Seriously, when I think of what might represent the cuisine of the District of Columbia, the Chicken Club Sandwich from the W Hotel comes immediately to mind. No? But it’s going to be on a new series, Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America. Richman will use a BITE scale: (B=Bread, I=Interior, T=Taste, E=Eating Experience). I certainly hope that postmodern W lobby wows him!
As the press release explains, “Richman samples and judges the three most mouthwatering masterpieces a region has to offer. After naming a regional favorite in 10 geographical locales, each winning sandwich moves to the finals, to face off against each other and two secret wildcards–earning a chance to compete in the ultimate national championship—and fight for the title of ‘Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America.'”
My colleague Michael Warren suggested the Half Smoke to be a better representative of our city’s eats. But if you think about it, isn’t the bland, uninspired chicken club sandwich in some dark way appropriate for at least part of this town? Isn’t this the town of rubber-chicken dinner receptions anyway?
You’ll find all the series entrants below:
Austin, Texas (The Noble Pig) – Seared Beef Tongue with Smoked Green Onions
Baltimore (Faidley Seafood) – Crab Cake Sandwich
Chapel Hill, N.C. (Time-Out Restaurant) – Chicken Cheddar Biscuit
Chicago (The Fifty/50) – The 4-Courser Sandwich
Chicago (Al’s Italian Beef) – Al’s Italian Beef
Detroit (Slow’s Bar-BQ) – The Yardbird
Driftwood, Texas (The Salt Lick) – Sliced Beef Brisket Sandwich
Green Bay, Wis. (Kroll’s) – Prime Rib Sandwich
Los Angeles (JR’s BBQ) – Pulled Pork Sandwich
Minneapolis (Tilia) – Fish Taco Torta
Naples, Maine (The Galley Restaurant & Pub) – Zesty Lemon Lobster Roll
Nashville, Tenn. (Mitchell’s Delicatessen) – Asian Flank Steak Sandwich
New Haven, Conn. (Book Trader Café) – A Tale of Two Turkeys
New Orleans (Domilise’s Po-Boy and Bar) – Shrimp Po Boy
New York (Katz’s Deli) – Corned Beef & Pastrami Sandwich
Pittsburgh (Primanti Brothers) – Cap & Egg Sandwich
Philadelphia (DiNic’s) – Roast Pork Sandwich
Phoenix (Los Reyes de la Torta) – Torta Del Ray
Portland, Ore. (Big Ass Sandwiches) – Big Ass Roast Beef Sandwich
Portland, Ore. (Bunk Sandwiches) – Pork Belly Cubano
Portsmouth, N.H. (Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Cafe) – Crab Grilled Cheese
Richmond, Va. (Blacksheep) – The CSS Virginia
St. Louis (Crown Candy Kitchen) – Heart-Stopping BLT
San Diego (Phil’s BBQ) – El Toro
San Francisco (Wexler’s) – “Pulled” Lamb Sandwich
Savannah, Ga. (Zunzi’s) – The Chicken Conquistador
Seattle (Salumi) – The Oxtail Sandwich
Tampa, Fla. (Aguila Sandwich Shop) – Media NocheTampa, Fla. (Skipper’s Smokehouse) – Grouper Reuben
Washington (W Hotel) – Chicken Club Sandwich
LA gets pulled pork? And Minneapolis gets fish tacos?
I’m from Baltimore, so I’ll be pulling for Faidley’s, but I wonder how the weird Lexington Market smell will factor into the “experience.”