I have reached a stage in my life where I regularly crave a sandwich, but instead have a salad. I don’t know if it’s for health or if I’m just performing what the 1990s taught me being a woman was supposed to look like. Either way, I think about sandwiches a lot.
And apparently so do some local chefs. According to The Oklahoman:
Ever wondered what makes an incredible sandwich or find yourself having strong opinions on the topic?
You could find out who makes the best sandwich in the city soon because about 20 chefs from across Oklahoma City will come together in a culinary clash at the Chef v. Chef Sandwich Showdown at First Americans Museum on July 25 at 11 a.m.
Chef Ben Hutton of FAM's 39 Restaurant recently issued a challenge to other chefs across the city.
The question: who can make the best sandwich in the metro? At stake: a $1,000 cash prize, belt and bragging rights for the winner.
Naturally, all this talk about Oklahoma City chefs and sandwiches got me to thinking. What if there were sandwiches that represented different places in the metro? Surely each district would have something unique to offer that really represented the vibe of the place.
And with that, I give you ten OKC sandwiches that you may or may not see at the Sandwich Showdown.
The Edmond
This sandwich looks a lot like a Chick-Fil-A sandwich. And it pretty much is. The only difference is we double the amount of MSG Chick-Fil-A normally uses to really enhances that hella boring chicken sandwich flavor.
–
The Bethany
Do you like mayonnaise on white bread with the crusts cut off? Then this is the sandwich for you! If you want to get a little wild, you can add some iceberg lettuce for a little crunch!
–
The Midtown
This isn’t a sandwich, so much as a series of small bites served at different locations. What started as a little happy hour meet up has accidentally turned into a bar crawl, even though you had no idea how that happened. So, this sandwich is consumed in increments at different locations, each bite unique to the place serving it. Unfortunately, or get this sandwich, you also have to order an alcoholic beverage at each location. And that’s why when you get this sandwich, you don’t remember where you parked or which restaurant you left your credit card at.
-
The Paseo
Artisanal focaccia? Check. Vegan aioli? Check. Breaded and fried strips of portobello mushrooms? Also check. This vegan delight is a perfectly balanced sandwich and becomes something you crave, even if you’re a meat eater. Everything about it is perfect, and it pairs well with the free shitty wine they serve at art shows.
-
The Wheeler
This is probably the most aesthetically pleasing sandwich on the list in that it looks like a food stylist set it up. It doesn’t quite look real. There is nothing particularly remarkable about the sandwich’s flavor, but that’s a feature, not a bug. And the weird thing is that no matter how many versions of this sandwich you see, they are all EXACTLY the same.
–
The Mid-Del
For hearty sandwich lovers, we have the Mid-Del: crusty bread, ham, turkey, American cheese, tomatoes, pickles, lettuce, and mayo. It's basically the sandwich you imagine in your head when someone says the word "sandwich." It fills your belly and lets you get on with your day. The only problem is people tend to look down on it, like they're too good for it or something.
–
The Boathouse
Ever wondered what Oklahoma River trout taste like? Well, this is your chance. This offering is fried trout and a tangy mayo slaw, all wrapped in a tortilla. Then, your Boathouse wrap is sent across the water on the Riversport OKC zipline, and delivered to you via kayak. Much like a French dip, it’s served with a side of au jus that is just river water. After a day in the sun, it will really hit the spot, and you'll be so hungry you won't really care what you're eating.
–
The Asian District
Have you ever wondered what would happen if you put fried spring rolls, spicy basil noodles, Beijing duck, a spicy tuna roll, and fried rice on a banh mi? Well. You get the Asian District. It’s delicious, if not completely unwieldy. This one is served with a side of crab rangoon, and like everything you’ve ever had in the Asian District, it’s super affordable and you’ll be taking half of it to go for later.
–
The Stockyards
This sandwich isn’t for folks who regularly see a cardiologist. Instead of bread, this sandwich uses two ribeye steaks cooked rare to hold the filling: slices of prime rib and chicken fried steak. Of course, this one is served with a side of Cattlemen’s ranch.
–
The Gentrifier
This sandwich is a secret menu item and it’s only served at restaurants that exist in districts with cool names and a PR firm to let you know about those districts. It’s really exclusive too, because it can only be ordered by people who live in a recently gentrified district and still talk shit about the white flight suburban areas of the metro like they aren’t actively doing the same thing.
