It's Sandwich Time

There's just something about a good sandwich, isn't there?

And the summer seems to always give us a greater opportunity to sample a wider variety of sandwiches - mostly because of the plethora of fresh ingredients. New York magazine recently ran a feature on The 101 Best Sandwiches in New York. Have you had any of these? Let us know in a comment.

And while you're at it, check out the top sandwiches in:
Boston
Chicago
Philadelphia
Los Angeles
San Francisco

Are there any that you'd add?

Bode's Corned Beef House

Today, I had the opportunity to visit a nearby establishment that I've visited all too infrequently. Bode's Corned Beef House is an institution in Plymouth, MI. The last time I tried to visit was at 6:00 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day, to partake of the traditional corned beef and cabbage of that holiday. There was one problem, however: they ran out of corned beef. It didn't help my situation, but it tipped me off that there was some damned fine corned beef at the place.

And as it's been around since 1959, they've had time to perfect their recipe. Situated right next to a set of train tracks that were serviced by the Bode Hotel, the Bode House was once a boarding house that served up craftsmen from the adjacent Daisy Manufacturing Company (yes, the same Daisy that produced the Red Ryder BB gun featured so prominently in A Christmas Story). In 1959, it was turned into a restaurant and the same couple has been running it for the last 40 years.

Inside, it's a throwback to middle America of the 1960s - formica countertops and vinyl-covered stools front the kitchen. The 50th anniversary mugs hang proudly on the wall and are taken down for each customer. And in the back room where you'll find more tables and booths, there are nature shots - hunting & fishing, mostly - as well as vintage and antique toasters to remind you of the establishment's serious commitment to breakfast. It's a busy and bustling place, with little room for patrons to wait for a table - which is a good thing, as every last bit of available real estate gives priority to diners.

Today, I had the opportunity to visit Bode's but was more successful in my efforts. Their special on the weekends is eggs & hash, so I had to partake (aside from it being one of my favorites and, quite frankly, one of the standards by which I judge diner fare). I ordered my eggs over easy and the meal came as you see pictured to the left. In short, it was perfect.

The eggs were done exactly as expected, the toast was complimented with an usual assortment of Smucker's jams at the table: in addition to the typical mixed fruit, orange marmalade, Concord grape, and strawberry, there was also apple butter, seedless blackberry and apple cinnamon. And the hash? It was no-nonsense stuff. Just corned beef and potatoes - just like I like it. It was fresh and it held together nicely. As I combined it with my eggs, it was a simple yet mouthwatering mashup.

Certainly, they do more than breakfast, but you can be sure that corned beef figures heavily in their other menu items. The corned beef sandwich is not to be missed, and Al's Caboose sandwich is a local favorite - corned beef, Swiss cheese, slaw, lettuce and tomato on rye. You can even take home corned beef by the pound, rye bread by the loaf and cole slaw by the quart. And at dinner, they're known for their fish & chips, which is also a weekend special.

Be sure to check out the menu - nothing fancy, but really, really good stuff. And if you're in the southeastern Michigan area, stop by and have a bite.

You can see the entire set of photos over on Flickr.

A Sandwich is Just a Sandwich...

Nothing too terribly philosophical or earth-shattering here; just a few key links on everyone's favorite lunch item: the sandwich.

From the L.A. Times: L.A.'s global sandwich offerings. Got a favorite not included here? Let us know.

The Chicago Tribune tells us that Your sandwich choices may reveal personality, compatibility

And find out where you can get the 'Greatest Sandwich in America.' Got a contender? Drop a comment.

Be Careful Out There

The thing about comfort food is, it makes you feel good when you eat it. Whether it's a warm bowl of macaroni & cheese (I'm not talking about the boxed variety here, folks) or a the meatloaf on the blue plate special, or a great burger - there's a certain feeling about sitting down and digging in. Aside from the authentic taste and even the feel of the food as you eat it, there are even emotions and memories that are dredged up from childhood experiences or home-cooked meals from long ago.

And while we're aware of the potential dangers of indulging from too much fast food (personally I believe that the issues in "Super Size Me" lay at the feet of the consumers, not the company), it can be easy to forget our health when we're enjoying some unique and down-home cooking. Especially since diners and independent restaurants aren't required to list nutritional information of their menu items.

So, today's post is a bit of a public service announcement to remind you that anything you consume should be done in moderation. Especially if you happen to visit the establishments listed in this article about the Seven Fattiest Sandwiches in the U.S. I'm horrified to discover that I've had the pastrami sandwich at the Carnegie Deli (a place that will have a future review here on the site).

Enjoy your meal. Just don't enjoy too much of it. :-)

Flickr image courtesy of: bunchofpants