Thursday, March 12, 2009
Chow Scanwiches!
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Scanwiches: In which someone in New York places their sandwich on the scanner each day and blogs the results for the world's "education and delight." (Presumably this is brought to you by Windex.) You can click around and zoom in on the sandwiches in crazy ways. A scanned sandwich looks much more appetizing than you'd think.
I would say from here, all the way across the U.S.A., it's less education and delight, more profound envy. While Seattle has some great specialty sandwiches—at Salumi, Baguette Box, Paseo, bahn mi galore—we are sorely lacking in places that make good, solid, basic deli sandwiches, the kind of sandwich you can find once a block in New York. It's so, so sad. I'm hungry.
Katz Deli: Corned Beef, Mustard, on Rye from scanwiches.com. Sigh.
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1
Try the New York Deli in the market. It makes great - huge - New York-style deli sandwiches (ie three times your daily Pastrami allowance.)
2
There's a place by my work in lower Queen Anne called Sandwich Tree, and they make totally reliable, no-bells-or-whistles sandwiches. I only get the veggie or the egg salad, but they're always good, always overstuffed, and always under $6.
4
@1
Yeah I was gonna say.
That picture looks exactly like a sandwich at the New York Deli in Pike Place Market. I hit this place about once every 2 weeks. Get the pastrami on rye with lots of mustard!
Does anyone else here think that Honey Hole sandwiches are overrated?
Yeah I was gonna say.
That picture looks exactly like a sandwich at the New York Deli in Pike Place Market. I hit this place about once every 2 weeks. Get the pastrami on rye with lots of mustard!
Does anyone else here think that Honey Hole sandwiches are overrated?
9
If only they had a Primanit Bro's Sandwich! Although I really don't know how that would look scanned with the fries and coleslaw and the moon and the stars and the this and the that.
10
The corned beef place on Minor and Howell has big NY style sandwiches. Also, try I love NY deli in Pike's Place, which is great. I know the owner, John Jacobs. :)
13
@4: Yeah, I agree they are a bit over-rated. I mean, they are good but I was expecting "omgwtfbbqkittens" type of good, which I have never gotten from one of their sandwiches.
14
@2 I used to go to the Sandwich Tree all the time when I worked down there. I thought they were great too.
15
Am I the only one who dislikes the NY Deli style overstuffed sandwiches? I mean, I'd rather have too much meat than too much bread, but those things are essentially a giant meatball in between two croutons.
16
Katz Deli has the best pastrami in the whole world (way better than Boar's Head). And you can have them ship it to you if you're up for building your own sandwich. Yum.
17
mel @ 7
of the places that bethany mentioned which ones feature beef?..paseo - chicken and pork, salumi- pork and lamb, baquette box - chicken, pork, lamb, banh mi galore- pork, fish, tofu. where's the massive beef consumption from these places ? how is wishing for a good pastrami sandwich promoting massive beef consumption ?
of the places that bethany mentioned which ones feature beef?..paseo - chicken and pork, salumi- pork and lamb, baquette box - chicken, pork, lamb, banh mi galore- pork, fish, tofu. where's the massive beef consumption from these places ? how is wishing for a good pastrami sandwich promoting massive beef consumption ?
18
I'm munching a pretty good Tuna Melt from Ciao Bella in Wallingford as I type this. Is there anything lovelier than a caper?
19
riz@17,
BJC said those places are fine and dandy but what she really wants is a massive NYC deli style beef sandwich like the big corned beef sandwich in her a picture. And, um, pastrami is beef, and a NYC deli style pastrami sandwich has about a half pound of it.
BJC's constant promotion of beef and pork is so out of place on a progressive blog like Slog. It's worse than if Jonah started posting about how much he loves Hummer H2's every day.
BJC said those places are fine and dandy but what she really wants is a massive NYC deli style beef sandwich like the big corned beef sandwich in her a picture. And, um, pastrami is beef, and a NYC deli style pastrami sandwich has about a half pound of it.
BJC's constant promotion of beef and pork is so out of place on a progressive blog like Slog. It's worse than if Jonah started posting about how much he loves Hummer H2's every day.
20
Other Coast? No way. Those sandwiches remind me of what was served in my college dining hall in New York. They use wilted, yellow, shredded lettuce on their sandwiches. Beyond awful.
21
For those on the Eastside, I recommend From Russia With Love at Crossroads Mall (they sell basically only one sandwich, but it's thick with pickled roasted veggies and other delights), and everything in their store is Russian or Ukrainian. Goldberg's Deli in Factoria is decent, but too much of a sit-down place.
I also have to call out the Microsoft cafeterias on the sandwich front. They always made mine exactly to order, and had a gazillion kinds of bread, meat and cheese, plus unlimited free pickles.
