(But where was the Big Kahuna Burger?)

Related posts:

1. For Great Sandwiches and Hamburgers – Le Tub, Hollywood Florida
2. Izzy’s Favorite Sandwich
3. Great Grilled Cheese – Book Review

It’s said that the modern sandwich is possibly named after The Earl but actually not invented by him. According to legend, he had sliced meat and bread brought to him at the gaming table so that he could continue to play as he ate. Soon, it became fashionable to serve sandwiches all over the European continent and the word “sandwich” was incorporated into the French language.  A less compelling version of this story is that he had “sandwiches” brought to him while he worked at his desk.

As anyone can attest, the sandwich is one of America’s favorite foods–Meatball Sub, Philly Cheesesteak, Hamburger, Hot Dog, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Cheese and Portobello Mushroom–we all appreciate the sandwich.

In honor of National Sandwich Day 2010, several restaurants and eateries are serving free or discounted specials:

Earl of Sandwich located in the Downtown Disney section of Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL is offering coupons for a free holiday sandwich that can be downloaded and printed out,

Noodles & Company is offering free sandwiches at many locations around the country.

Two of my favorite places in South Florida for fabulous sandwiches and burgers are Talia’s Tuscan Table and Charm City Burger Company.  If you’re in the Deerfield Beach / Boca Raton area, head on over to one of these great eateries and start celebrating.

You can also head out to the local grocer and grab your favorite ingredients.  With a little preparation, you can celebrate National Sandwich Day with your own Big Fat Sandwich masterpiece.

Related posts:

1. Bread Can Make You Happy!
2. Sandwich Shop Thief Found Dead In A Vent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x-nMVhabGM

Related posts:

1. In Memoriam: Sandwiches in the Movies
2. Jack’s Favorite Sandwich
3. Madison’s Favorite Sandwich

Good news:  Shoppers are more likely to buy sandwich bread with a label displaying “natural” or “whole grain.” 

According to a Nielsen study, wheat sandwich bread sales increased to $2.6 billion in the last year; white bread sales declined to $2.5 billion.  White bread still wins in overall volume of sales. 

Finally, sandwich eaters are beginning to pay attention to a steady stream of messages on fiber and omega-3s.  Of course, now that healthier sandwich breads are selling better, companies are bumping up prices.  Fortunately, consumers do not seem to mind—they realize these healthier sandwich breads taste better and contain more nutrients. 

We are happy to hear that white bread sales for companies like Sara Lee and Wonderbread, are down.  This will lead them to develop more healthy sandwich breads and products! 

BFS Tip:  When shopping for healthy breads such as wheat bread, please be sure that the label says “whole grain.”  Then, choose brands with the fewest ingredients.

Related posts:

1. Is Bread Crust Healthy For You?
2. Healthier Lunches (and sandwiches) For School Kids
3. Bread Can Make You Happy!

Horseradish

So flavorful, yet horseradish  has zero fat.  One tablespoon of prepared horseradish has only 6 calories, is low in carbohydrates and sodium and is a good source of potassium and calcium.  And did we already mention this condiment has zero fat?

The Horseradish Information Council suggests adding prepared horseradish to mayonnaise or salad dressing for sandwiches.  Also add horseradish to deli items such as coleslaw, baked beans and potato salad.  You can also substitute prepared horseradish for butter and salt as a veggie topper.

According to recent guidelines on obesity from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), in addition to horseradish, mustard and salsa should be on your list of healthy sandwich condiments.  These three condiments receive high marks for their low-fat, high-flavor qualities.

Some people love putting a dollop of horseradish on their steamy roast beef sandwich (please read  our Beef On Weck Sandwich post). This natural taste-enhancer may also be a useful food preservative.

Agricultural Research Service food technologist Henry Fleming and Oklahoma State University food chemist Brian Shofran proved both horseradish and mustard oil pack a punch against Listeria, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus and other food pathogens you definitely don’t want in your sandwich.

