'Best Food Ever' Premieres on TLC

by Michael D. Ayers, Posted May 4th 2010 @ 5:30PM

Photo: TLC

Last night, TLC debuted their six-episode series "Best Food Ever," and kick started things with their ode to Sensational Sandwiches, counting down what they promised are the top 10 sandwiches across the United States. Let's be clear here: by sensational, they don't mean that your taste buds are going to jump right off your tongue. They're invoking the blockbuster movie use of the word -- extreme, massive and potentially heart-threatening. They did highlight a few that were known for their tastiness (and not their quantities of meat), but for the most part, "Best Food Ever"' was more about "Biggest Food Ever."

Here's a rundown of what they found to be the most Sensational Sandwiches, in rank order.

10. The Burger at Atlanta, Georgia's Holeman & Finch's Public House. They use housemade buns, housemade ketchup, mustard and pickles, coupled with a double-stacked patty. The kicker? The demand outweighs the supply each night. They only make 24 a day, so getting there early is essential for the "10pm Burger Call."

9. The $100 Cheese-Steak at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Barclay's Prime. Yes, you read that right. The chef uses hangar steak, which by itself isn't that shocking. But he then pairs it with lobster that's been poached in butter, Taleggio cheese and black truffles. The customers swear that it's a great combination, but it just didn't look that convincing.

8. The Bologna Sandwich at Memphis, Tennessee's Payne's BBQ. This was probably the most interesting takeaway from this first episode of 'Best Food Ever': the folks at Payne's take bologna, smoke it for three hours, then either slice it off as is, or deep fry it, depending on the customer's tastes. It's then slathered up with Payne's original BBQ sauce and served on white bread. One out of five customers attest to the power of this bologna sandwich.

7. The Lobster Roll at Boston, Massachusetts' B&G Oysters. B&G goes through 300 to 350 lobster rolls a week, which proves the popularity of this New England classic. The pan sautéed hot dog buns clinch it as a favorite.

6. The Mother-in-Law at south side Chicago's Johnny O's. A mean looking, heartburn inducing firestorm of a sandwich. It's a tom tom tamale, topped with chili, peppers, tomatoes, onions and relish, served like a hot dog.

5. The Banh Mi at New York City's Ma Peche. Citing the Banh Mi's recent rise in popularity, "Best Food Ever" argues that this Momofuku offshoot serves the best one, especially since they make a killer home made pate, the essential ingredient to this Vietnamese delicacy.

4. The Triple Decker at Edison, New Jersey's Harold's New York Deli. The most ridiculous thing highlighted on the show, this sandwich feeds 8 to 10 people and is literally an arm's length of meat stacked high. The Pastrami-corned beef-turkey sandwich sells for $50 and looks more like a novelty than a great sandwich.

3. The Chicken Cone at Austin, Texas's The Mighty Cone. The idea: take chicken, cook it well, couple with some toppings and sell it like ice cream. This cone concept was born out of the Austin City Music Festival a few years ago, when local restaurant Hudson's on the Bend was asked to provide a food stand at the concert site. They're now selling food cones year-round. You be the judge whether that's even a sandwich.

2. The Cuban Roast Sandwich at Seattle's Paseo Carribean. This take on the traditional Cuban sandwich was most enticing sandwich in the episode. It looked salivating, didn't offer death as a side effect and was actually a sandwich. There's even some mystery surrounding Paseo Carribean -- those that run the place claim they don't know the owner, even though he shows up early in the morning or on off days to make the secret sauces. They pair their Cuban with cilantro, jalapeños, caramelized onions and some great looking slow roasting pork.

1. The Sasquatch at Scottsdale, Arizona's The Lodge. For those who are into clogging things such as arteries and airways, the Sasquatch takes two grilled cheese sandwiches and makes another sandwich out of that, putting a half pound burger, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and onion strings in the middle of the two ends. One hundred and fifty-five grams of fat later, you're surely feeling sensational of some sorts.

