SUBMARINE SANDWICH

(Redirected from Wedge (sandwich))


A 'submarine sandwich' is any of various sandwiches made on a long roll (usually up to 12" long by 3 " wide) or baguette (called "French bread" or a "submarine roll" in the U.S.) , so called because of its shape. The contents typically include meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and various condiments, sauces or dressings.
The term is believed by some to have originated in a restaurant in Scollay Square in Boston, Massachusetts at the beginning of World War II . The sandwich was created to entice the large numbers of navy servicemen stationed at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The bread was a smaller specially baked baguette intended to be similar to the hull of the submarines it was named after^[1].
One legend credits Paul D'Amico of Wakefield, Massachusetts of coining the term in 1928 while working in the Canto family's grocery store. The Canto's grocery store, with D'Amico as a partner, switched over completely to a "sub shop" named "Toody's" in 1945 and is the oldest and longest continually operating submarine sandwich shop in the United States. Paul D'Amico still lives around the corner from Toody's today (Toody's closed but has now reopened down the street from its original location).
Another legend suggests [1], the submarine sandwich was brought to the US by Dominic Conte, an Italian immigrant who came to New York in the early 1900s. He named the sandwich after a submarine hull he had seen on display. During World War II, the sandwiches were served by the thousands to soldiers at the submarine base in Groton, Connecticut which cemented the legend that the sandwiches originated in Groton.

Contents

Regional names and variations

Notes

See also

Regional names and variations

In the United States, the terms "submarine" and "sub" are widespread[2], but there are also many regional names for the sandwich, especially in the northeast part of the country:

★ Cosmo — North Central Pennsylvania in and around Williamsport, PA — a cosmo is an oven toasted sub.

★ Grinder — Midwest, New England, Riverside, CA.

★ Hero — New York, northern New Jersey and the Eastern United States

★ Hoagie — Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Baltimore

★ Sub - Delaware

★ Poor boy or Po' boy — Gulf Coast, especially around New Orleans

★ Spuckie — Boston, Massachusetts (now rare)

★ Torpedo — New Jersey

★ Wedge — Specific to some northeastern coastal sections of the Bronx, and shore towns of the Long Island Sound in Westchester, New York and Fairfield County, Connecticut. The term is more widely recognized in the southern parts of Westchester county though definitely not universally recognized. Also in sections of northern New Jersey, adjacent Rockland County, and Putnam County in New York. The term Wedge is said to have originated in Yonkers, Westchester County, New York, where a shop owner selling Meatball sandwiches would cut a "wedge" out of the top of the long roll in order to keep the sauce from pouring out of the sides of the sandwich. Another reason could also be that you wedge (jam/pack) a whole lot of meat into a Wedge. Whatever the true origin of the term; in Westchester and northern NYC, Wedge is the name of a big (hero-like) sandwich.

★ Zep (likely truncation of zeppelin) — New Jersey; Phoenixville, PA and Norristown, PA.

★ Italian — Maine, where "Italian" is used regardless of the filling, which is specified separately, as a "ham Italian", "veggie Italian" or "roast beef Italian". A regular Italian is usually a ham Italian, made up of: ham, cheese, onions, olives, green peppers, pickles, and tomatoes. Italians are made to order at most convenience stores and gas stations. A Maine "Italian" is often served on a larger version of the top-loading "New England style" hot dog bun. The term is also found in New Jersey.
An ''Italian sub'', ''Italian combo'', or ''Italian hoagie'' consists of Italian luncheon meats, typically capicola, prosciutto, and Genoa salami, with provolone, lettuce, tomato, oil, and vinegar. Thinly sliced pepperoni and bologna are sometimes added, and less expensive ham is often substituted for capicola and prosciutto.
A ''cheesesteak'' or ''steak and cheese'' is grilled sliced steak with melted cheese on a submarine roll. Common local variations include grilled onions, peppers, lettuce, tomato, ketchup or tomato sauce. The cheese is usually American, cheddar, provolone, or Cheez Whiz. Cheesesteaks are strongly associated with the Philadelphia area, while "steak and cheese" is more often heard elsewhere.
Submarine sandwiches are sold by delicatessens and a number of fast food restaurants and chains, including (listed by date opened); Jersey Mike's Subs (1956), Blimpie Subs (1964), Subway (1965), D'Angelo Sandwich Shops (1967), Mr. Sub (1968), Port of Subs (1972), Sub Station II (1975), Potbelly Sandwich Works (1977), Quiznos Subs (1981), Jimmy John's (1983), Charley's Grilled Subs (1986), and Mr. Goodcents (1989).

Notes

1. Kelley, Walt. What They Never Told You About Boston (or What They Did That Were Lies). Camden, Maine: Down East Books, 1993.

See also

★ Banh Mi

★ French dip sandwich

★ Hoagie

★ Italian beef

★ Muffuletta

★ Panino