That’s because these condiments contain a pungent chemical called allyl isothiocyanate (AITC). Mustard oil has 93 percent AITC, while horseradish has 60 percent AITC.

Please leave your comments about our post:  Horseradish – A Healthy Sandwich Condiment

Related posts:

1. Healthy Turkey Sandwich
2. Is Bread Crust Healthy For You?
3. Beef On Weck Sandwich – A Buffalo, New York Favorite

We have searched the Internet and our library of sandwich books for the origin of the Beef On Weck.  Here’s one version:

A German Baker, William Wahr, immigrated to Buffalo from Germany and created the Kummelweck Roll—similar to a Kaiser Roll but with salt and caraway seeds baked on top.  A local pub owner, wanting his customers to drink more, used the salty roll to create the Beef On Weck Sandwich.

Another version of the sandwich’s origin, according to John Guenther, great-grandson of Joe Gohn (and we paraphrase):

Just before the 1901 Pan American Exposition, in Buffalo, NY, Joe Gohn bought a small saloon / boarding house he called the Delaware House.  It was located across the street from the main entrance of the Exposition.  Joe decided to serve roast beef sandwiches and cold beer to the boarders and travelers to the Expo.  Joe had a German baker making the rolls and the baker suggested caraway seeds and salt on the rolls like they prepared them in Germany—Kummelweck Rolls.

A Beef On Weck Sandwich is simply delicious.  It’s nutritious and not too high in calories if you keep the amount of roast beef to about a half-inch (that’s just about right anyway).

The Kummelweck Roll gives the sandwich its unique, distinctive taste.  It is similar to a Kaiser roll but, as already noted, is topped with kosher salt and caraway seeds baked onto the top.  Dip the top half of the roll in au jus (the juices should flow just a bit when biting).

A Beef On Weck Sandwich is typically accompanied with a dill pickle and French fries.  If you’re watching your weight, skip the fries.

Here’s a recipe we adapted from several sources including the Food Network, Roadfood Sandwiches by Jane & Michael Stern, All Recipes and Whats Cooking In America:

Beef On Weck Sandwich Recipe (Makes Two Sandwiches)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of water
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon of corn starch
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon of caraway seeds
• 10 ounces of thinly sliced, rare roast beef
• 2 Kaiser Rolls (or bake your Kummelweck Rolls from scratch)
• 1/2 cup of prepared au jus (reserved from roasting the beef
• 1 tablespoon or more of horseradish (we like Gold’s Extra Hot)
• 2 teaspoons of corn starch

Directions

Boil 1/2 cup of water.  In the meantime, dissolve the corn starch into 1/4 cup of warm water.  Add the cornstarch solution to the boiling water.  Return to a boil and let the solution thicken.  Cool this solution in refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Split the two Kaiser rolls and place them on a baking sheet.  Brush the tops of the rolls with the cooled cornstarch solution. Combine the salt and caraway seeds and sprinkle on top of the roll tops.  Place in oven for about 3 minutes or until the caraway and salt dry onto the roll tops.

Heat your au jus in a saucepan and simmer.  Dip the sliced roast beef in the au jus and then place on bread bottoms.  Top with horseradish and dip top half of rolls in the au jus before covering and completing your Beef On Weck.  Eat!

Nutrition Facts (per sandwich)

• Calories  494 – From Fat 164
• Total Fat  18g – Saturated Fat 18g – Trans Fat 0g
• Cholesterol 118 mg
• Sodium  2182
• Total Carbohydrate  36g
• Protein  43g

This sandwich is a good source of Calcium and Iron.  If you suffer from hypertension or are on a low salt diet, please reduce or eliminate the kosher salt from your Beef On Weck Sandwich.

Related posts:

1. Horseradish – A Healthy Sandwich Condiment
2. Arepa Sandwich – A Favorite Of Latin America
3. Bauru Sandwich – Famous Sandwich Of Brazil

Healthier Sandwiches For Kids

The Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously approved a bill to update child nutrition programs (Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act).  The bill will now go to the Senate floor hopefully by mid-April.

