There’s something about watching football in California that makes me miss home and want to eat a hoagie. Maybe it’s my round Buddha belly I get to rub after snarfing one down? Or maybe it’s the way I moan ‘oh yea baby’ when I take my first bite? Either way a Philadelphia Hoagie is pure perfection. I had a little soiree this past weekend for the 49ers vs. NYGiants game which ended up to be a sad, rainy and overall pathetic day for the San Francisco football team. But no pity party for me and my guests. Only fresh, healthy and delicious football food – although someone did sneak in Salt & Vinegar Kettle chips (you-know-who-you-are). My instinct was to spank them but I popped a few in my mouth which appeased my feelings.
The main event went into overtime and my main event was ready to be devoured – homemade Philadelphia hoagies. Now anyone who is anyone will know that we from Philadelphia take our sandwiches VERY seriously. It all begins and ends with the bread. I literally drove around to 6 stores like a crazy person to find my bread and in the end I felt like a scorned woman whose chocolate babka had just been stolen as I kept leaving each market empty-handed. I can’t buy Amoroso bread here in San Francisco so I needed to find the next closest thing – except there isn’t anything. So in my depressive state I decided to make hoagies on three different types breads, kind of like a taste testing. My guests were very impressed by my effort, but I am a very tough critic to satisfy.
I made Italian Hoagies and on this day it consisted of layers of provolone cheese, Italian peppered ham, Genoa salami, capicola, shredded lettuce, thinly sliced tomato and red onion, a little mayo, rock salt, fresh ground pepper, oregano, olive oil, vinegar and hot peppers. All of my ingredients were fresh and organic. As I picked up my other ingredients I was super impressed with the Genoa salami made by Applegate Farms. I found this in market #3 and was automatically taken in by the words No Antiobiotics Used, Humanely Raised, No Nitrates or Nitrates added and Gluten and Casein Free. It is also low-carb and the pork is raised on a sustainable family farm. I love this stuff! Now what the hell does it taste like?
Beyond happy to report that this Philly girl loved the taste of this Genoa Salami and it was delicious in my hoagie. It was rich and flavorful, even a hint of garlic which I love. The perfect consistency in a salami for my hoagie it was thick with hints of salt, black peppercorn (but not too much) and I swear I tasted hint of vino!
The only downside was that it was a bit pricey – $6.00 for 4oz in the market where I was shopping. So I did what any good shopper would do and bitched all day about spending $25 on salami. To my guests that was probably annoying but they were being fed great food so they had to get over my bitching. As this healthy hoagie was a game winner on both the palate and our scales.
Check out other organic and natural meats from Applegate. I love their story and looking forward to trying their other products.
