Unusual Sandwiches

[Dannyalcatraz]

You're killing me. With everything shut down, I haven't gotten to a diner in two months. I'm really jonesing for a great Philly cheesesteak sandwich at the moment, but as a geobachelor locked down far from home, it doesn't really pay to get all the ingredients to make my own as I won't use them fast enough. Anyone got an idea for a good substitute?

Accio FoodTruck! Drat, still not working.

Is there a grocery near you that sells Dietz & Watson cold cuts at their deli counter? Like Albertsons or Tom Thumb? If so, see if they sell D&W’s Steakhouse Onion cheddar cheese- it is a white cheddar with grilled onions in it. Its like cheating when making something like a Philly.

And it freezes.

I have frequently made “Faux Philly” sandwiches using that and deli-sliced roast beef to make a melt that scratches a similar itch.

But genuine Philly sandwiches are not that complex, ingredient-wise, and most of the ACTUAL ingredients can easily be frozen. I almost always have ziplock “chubs” of chopped onion (yellow, green and red) mushroom, peppers, garlic and other veggies in my freezer, waiting to be used.

The only ingredient that might be hard to have on hand 24/7 is your preferred bread.

So, if you know how to make one at home, a little planning means you could have one almost any time you want.

Philly Cheese Steak

Get Philly Cheese Steak Recipe from Food Network

www.foodnetwork.com

 

[Zardnaar]

Is there a grocery near you that sells Dietz & Watson cold cuts at their deli counter? Like Albertsons or Tom Thumb? If so, see if they sell D&W’s Steakhouse Onion cheddar cheese- it is a white cheddar with grilled onions in it. Its like cheating when making something like a Philly.

And it freezes.

I have frequently made “Faux Philly” sandwiches using that and deli-sliced roast beef to make a melt that scratches a similar itch.

But genuine Philly sandwiches are not that complex, ingredient-wise, and most of the ACTUAL ingredients can easily be frozen. I almost always have ziplock “chubs” of chopped onion (yellow, green and red) mushroom, peppers, garlic and other veggies in my freezer, waiting to be used.

The only ingredient that might be hard to have on hand 24/7 is your preferred bread.

So, if you know how to make one at home, a little planning means you could have one almost any time you want.

Philly Cheese Steak

Get Philly Cheese Steak Recipe from Food Network

www.foodnetwork.com

Not sure if that looks delicious or heart attack waiting to happen.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Not sure if that looks delicious or heart attack waiting to happen.

Like a lot of cuisines that find favor here in the USA, it’s both.

A proper Philly Cheesesteak is a point of pride and intense discussion all over the place. I’ve only had a few classic ones in my life, but some of the variants are good in their own right.

Purists would disagree with me, but almost any combo of decent beef, alliums and cheeses with some heat applied to it is going to get you a long way to sandwich nirvana.

 

[Zardnaar]

Like a lot of cuisines that find favor here in the USA, it’s both.

Figured. Some American food standards are illegal here. Others are WTF why would you do that.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Figured. Some American food standards are illegal here. Others are WTF why would you do that.

REALLY? I mean, commercial stuff only, or completely?

What is outlawed there?

 

[Zardnaar]

REALLY? I mean, commercial stuff only, or completely?

What is outlawed there?

More the allowed levels of bacteria and bad stuff on the food production side of things.

On the commercial side if things there's food stand certificates, hygiene things and each shop gets rated A,B,C. Get a D the health department shuts you down. The grade has to be displayed as well where the public can see it.

Applies to how you store the food as well.

And this is also mandatory.

Food recalls almost unheard of here. American style poultry and slaughter houses are also illegal.

Rules don't always get followed if course but get caught it gets published so everyone knows you have an infestation.

We gave to meet EU regulations for export along with things like halal certification to send things to Middle East.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

We have a bunch of rules that would make our food supply much safer. Some are quite similar to the ones you just pointed out. Bad health department ratings ARE public, but they’re not put anywhere the average citizen would find them without actively searching for them. Douglas Adams understood, deeply.

However, the number of inspectors we have to find violations is criminally low. Some places that should be getting an annual inspection by law are actually only being visited one year in five.

Why?

It’s a combination of several things working together in concert: corruption, lack political willpower, misunderstanding of how vulnerable our food supply really is, political ideologies, gaslighting, mistrust of government, paternalistic politicians, etc.

It doesn’t have to be this way, but it will probably remain so for the foreseeable future.

 

[Fenris-77]

A good Philly is a joy forever. I don't feel the need to be a purist either, like @Dannyalcatraz I think any sandwich that starts with the basic ingredients is going to be pretty good. Caramelized onions and roasted peppers feature in mine, made with shaved prime rib sauteed in butter with a little garlic. Fried garlic loaf for the bun, a slightly spicy garlic aioli, and provalone melted on top under heat. I like to get the balance of salty and sweet happening, that's when the magic happens.

 

[Zardnaar]

We have a bunch of rules that would make our food supply much safer. Some are quite similar to the ones you just pointed out. Bad health department ratings ARE public, but they’re not put anywhere the average citizen would find them without actively searching for them. Douglas Adams understood, deeply.

However, the number of inspectors we have to find violations is criminally low. Some places that should be getting an annual inspection by law are actually only being visited one year in five.

Why?

It’s a combination of several things working together in concert: corruption, lack political willpower, misunderstanding of how vulnerable our food supply really is, political ideologies, gaslighting, mistrust of government, paternalistic politicians, etc.

It doesn’t have to be this way, but it will probably remain so for the foreseeable future.

Yeah it's a bit different here. If a restaurant has an A here that listing is often displayed on the door or front window.

Bad things still happen if course but the idea is to minimize it.

Rules aren't always followed but I often here about it from my wife. If you're to lazy to follow the rules you're usually to lazy to unload the delivery truck. The truck drivers tell my wife who then tells me.

Some places we don't eat at.

 

[Zardnaar]

A good Philly is a joy forever. I don't feel the need to be a purist either, like @Dannyalcatraz I think any sandwich that starts with the basic ingredients is going to be pretty good. Caramelized onions and roasted peppers feature in mine, made with shaved prime rib sauteed in butter with a little garlic. Fried garlic loaf for the bun, a slightly spicy garlic aioli, and provalone melted on top under heat. I like to get the balance of salty and sweet happening, that's when the magic happens.

I'm not a purist either if it tastes good I'll eat it.

Our Chinese is American Chinese, our kebabs aren't what they eat in Turkey etc.