You Ate A Mouth Full

Just a quick one to alert you to one of the best sandwiches you can have without traveling to Pittsburgh, and who wants to do that anyway.* Hollister Brewing Company is offering my favorite special of theirs, a Primanti Bros. Sandwich.What is that, you may ask, and you couldn't ask if you were eating one as it's a true mouth-fuller: Niman Ranch ham, melted Fontina cheese, coleslaw, sliced tomatoes, aioli and HBC duck fat fries sandwiched between Texas toast. To do it right you have to get the optional fried egg on top, too, because, really, are you suddenly counting calories? Plus you need the soft yolk to ooze out and coat everything, helping it keep deliciously together. Somehow the Primanti Bros. legend is they started putting everything on the sandwich as it was easier for truckers on the go to eat them, which just means it's very easy to spot the truckers in Pennsylvania--they're the ones with the food-stained pants.

I'm not usually into the food-as-dare kind of thing, but the co-mingling of all those flavors is spectacular, especially when washed down with a pint of one of Eric and Noah's fine ales--the batch of White Star XPA right now is creamy and light and would make a fine balance with the bulk of a Primanti Bros. sandwich. Or perhaps go with one of the two slightly unusual Belgian-ish beers on right now, the 5th Anniversary Ale (it's got flowers and honey and is neither too floral or too sweet) or the Here and There (a mild Belgian, if that makes sense, all about elegance, and not too alcohol-heavy, either).

*I kid Pittsburgh, having been there a bunch from 88-94 and liking it, especially Kennywood. Plus I really want to make it to what looks like a beautiful ballpark PNC (no stadium this). Three Rivers was a football concrete doughnut, but I did get to see Barry Bonds pre-Clear a bunch. I wonder if a roided Bonds would have thrown out Sid Bream in 1992? More likely he would have launched one to the backstop.

Something ’Wichy This Way Wins

We’ve been into competition since Abel and Cain, but, fortunately, not all face-offs end so finally. Sometimes it just means we get great sandwiches, as was the case at the Santa Barbara Sandwich Showdown, held at Whole Foods Market on February 3. The trio of contestants was as follows: Clay Lovejoy, co-owner of Three Pickles; Paul Shields, owner of Savoy Café & Deli; and our amateur entrant, L.J. Washington, an ICU nurse by trade but a fine cook by way of New Orleans, too. Their job was to create a sandwich that would wow our judges: Roman Baratiak from UCSB Arts & Lectures, Joanie Hudson from The Santa Barbara Independent, and Monika Sowizral from Whole Foods. And wow they did, for as judge Baratiak put it, “The creativity and eclecticism of Santa Barbara’s food artisans never ceases to amaze. Each of the sandwiches was a winner!”

Want to read the rest then do so at the Indy's site.

P.S. Somehow we had a sandwich contest in which not one contestant used avocado and we didn't get permanently banned from California.

Come Witness the S.B. Sandwich Showdown

On Friday, February 3 from 4-5 p.m. the public is invited to Whole Foods Market (3761 State St., 837-6959) to watch a bit of live Top Chef-ry right here in Santa Barbara at the SB Sandwich Showdown. Held in honor of Tom Colicchio, who happens to own a chain of ’wichcraft sandwich shops, and who will be at UCSB Campbell Hall on February 22, the Showdown will see who is the best thing since sliced bread with some sliced bread.

The contestants will be Clay Lovejoy, a co-owner of Three Pickles (126 E. Canon Perdido St., 965-1015, 420 S. Fairview Ave., 964-4585, threepickles.com), Paul Shields, owner of Savoy Cafe & Deli (24 West Figueroa St., 962-6611, the savoycafe.com), and brave amateur contestant LJ Washington, who already jumped one hurdle by being chosen as the amateur entrant over a slew of fine sandwich makers, based on some delish recipes. (LJ’s victorious semi-finalist entry was for a New Orleans Meatloaf Po Boy.) Emceeing the event will be yours truly, the Independent Food Editor, and one of the judges will be regular food writer Joanie Hudson.

The winner of the final contest — whether pro or amateur —will receive a Whole Foods Market shopping spree (value $250), a pair of tickets to see Colicchio at UCSB, the chance to meet him backstage after his talk, and a copy of ’wichcraft (Colicchio’s acclaimed book on the art of sandwich-making). Plus a lot of bragging rights.

Which ‘wich will reign supreme? Come and see it all happen - live!

Announcing the SB Sandwich Showdown

In anticipation of the February 22 Campbell Hall appearance of Top Chef head judge Tom Colicchio (who happens to own a chain of ’wichcraft sandwich shops), UCSB Arts & Lectures, Whole Foods Market, and The Santa Barbara Independent are throwing a showdown to see who serves up the best sandwich in Santa Barbara. Two contestants will be professional sandwich slingers, but the third will be an amateur/home cook. Do you think you have what it takes to be that person?

The amateur battle of the S.B. Sandwich Showdown will be held live at Whole Food Market on Friday, February 3, 4-5 p.m., so if you serve up the best thing since sliced bread on sliced bread, enter by sending the following to georgeeats@independent.com by Friday, January 20, 5 p.m.: (1) a recipe for your favorite sandwich; (2) a testimonial from one person (not yourself) as to the tastiness and inventiveness of your creation; and (3) a short bio (remember, you cannot be in the food industry and take part). A panel of judges will then choose one non-pro to take on the pros on February 3 in the live sandwich-off.

The winner of the final contest — whether pro or amateur —will receive a Whole Foods Market shopping spree (value $250), a pair of tickets to see Colicchio at UCSB, the chance to meet him backstage after his talk (please, no “pack your ____ and go” jokes), and a copy of ’wichcraft (Colicchio’s acclaimed book on the art of sandwich-making). Plus a lot of bragging rights.