The bill strengthens nutrition standards for all the food (including healthier sandwiches ) at school, effectively kicking junk food out of school vending machines (hooray!).  Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio passed an amendment for an organic food pilot program to get more organic food into school meals, though the amendment doesn’t yet have funding.

Overall, the bill invests $500 million per year in child nutrition programs.  Funding for healthier sandwiches and food will be paid for by offsets in other parts of the federal budget. Currently, the Child Nutrition bill makes a cut to conservation programs, a cut that BigFatSandwich is against– since a much larger portion of the budget goes to farm subsidies supporting unhealthy processed foods.

Although $500 million per year sounds like a lot of money, it’s just a start.  President Obama was asking for $1 billion per year. Parents can also work locally to push your schools to get back to simpler, fresh food, healthier sandwiches and whole food. You really can make a difference.  So, snap to it!  :)

Related posts:

1. Carla’s Sandwich – A Tasty Reading Adventure
2. Wheat Sandwich Bread Surpasses White In Sales
3. For Great Sandwiches and Hamburgers – Le Tub, Hollywood Florida

Related posts:

1. William’s Favorite Sandwich
2. Madison’s Favorite Sandwich
3. Izzy’s Favorite Sandwich

Here are some healthy Super Bowl sandwiches and snack recipes to enjoy while you watch the Colts get clobbered by the Saints (New Orleans has better sandwiches than Indianapolis–hence our pick).

Big Fat Healthy Submarine Sandwich

Ingredients

• foot long Italian or French bread roll
• ½ lb. of Boars Head Lower Sodium Skinless Turkey
• 4 slices (about 3 oz.) of Boar’s Head Lower Sodium Lower Fat American Cheese
• 1 carrot
• 1 tomato
• a handful of lettuce
• ½ cucumber
• several pitted black olives
• low fat mayonnaise ( we like Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Dressing with extra virgin olive oil)
• 1 or 2 Tbsp. Newman’s Own Lighten Up Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
• salt and pepper to taste to taste

Grate the carrot.  Slice the cucumber, tomatoes, olives and lettuce.

Cut the roll down the middle but not all the way through (so it’s like a hinge).  Spread a layer of the mayonnaise on the lower portion of the roll.  Add the turkey slices and then add the cheese.  Top with the vegetables and add the balsamic vinaigrette dressing.   Close roll, slice in quarters, turn on the Super Bowl and eat!

Big Fat Healthy Meatball Sub Sandwich

Ingredients

• 1 pound of ground white meat turkey or ground lean beef
• ½ cup crushed saltine crackers
• 1 onion
• 1 clove of minced garlic (minced garlic in jar works great)
• 1 jar (16 oz) of tomato sauce
• 1 loaf French bread
• ½ cup of shredded lower fat mozzarella cheese

Mix the meat, crackers and garlic in a bowl.  Roll into ping-pong ball size meatballs.  Cook in skillet on medium heat until browned all the way through.

Drain fat from skillet and add the tomato sauce.  While sauce is warming and flavoring the meatballs, slice the French bread in half and scoop out a little of the inner crumb (soft interior of bread).  Toast the bread slightly under broiler.  Remove bread from oven, add the meatballs and sauce onto the bread, add the shredded mozzarella and top with other half of bread.  (the warm sauce and toasted bread will melt the mozzarella).  Slice into quarters, turn on the Super Bowl and eat!

Big Fat Healthy Guacamole

• 4 Haas Avocados
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 2 seeded and diced Roma tomatoes
• Juice of 1 lime
• finely chopped seeded  jalapeno pepper (tongue test for heat and add to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

Mash Avocado to desired consistency.  (We like it fairly chunky.)  Stir in other ingredients.  Turn on the Super Bowl and serve.

Big Fat Healthy Salsa

Ingredients

• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 large vidalia onion
• 3 large tomatoes
• 1 cup red vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Dice all ingredients and combine with vinegar, oil, salt and pepper.  Refrigerate for at least one hour, turn on the Super Bowl and serve.