I also have to call out the Microsoft cafeterias on the sandwich front. They always made mine exactly to order, and had a gazillion kinds of bread, meat and cheese, plus unlimited free pickles.
23
Today I brought to work a nice Ciabatta roll with ham and a nice cheddar in it.
Total cost: about $0.95. Way better than a $6 deli sandwich.
Total cost: about $0.95. Way better than a $6 deli sandwich.
24
@10, where is Pike's Place? I would love to try your recommendation but I am not familiar with this location.
26
@24
@10
I would like to know too! It seems like the tourists are always going there but they never seem to let us locals in on teh secret!!!
@10
I would like to know too! It seems like the tourists are always going there but they never seem to let us locals in on teh secret!!!
28
I had the Pastrami-on-Rye at Katz' about four years ago - I think I may still be digesting some of it even today, it was THAT BIG! Not to mention the half-dozen gherkins they threw on my tray - as if I'd have room! I got literally two meals-worth of food at a not-at-all unreasonable price.
I still keep my Katz' menu on the fridge in honor of that memorable sandwich.
@16:
I keep thinking about doing that - maybe one of these days...
I still keep my Katz' menu on the fridge in honor of that memorable sandwich.
@16:
I keep thinking about doing that - maybe one of these days...
29
@4:
Honey Hole is all about the fries - some of the best in town: golden crispy on the outside, fluffy soft on the inside!
Honey Hole is all about the fries - some of the best in town: golden crispy on the outside, fluffy soft on the inside!
30
Jesus. *smacks forehead*
Also, fucking spelling/grammar nazi, sorryz to be offending you with mah badz comments.
Also, fucking spelling/grammar nazi, sorryz to be offending you with mah badz comments.
31
Real natives always say the names of local icons wrong. Pike's Place, Nordstrom's, Boeing's. Badge of honor.
32
As someone living in NYC, I hate to ruin it for you, but most of those places are gone. There is only one deli in all of Manhattan that still cures their meat on premise. It's all disappearing...
33
The deli on the Harbor Steps, (first and Seneca I think?) is pretty good. I mean it's not like they make their own meat, but they serve Boar's Head which is always awesome.
34
Having just moved back to Seattle after ten years in Brooklyn, sandwich-wise what I miss most is not the famous delis (Katz's etc.), but the totally delicious, high quality $3 Boar's Head heros from just about any respectable bodega (especially the one on Ashland & DeKalb in Fort Greene). Seattle doesn't lack super high quality sandwich spots – what it could use is some regular old cheap-but-great sandwich pushers. Any Capitol Hill recommendations? From what I can tell, the deli counter at QFC is one of the better options. (I'm talking about walk in, order, get sandwich, pay, walk out...not sit-down places.)
35
@34
One thing I like about NYC is cheap-yet-delicious bites to eat everywhere you go, all day long. Here in Seattle it seems like only the Asian food is cheap. And if you want any food above mediocre fare, you need to pony up the $$$. I usually just cook everything at home.
One thing I like about NYC is cheap-yet-delicious bites to eat everywhere you go, all day long. Here in Seattle it seems like only the Asian food is cheap. And if you want any food above mediocre fare, you need to pony up the $$$. I usually just cook everything at home.
36
@35, I agree, it has been kind of a shocker actually. We cook at home a lot more too.
Seattle does have a lot of good happy hours though.
Seattle does have a lot of good happy hours though.
38
The best sandwich I ever had was a reuben at the 'Hoagie Haven' while passing through Albany back in 1993. I have not encountered a sandwich to match its glory since then.
39
I agree, Seattle needs more of the good middle stuff. It's gotten better since I moved here, but making a good sandwich at home will have to suffice for some occasions. For those of you heading to the shores of Lake Washington this summer, try the egg salad sandwich (haven't had the others) at Leschi Market. It's pretty cheap and it's the best I've had for just a good middle quality sandwich. I was pleasantly surprised.
40
@31, Nordstrom's and Boeing's are acceptable variations because the companies are named after their founders (John Nordstrom and Bill Boeing, respectively). As in, "Nordstrom's clothing store" or "Boeing's airplane factory."
Pike Place, however, is named after its location, so the rule doesn't apply. I cannot think of a single native who refers to the market using the possessive.
Pike Place, however, is named after its location, so the rule doesn't apply. I cannot think of a single native who refers to the market using the possessive.
41
@37...puhleeze! the OTHER COAST CAFE is fucking awful, beyond bad! last week i gave them another try and the rueben i had was cold in the center, crappy - fall apart bread, over dressed and just plain bad. worse yet, just because you make a jinormous sandwich, that does not translate to good.
and fuck me! $9.03 which i pray to a god i do not believe in will come back to me. bleeech.
and fuck me! $9.03 which i pray to a god i do not believe in will come back to me. bleeech.
