's.  Like the other two, Dalessandro's specializes in the cheesesteak, but its in-store dining and seating at a counter where one can order from an actual server made it seemed downright civilized, which was a good way to end a long day in the city.

We sat on stools watching the baseball game and waited hungrily, but patiently, for our sandwiches, which seemed to be made to order, unlike the assembly line traffic of other places.  There was even an assortment of condiments available to dress up your sandwich, but not much was needed as these were very satisfying.

Any place that displays Sriracha sauce is a winner in my book.  (As an aside, my first encounter with the bottle with a rooster on it was at a falafel joint in Cape Cod during my college years.)

We enjoyed our meal there, for sometimes being able to sit and eat your meal in calm is an important factor.

Dalessandro's, 600 Wendover St., Philadelphia, PA 19128, 215-482-5407

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Tue 09.01.09 - George’s: Tripe Sandwich

Guessing that the tripe sandwich would be only slightly more palatable than the fried brain sandwich we had in St. Louis, we also ordered the roast pork sandwich.

As you can see, the sandwiches here are gargantuan.  Good thing, too, because we ended up not eating too much of the tripe one.

The pork one was solid.  The tripe one? It tasted like rubber bands in a tomato-based sauce that was slightly spicy.  No more for me, thanks!

George's, 900 South 9th St., Philadelphia, PA 19147, 215-592-8363

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Fri 04.24.09 - Banh Mi Saigon: Banh Mi Nem Nuong

If you consider yourself a lover of sandwiches, then you must acquaint yourself with Vietnamese-style sandwiches called banh mi, which usually consist of some kind of nicely grilled meat topped with pickled carrots and daikon radish, a spear of cucumber, fresh cilantro, all in an airy baguette-type roll (but less dense than French-style) slathered with butter or mayo, pâté, and some hot sauce (preferably Sriracha) or slices of jalapeño peppers.

In NYC there are many places to pick up one of these economical beauties, usually costing anywhere between $3.50 and $7.00.  They're generally huge and filling.  A great flavor to cost ratio.

A favorite place we like to frequent is located in Little Italy on Grand Street and called Banh Mi Saigon. In its prior, smaller location, the sandwich shop doubled as a jewelry shop up front, which always tickled me.

The half of a #1 pictured above is a nice combination of bbq pork crumbles, some thinly-sliced mystery pork-based cold cut, and the aforementioned toppings.  It's not the best banh mi we've had, but it's cheap, tasty and quick, which in NYC is all you really need.

Banh Mi Saigon, 198 Grand St., New York, NY 10003, 212-941-1541

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Tue 04.21.09 - Pat’s King of Steaks: Cheesesteak

A little historical information. Veeeeerrrry important.

Proudly displaying such fine product.

This is where the magic happens, folks.

Here is some signage displaying proper ordering etiquette. We ordered the "Whiz, wit'" aka cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz and onions at both locations for consistency in comparison.

Doesn't it just look more ooey gooey exciting?

I cradle it much like I would a baby.

The inaugural bite.

Now this is what a cheesesteak should taste like!

We drove home, thoroughly sandwiched out.  Until the next time, Filth-a-delphia!

Pat's King of Steaks, 1237 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19147, 215-468-1546

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Tue 04.21.09 - Geno’s Steaks: Cheesesteak

Since we were planning on going to Pat's across the street immediately thereafter, we limited ourselves to just one sandwich, which we shared.  As you can see, Bestest Boy is dubious for fancy labels maketh a sandwich not. 

Still, I am excited about this blend of steak, onion and Cheez Whiz on bread.

First taste...

Meh. The bread is kinda bland, as are the onions. Tasted kinda assembly line to me.

Bestest Boy gives it a whirl.

Not so impressed.

So there you have it, 'murica.

Geno's Steaks, 1219 South 9th St., Philadelphia, PA 19147, 215-389-0659

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Tue 04.21.09 - Chickie’s: Veggie Hoagie

As you can see from the photo above, the veggie hoagie is made with the freshest Italian bread stuffed with sautéed broccoli rabe, baked eggplant and roasted red and yellow peppers.  What gives this sandwich its truly amazing flavor are the crumbles of sharp provolone cheese.  We had never tasted such excellent provolone before.

Note that I am too busy eating this sandwich to give a proper smile to the camera.

The hoagies weren't huge, so we also got The Chickie Special: prosciutto, sopressata, dry cured capicolla, sharp provolone, roasted peppers, lettuce, tomato and onion, topped with olive oil.  Another winner.

See how happy Bestest Boy is, even though he hates Philly?

Chickie's Italian Deli, 1014 Federal St., Philadelphia, PA 19147, 215-462-8040