Filed Under: Television/Film, Restaurants
Tags: best food ever, best sandwich, featured, the best sandwiches, tlc, tlc new show, tlc tv show

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Reader comments (Page 2 of 2)

5-05-2010 @10:50PM DL said... Hi Ken, What exactly is banh mi? It doesn't say what it is. Thanks.
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5-05-2010 @10:54PM Dori said... Kathy, You posted to Danielle, " God Bless Arizona "! " All the other states should follow" What happened to The USA!!!? Believe it or not, Arizona isn't the only state, theres about 49 more!
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5-05-2010 @11:16PM ace said... Primantis, Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago, loose meat sandwiches in Iowa, Pink's hot dogs in LA, hot brown in Louisville, original What-a-Burger in NC (not Texas ones), beef on weck in the northeast, mufalettas in Nawleans, Jims Steaks in Philly, those crazy egg sandwiches in St Loo, don't forget the shaved ham in Pittsburgh, and I had a heart attack burger brought to me in LA when I was at the Troubador, no clue where it came from, but damn it was good! I'd say the producers are more interested in finding overpriced niche sandwiches than finding great American sandwiches the locals enjoy.
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5-05-2010 @11:38PM TOGEE said... Greenberg's- unfortunately long gone. Located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, legend has it that people from New York City would travel the 120 miles or so just to savor the Julius and Bessie Greenberg CORNED BEEF sandwich. Served with a side of slaw and a REAL half sour kosher pickle and a creme soda. The cost: sixty five cents. Soda extra.
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5-06-2010 @12:35AM Sandy said... WOW! I was reading about sensational sandwiches, now I'm reading your post about skin colors, shaving arm pits, bathing, lazy asses, baby making, cheap aftershave, garlic chewing...bla, bla bla......Now I know longer want a sandwich..Did someone tell that you are now in charge of being better than everyone else??
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5-06-2010 @5:11AM handsome said... The bologna in Memphis is an excellent sandwich, also missed are the pulled pork in Memphis from several locations. The burger in Atlanta is very good, but not enough so to rate it one of the ten best sandwiches. As to Cuban sandwiches, you can throw a rock in almost any direction in South Florida and hit an excellent choice, why go somewhere that probably has a Cuban community you can count on two hands. In Seattle, go for the fish, especially the Halibut. I have to agree with the posts on the boards, the best Bahn mi I've had is in the Houston and Corpus Christi areas of Texas. Primanti's is overrated, just like a lot of other places on the list, more does not always make better. Beef on Weck from most anywhere in Buffalo is sorely missed on this list. As is an Italian Beef from Chicago. Not to my taste, but the Runza's are so often described as achingly missed by those from Iowa, that they should be included. Maybe if I make a Phily steak with gold on it, I can be on the list next time, I'll give a big no to that monstrosity they included from the city of brotherly love. So many other great choices there. The muffelata should have been included absolutely. Capriotti's capistrami is an excellent selection that should have been listed. As to the suggestion of Pink's, that place is absolute rubbish. Their chili, like Tommy's, another So Cal fallback is so full of flour, it is really only popular with those kids who ate paste in kindergarten. I hope these pretentious people who run these networks would stop using the most expensive and extreme for their criteria, and start using their tastebuds.
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5-06-2010 @10:57PM SilviaC said... The Cuban Roast from Paseo isn't really a classic Cubano, it's just an amazing sandwich that has people lining up outside, rain or shine. Unfortunately there is no fish sandwich that is anywhere near as popular or as good. Paseo has been voted best restaurant in Seattle on urbanspoon.com. If you're in the area, drop by and see what the fuss is about!

I agree with the votes for Primanti Bros in P-burgh. Not sure which place in New Orleans for mufalettas; I don't remember any one having such a cult following.

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5-07-2010 @3:44AM The Russian Brute said... Dear TLC,

I have been eating the mother-in-law sandwich for over 38 years, that is how long I have been visiting Johnny 'O's. Johnny 'O is a fantastic person and while you are eating at his reataurant, Johnny'O will tell you one of his life stories.

I live in San Diego and when I am in town, I shoot over to Johnny'O for a wonderful sandwich; the fries are great too. 3465 South Morgan, Chicago,Illinois.
I encourage everyone to stop by and say hello to Johnny'O and have a great time eating their special menu items.
Try to get there early during White Sox games, there will be a line....

The Rusian Brute
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5-10-2010 @9:31PM FLU said... Primanti Bros. should have been on the list, as well as The Southside Slopes sandwich from Fathead's...
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5-11-2010 @12:32AM ron said... I loved seeing the great sandwiches and would agree many deserve the top 10 list but there is a small lil joint in Chandler Az that MUST be included in this list. Actually there are a few "sammiches" that this place puts out. The bbq pulled pork with home made tidewater coleslaw is a huge messy winner. The best tastes combined that I have EVER tasted. And the gourmet hot dog toppings put this small mom n pop place over the top! BBq sauce,french fried onion and fresh grated asiago cheese...OMG. You gotta try PittsburghWilly's gourmet hot dogs and more if you ever get to Phoenix. It has amazing dogs n sammiches.....trust me!
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