Boy, was it nice out there today…… I'm figuring that you really don't feel like reading about a hot steaming pot of Suan Cai Yang Rou (preserved vegetable w/lamb hot pot), so I thought I'd dig up a few photos, and put together a sandwich post. This time, it's a couple of local "Italian Subs", which, depending where you live can be called a "Grinder, Torpedo, Hoagie, or Bomber" among other names, depending on where you live. Here's an interesting threesome, 1 from a National Chain, one from a Local Chain, and one from a local independently owned shop. So without further ado:
Jersey Mike's Subs – Rosecrans:
As far as I know, there are three locations of this New Jersey based chain in San Diego proper. The actual history of Jersey Mike's is interesting. Yet, it's still a franchised chain.
The interior is full on national sandwich shop generic…..
I will say one thing about this shop; the two times I've been here, the young ladies are always cleaning like crazy……. whomever runs this shop must put an emphasis on this.
I usually will go for one of the combinations featuring Italian cold cuts.
On both my visits, the sandwich was lettuce heavy, and you really couldn't taste the meats. The dressing is a good amount of red wine vinegar, olive oil, and a good amount of an oregano spice mix, which is the key to flavor for this sandwich. It's still not the basic "salad on a roll" that is a sandwich from Subway, and they do slice your meat to order.
The one thing I enjoy at Jersey Mike's is the bread, which is slightly crusty and airy, and has a almost cracker-like flavor.
Jersey Mike's Subs
3670 Rosecrans Street
San Diego, CA 92110
Grab & Go Subs – Mission Gorge Rd:
A local "chain" with seven locations, I've posted on Grab & Go before. A couple of months ago, I dropped by the Mission Gorge shop since I happened to be in the area.
As I mentioned before, my sandwich of choice at Grab & Go is the Spicy Cappocolla, which is toasted, spice added by pickled jalapenos. Toasting the sandwich releases the oil and flavors from the cappocolla, melts the cheese, and makes the roll crusty…. all good things for me.
A couple of weeks later, I found myself at Grab & Go again, and ordered my other favorite, the Italian Village Special, a cappocolla, salami, and pepperoni sub.
On previous occasions, this sandwich had been toasted when I've ordered it. This time it wasn't, and it was truly lacking. Too doughy, lacking in a good contrast of textures. And ice cold……..
Goes to show me that I need to make sure my sandwiches are toasted in the future.
Grab & Go Subs
6435 Mission Gorge Rd.
San Diego, CA 92120
A quick word on shredded lettuce on Italian Subs…… this is the usual way they are made in San Diego……
The Philly Grill:
**** The Philly Grill has closed
Nestled next to El Sol, Philly Grill is a nice little shop that specializes in Cheesesteaks, which I'll go into in a later post.
Personally, I don't think the best item on the menu are the cheesesteaks, which are on the skimpy side, and the bread, a very important item when dealing with cheesesteaks just doesn't cut it. For me, the best thing I've had here is also one of the most inexpensive, the Italian Hoagie.
The owner, Suzanne also adds color, with her unbridled enthusiasm, straight forward approach, and sincere concern for what I ate. I'm sure that you, like myself are often asked "how is everything and what do you think" during your meal. I will guarantee you, that 99% of the time, it is just part of going thru the motions. The person asking really doesn't want you to answer this. In the beginning, I thought that folks really wanted to know "how everything was", and replied with my opinion. After instances of rapid blinking, "why did you answer", "did you just slap me in the face" looks, I've just stopped. Stupid me, in the beginning I thought that they really wanted to know what I thought. Somehow, when Suzanne asked me "whaddya think", I just felt she meant it…… so I think she now knows me as the "bread guy"…… And we did have a nice conversation about her bread, her customers, and such. And Suzanne really did really want to know what I thought.
Back to the sandwich. Suzanne asked me how I wanted my sandwich, and I told her, make it the way you like it, but lose the shredded lettuce. What I ended up with was freshly sliced sliced salami and cappacolla heated on the griddle, prosciutto, and provolone, topped with onions, and great pickled peppers.
The balsamic dressing and oregano spice mix added to the sandwich. At this point, it could have been on shoe leather and this would have been great! I do think that thinner slices, with more surface area would add to the sandwich, but I enjoyed this. I was also pretty stuffed…..
This really illustrates the superiority of independently owned and run businesses (and I'm talking about those folks who are hands on). I'm sure if I walked into Philly Grill tomorrow, Suzanne will remember what my preferences were. And in some way, that beats out a five dollar foot long anytime.
Dennis has a post on Philly Grill which you can find here.
Philly Grill
2041 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92104
Quick note: the hours are sometimes a bit flaky.
Today was a wonderful San Diego day. Yes, the Northwest winds still had a bit of chill to them, but it was a nice sunny day. The Missus wanted to sleep in, so I took Da' Boyz to Tecolote Natural Park and Nature Center.
The Tecolote Canyon Natural Park is a series of trails, a twelve mile round trip, which stretches throughout the Clairemont area.
Of course we just kinda meandered around for maybe a half mile or so, just far enough so Sammy could smell every bush….
We turned just a bit after passing the back of USD.
The wild flowers are quite pretty after the recent rains…..
Da' Boyz and I hope you had a great weekend!