[Pigging by Wilfrid: May 31, 2010]
Let's have snarky fun with Grub Street's 101 Best Sandwiches; until I fall asleep anyway.
Yes, Katz's pastrami is on the list. It's not completely insane.
1. Fatty Cue smoked brisket.
"Brandt Beef brisket and Cabot clothbound Cheddar (both house-smoked)..."Cabot, guys, call it cheddar because you're allowed to but it's not cheddar; there is nothing unusual in a cheese being "clothbound" if it actually is a cheddar cheese; and if it's worth promoting it on the menu why are you fucking it around by smoking it. It's cheese, not a pig.
3. Spotted Pig cubano.
Seventeen dollars for a cubano. Are you shitting me? What's the deal, heritage pork shoulder, or is it the bread?
7. Saltie "scuttlebutt."
Saltie by name, salty by nature. You have been warned.
8. Alidori "Romeo."
Correct. Ten bucks. Pay attention above.
9. Terroir meatball sandwich.
"(A) hotly contested field..." We should all be ashamed.
10. Porchetta porchetta.
Cross your fingers you get the pork not the gristle.
13. Bar Bould croque monsieur.
See 8. above. Go to Paris, eat one of these every day, cover your air fare. Ridiculous.
15. Island Burgers "Duke's churrasco".
A $10.75 grilled chicken with Jack cheese from a burger place with terrible burgers. If this is number 15, I quake at what number 85 might be.
17. Another Fatty Cue sandwich.
"I love you baby..."
19. Bouchon Bakery tuna sandwich.
Thomas Keller will see you right. "The café’s tartine version, pictured, is even fancier." And it's even $13.25.
20. Baoguette "sloppy" bao.
Secret ingredient? Ketchup. My mother knew that secret too.
24. Leo's Latticini "Mama's special."
See 8. above. Really good, $7.50, and even better the next day after the flavors got to know each other.
29. Henry's Public turkey leg.
Not bad, but if you are fond of turkey leg remember it's about a dime a pound; go buy a few and have a party. "(R)esolutely undry..." except for the doorstep-cut bread.
33. Le Bernardin smoked salmon and caviar croque monsieur.
Well it's not a croque monsieur at all, so you are not going to find it in a Paris bar for two bucks.
38. Xi'an Famous Foods pork burger.
Note that this will blow your head off.
42. Mike's Deli "Mussolini."
Stupid name, eight bucks, will feed a family.
44. Resto tête de cochon.
"The menu mentions charred bread, and charred it certainly was. Chewy too, robust even. It would have made a good vehicle for a strong toasted cheese, but it would have overwhelmed the delicately textured head meat if that job had not already been done by the sriracha sauce and pickled vegetables."
59. Luke's Lobster shrimp roll.
At number 59, at seven bucks? Get it, or better get the crab.60. Fatty Crab tea sandwiches.
"I love you baby..."
77. Blue Smoke brisket.
Cross your fingers you get the brisket not the gristle.
78. Chicken-Fil-A chicken sandwich.
"(D)eliriously good." Nurse!
91. 99 Miles to Philly cheesesteak.
Why not at 99? Just no.
98. Sunny & Annie Deli "P.H.O. Real."
Yes, and they have about three hundred others sandwiches better than some on the list.
Okay, I skipped. Go and get the roast pork with kimchee aioli and shaved cauliflower at The Smith, or the grappa-soaked apple and taleggio at Bar Veloce and stop worrying.
