Chefs' Favorite Sandwiches
To thine own deli order be true
Getting a deli order just right is fraught with peril.
For every ethereal chicken Parm, with the bread toasted just right, the sauce holding on the edges of the bread, and the chicken crisp, moist and flavorful, there are 10 dry-ass, rage-inducing turkey sandwiches. Ordering right at a deli is a fine art, and the beauty is all in the details. Here are some rules to live by, and orders to straight-up steal.
① It Doesn't Have to Be Fancy
Anthony Strong, Consulting Chef, San Francisco
BLTA. Even out of tomato season. The less "special" the better. White bread. Overcooked bacon. Oh, and quite a bit of mayo.
② Chefs in Seattle Are About That Pastrami Life
Clare Gordon, Pastry Chef, General Porpoise Coffee and Doughnuts, Seattle
Pastrami on rye with mustard and Russian dressing. Classic. And lots of pickles on the side.
Jeffrey Vance, Chef, No Anchor Bar/Navy Strength, Seattle
Definitely a Reuben. Preferably on pumpernickel rye. With extra sauerkraut and grimy premade 1,000 Island. The meat-to-bread ratio has to be just right for me. Almost 50/50. I'm getting too old for the meat sweats.
③ Italian Combos Rarely Disappoint
Matthew Jennings, Townsman, Boston
Large Italian, toasted, with everything, extra hots, mayo, oil and vinegar. We call that a grinder here in Boston. Not a sandwich. Don't insult me.
BJ Smith, Smokehouse Tavern/Smokehouse Provisions, Kim Jong Smokehouse, Portland
Italian style. Italian cold cuts, provolone, red onion, shredded lettuce, peppers, vinegar and oil, jalapeño chips, mac salad if they have it. Lime soda water 100 percent.
④ When You Have Your Order Memorized
David Bazirgan, Bambara, Boston
Rare roast beef, cheddar, horseradish mayo, lettuce, tomato, hots, on an onion roll. BBQ chips. Everyone fucks up potato salad. I also love Funyuns. Also, I'm a Cool Ranch guy. If the roast beef isn't rare, I'm getting my money back and walking.
Matt Davidson, Delfina Restaurant Group, San Francisco
Turkey and roast beef, extra mayo, American cheese and any kind of chocolate chip cookie they have. On Dutch Crunch like a true Bay Area Californian.
Kim Alter, Nightbird, San Francisco
In SF . . . a Roxie at Roxie's Market. Dutch Crunch, all the sliced meats, pepperoncini, red onions, artichokes, Italian dressing, some cheeses. It's like $12 and is two meals.
⑤ The Outlier
Jamie Bissonnette, Little Donkey, Boston
Liverwurst on rye, raw onion, mustard and pickles. Yellow mustard, no question.
Tim Archuleta, Ichi Sushi, San Francisco
Deli Board is an absolute favorite. Not that I don't go to other delis, I do. I eat a lot of sandwiches, but Deli Board has a special place in my heart. My go-to is the Reuben's Cousin, but my new favorite is the Fatty Matty: tuna, falafel and hummus with cheese. Sounds bananas, but it's bomb!
⑥ The Pro Deli Order
Jess Benefield, Two Ten Jack, Nashville
So we order heavy always: smoked things plate; egg salad, smoked trout spread, sturgeon. Potato latkes with sour cream AND applesauce. Pastrami with brown mustard on rye. Whole half-sour pickles. Macaroni salad.
This article originally appeared on ChefsFeed.