When I go to a greasy spoon to eat I expect a few things.
- bottomless hot coffee
- iced tea so sweet I have to make a dentist appointment
- hot potato-ey steak fries, unsalted
- grilled cheese, tuna melt, and egg salad on the menu
- triple decker club sandwich
These things are essential.
Roadside diners might just be one of my favorite things ever. I love that from the outside you can never really tell just exactly what you’re getting into. I love seating myself in a worn vinyl booth. I love hurried waitresses slinging coffee all hours of the day and open kitchen windows where you can catch a glimpse of all the food laid out on a flat top grill. I love the paper tickets hanging in the window. I love the informality.
A triple decker club sandwich is like an American diner institution. Toasted white bread smeared with mayonnaise and stacked high with shaved turkey, thin slices of ham, crisp green lettuce, thick slabs of tomatoes, and bacon. Lots of crispy bacon. Four frill picks are strategically stabbed through each corner and then the three layers of sandwich are quartered and presented with a pile of french fries. It’s the greatest.
Chad and I spent a good chunk of our weekend at our local dragway ogling all things Volkswagen which led me straight to the inspiration for this great big homemade club sandwich. Since I am sure you want to know all about how Volkswagen pointed me towards turkey, ham, and bacon.
I used my no-knead whole wheat bread for these sandwiches– it was still warm when I sliced it which took a pretty great sandwich straight to amazing.
Best Ever Club Sandwich
Ingredients
3 slices of No-Knead Whole Wheat Bread (or your favorite bread; if you’re going authentic diner style it’s highly processed white bread you want- toasted)
lettuce
sliced tomatoes
light mayonnaise
spicy mustard
thinly sliced roasted turkey breast
thinly sliced deli ham
crispy bacon
swiss cheese
To Make
Stack all ingredients together making the most obnoxious sandwich you can manage, using the middle slice of bread in between the turkey and ham. I add lettuce, tomato, and swiss cheese to both layers- and the bacon always resides with the turkey. **Please note that I made this humongo sandwich for Chad, who has a freakishly fast metabolism and an insatiable appetite. My sandwich was equally delicious, but normal-sized.**
creativenoshing
Monday 30th of April 2012
Looks delicious. I enjoy diners too. For whatever reason they seem so exciting to me.
Heather @ SugarDish(Me)
Monday 30th of April 2012
They are exciting! No rhyme or reason to it!
The Patterned Plate
Monday 30th of April 2012
Waaaaaaaa!! I wanna get to diner!! I have always wanted to do a food tour of the States, and when I mean food, I mean this kinda food. You are evil, cos that's a seriously good looking sarnie and I can't have a bite. Yet.
Loved reading this post Heather! You just convey the feeling so well!
Heather @ SugarDish(Me)
Tuesday 1st of May 2012
If you are gonna do a food tour somewhere, this is DEFINITELY the country to do it in! There is an infinite amout of diversity and if you're in a city you can usually find a little slice of everything! I love a good diner, though. Beyond the food, there is an ambience about it. And in it you find all walks of life. And Elvis in the jukebox :)
Ameena
Sunday 29th of April 2012
When I used to eat meat I would LOVE club sandwiches...this is making me remember some of the best ones I had.
"Trailer Trashtastic." I love it.
Hope you have a great Sunday!
Heather @ SugarDish(Me)
Monday 30th of April 2012
Club sandwiches are super! It's like the fallback sandwich when you find yourself eating somewhere you aren't so sure about(ahem... weird truck stops on road trips) because it's pretty hard to screw it up. On a vegetarian note- if you're not vegan, this bread is earthy and so good, and requires only about 5 minutes of work. I have been known to dab it with hummus and thinly sliced cucumbers and a tangle of alfalfa sprouts... or just spread it with a little laughing cow lite cheese.
Sandra - The Foodie Affair
Saturday 28th of April 2012
I baking this bread as I type. I'm not shy, I plan on making myself a big ole' sandwich ;)
Heather @ SugarDish(Me)
Monday 30th of April 2012
Oh let me know how it turned out! I love love love this bread. I make it all the time and keep it for sandwiches or morning toast with strawberry jam. It also makes a bangin peanut butter and jelly.
The Foodie Affair
Saturday 28th of April 2012
I'm baking this bread as I type and I'm not shy, I plan on making myself a big ole' hearty sandwich! ha ;)