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Submarine sandwich

language culture Maturity 11-13 Next article →

A submarine sandwich is a famous American meal. People often call it a "sub" for short.

Mmm... salami, ham, and cheeses on a hoagie roll (6879014927)
Mmm... salami, ham, and cheeses on a hoagie roll (6879014927)

It uses an elongated bread roll that is split lengthwise. Inside, you can find many different fillings. These include meats, cheeses, and fresh vegetables. People also add condiments like sauces to add flavor. You can eat these sandwiches cold or hot.

Mmm...meatball sub (5183008075)
Mmm...meatball sub (5183008075)

Some people even make a very long "party sub." This version is cut into small pieces for guests to share.

Party sub
Party sub

There are many local names for this sandwich across the United States. In New York City, people call it a hero.

Mmm...meatball sub (5183008075)
Mmm...meatball sub (5183008075)

In Philadelphia, it is commonly known as a hoagie. In New England, you might hear the word grinder. Some believe it is called a grinder because the hard crust might grind your teeth.

Pastrami grinder (2012)
Pastrami grinder (2012)

In Maine, a popular version is the Maine Italian. This sandwich uses ham, bologna, and American cheese. It often includes olives, pickles, and oil. In Boston, some people use the word spukie. This name comes from an Italian word for a long roll.

The history of the sub began in Italian-American communities. These groups lived in the northeastern United States. This includes states like New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The sandwich became popular from the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries.

Reading the Hog Island News
Reading the Hog Island News

Many local pizzerias began adding them to their menus. Soon, small restaurants called sub shops or hoagie shops opened everywhere. Today, you can find them in supermarkets and large chain restaurants. Some stores, like Wawa, even have special summer events for them.

People have many ideas about where the names came from. One theory says the name "submarine" comes from the shape of the roll. Some think it started in New London, Connecticut, near a Navy base.

Fenianram
Fenianram

Another story says an immigrant named Dominic Conti named it after a submarine. He saw the Fenian Ram submarine in a New Jersey museum in 1928. For the name "hoagie," some think it comes from workers at Hog Island. These workers made ships during World War I. They put meat and cheese between bread slices. Others think the name comes from a man named Alphonso DePalma. He called himself the "King of the Hoggies" in Philadelphia in 1928.

Submarine sandwiches are loved all over the world now. Large companies like Subway have made them very famous globally.

Italian Salumi (coppa and mortadella)
Italian Salumi (coppa and mortadella)

You can find different versions in many different countries. In Belgium, they use a baguette to make them. In South Africa, a version is called a Gatsby.

Root44 3 cropped
Root44 3 cropped

In Brazil, they are called torpedo sandwiches. Even in Australia, they are known as Conti rolls. This shows how one simple idea can travel far. It connects people through a shared love of delicious food.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Fenianram.jpg
Fenianram.jpg
File:Reading the Hog Island News.png
Reading the Hog Island News.png
File:Mmm... salami, ham, and cheeses on a hoagie roll (6879014927).jpg
Mmm... salami, ham, and cheeses on a...
File:Mmm...meatball sub (5183008075).jpg
Mmm...meatball sub (5183008075).jpg
File:Pastrami grinder (2012).jpg
Pastrami grinder (2012).jpg
File:Italian Salumi (coppa and mortadella).jpg
Italian Salumi (coppa and mortadella).jpg
File:Root44 3 cropped.jpg
Root44 3 cropped.jpg
File:Party sub.jpg
Party sub.jpg
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