Here’s a healthier delivery system for you guacamole and salsa:

Big Fat Healthy Pita Chip Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 ounces of your favorite whole wheat or whole grain pita bread
• 4 Tbsp olive oil
• sea salt
• In addition, add any of the following spices:  onion powder, garlic, taco seasoning

Cut pita bread into 1 to 2 inch pieces.  Lightly drizzle with the olive oil and seasoning.  Lay pieces on baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees for about 15 minutes (until lightly brown and crispy).

We hope you enjoy our healthy Super Bowl sandwiches and snack recipes!

Related posts:

1. Healthy Turkey Sandwich
2. Low Calorie Lobster Bánh Mì Sandwich
3. Is A Panini Sandwich at Panera Bread A Healthy Sandwich?

I would normally start by saying something like “Locals have known about this spot forever” but I’m not so sure about that.  I speak to people that have heard of it but many say, “Yea I’ve heard of it but don’t know where it is.” And that’s after 32 years in business.  It makes sense, however, because it’s stuck behind some foliage and an old fence off of A1A in Hollywood, Florida.  Your GPS can lead you to it and you still might miss it:  no signs!  I’ll leave it at that and hope you find it because if a Big Fat hamburger is your thing, this is for you.

By visual count, the majority of people who go to Le Tub order “The Sirloinburger,” ($11 plain, $11.50 w/ cheese) 13 ounces of red meat perfectly cooked to order.  This is a grilled burger with a heavy char flavor, almost crunchy outer layer and served on an appropriately sized poppy seed bun (I hate a big burger whose bun is too small).  The grill at this joint is not as big as my home stove-top so believe the server when they tell you it will be an hour or more for your hamburger to arrive.  Think of it as a way to take advantage of the other items on the menu.  Don’t worry about getting full; unless you’re auditioning for Man vs. Food, you’re not going to finish that burger.

LeTub’s Chili ($5 Bowl, $4 Cup) is a popular item.  Using a recipe that calls for frying the meat before adding it to the tomato’s and such, it is mildly spicy but full of flavor.  As good as it is, I tend to skip it as I know my beef quota is going to be soon fulfilled.  Instead, I suggest going with the Seafood Gumbo ($7.50 Bowl, $5.50 Cup) when it is available.  The Smoked Fish Dip ($9.00) is also an excellent selection.

There are some healthy items on the menu so if you’re on our Big Fat Sandwich Diet, here are my suggestions.  Stay with the hamburger but cut it in half (okay so you only get to eat approx. a half pound of beef) and take the rest home.  They have a Salisbury (burger without bun) but that goes against our principles.  If you don’t do beef, they have Seafood, Greek and Garden salads and a Chicken Sandwich ($9.00) that appears to have multiple chicken breast (cut in half, take home).  To be honest, I’ve eaten here several times and never have seen anyone order a salad or chicken but I’m sure they are good.  They also offer a Catch of the Day ($18) which they serve with salad and Catch of the Day Sandwich ($10).

They have a bit of a Soup Nazi approach here to service.  Don’t look for a hostess or ask for a table, you find it on your own.  If there isn’t one, you need to table stalk someone who’s almost done.  The servers must be well paid because they don’t overwhelm you with kindness, with most starting their conversation with the warning about how long it will be for your burger. They also don’t encourage kids after 8pm.  If you can get by that, the setting on the inter-coastal is great, the burgers, sandwiches and other items fantastic and certainly this is a place to get one of the finest burgers in the country.  If you don’t believe us check out GQ magazine who rated it number one in America or Oprah who enjoys a nice hamburger.  Better yet, when you are in South Florida next, try it yourself and enjoy.

Review by Dave Betz

Related posts:

1. Great Sandwich In Boca Raton?
2. Great Grilled Cheese – Book Review
3. Getting High And Eating Sandwiches