42
@41: I guess THAT'S the reason they're always packed. I've never had a bad sandwiches from the Other Coast, but I'll agree to disagree... less wait time for my lunch!
44
Other Coast & Honey Hole suck so bad it makes me angry. Bad bread, bad meat, bad bad bad.
The "I Love NY Deli" in the market makes the only non-Salumi, non-bahn mi sandwiches worth a damn in Seattle.
P.S. Baguette Box has been slippin' the last couple of years. The last two Drunken Chicken sandwiches I had there were literally inedible due to inattentive oversalting. Bender the robot chef salty. Salt with Chicken in it salty.
The "I Love NY Deli" in the market makes the only non-Salumi, non-bahn mi sandwiches worth a damn in Seattle.
P.S. Baguette Box has been slippin' the last couple of years. The last two Drunken Chicken sandwiches I had there were literally inedible due to inattentive oversalting. Bender the robot chef salty. Salt with Chicken in it salty.
45
@mel
Just wanted to point out that it seems you're the only one who cares.
Though don't go extrapolating your influence by this thread alone: you're in an astronomically small minority. Live and let live. Quit being a militant vegan and I'll promise not to shove raw ground round down your gullet if we ever meet.
If you want to read a more "progressive" blog, do so. Or found one. Or organize a boycott of this one with your posse.
I'm sure I'll have a laugh reading about it here.
Just wanted to point out that it seems you're the only one who cares.
Though don't go extrapolating your influence by this thread alone: you're in an astronomically small minority. Live and let live. Quit being a militant vegan and I'll promise not to shove raw ground round down your gullet if we ever meet.
If you want to read a more "progressive" blog, do so. Or found one. Or organize a boycott of this one with your posse.
I'm sure I'll have a laugh reading about it here.
46
And more on topic, I agree with the "needs moar good but plain and cheap sandwiches" sentiment. I too prefer making my own, but don't always have the time. It'd be nice not to have to shell out dough (or walk two miles during my lunch break) to get a decent sandwich.
Also, Tat's ftl. I'll eat there once every two months or so, but it's never really hooked me.
Also, Tat's ftl. I'll eat there once every two months or so, but it's never really hooked me.
48
Katz' in NYC- Ehh.
But Katz' in Milwaukee- now THATS a deli.
Up in a primarily black neighborhood, northwest of downtown, run by third generation jewish deli guys, in a crumbling victorian house.
You go in there at lunch time, its full of the brothers- they aint dumb- they know a good sandwich when they eat one.
They have drawers under the counter full of giant slabs of corned beef and pastrami, they pull out and slice you a pound or two.
Also, the late, gone but not forgotten Rascal House, up in Sunny Isles north of Miami.
Probably the greatest deli of all time. Separate lines for parties of 2, 3, 4, 6, or more than 6.
The free appetizers are more than you wimpy seattleites could eat. The sandwiches were as big as your head.
But Katz' in Milwaukee- now THATS a deli.
Up in a primarily black neighborhood, northwest of downtown, run by third generation jewish deli guys, in a crumbling victorian house.
You go in there at lunch time, its full of the brothers- they aint dumb- they know a good sandwich when they eat one.
They have drawers under the counter full of giant slabs of corned beef and pastrami, they pull out and slice you a pound or two.
Also, the late, gone but not forgotten Rascal House, up in Sunny Isles north of Miami.
Probably the greatest deli of all time. Separate lines for parties of 2, 3, 4, 6, or more than 6.
The free appetizers are more than you wimpy seattleites could eat. The sandwiches were as big as your head.
49
@47:
A "honey hole" is a pool in a river noted as a good fishing spot.
Get your mind out of the gutter already.
A "honey hole" is a pool in a river noted as a good fishing spot.
Get your mind out of the gutter already.
50
I think Mel is right. I like a good reuben now and then, but it is pretty weird that Seattle's progressive politics aren't really reflected in its eating habits and the stranger's coverage of food, and eating lots of beef and pork all the time is just totally unsustainable.
51
OK, how about some good sandwich place on the north end of Broadway? I like gyro's and pho and think QFC can do alright, but sometimes I just want to stop in somewhere, get a sandwich and sit down.
Nothing to fit that need on this end of Cap Hill...that I know of.
And yes, I'll bypass Honey Hole and Baguette Box for a vietnamese grilled pork sandwich anyday.
Nothing to fit that need on this end of Cap Hill...that I know of.
And yes, I'll bypass Honey Hole and Baguette Box for a vietnamese grilled pork sandwich anyday.
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