Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The Schmitter. McNally's Chestnut Hill PA Sandwich. Not Bad.



So last week I was in Chestnut Hill (PA) with some people and we ate at McNally's. There's a famous sandwich there called The Schmitter. It's actually a trademarked sandwich.

The ingredients are cheese, special sauce, grilled salami, more cheese. tomato, fried onion, steak and more cheese. The roll is a Kaiser.

To tell you the truth, it was pretty good but nothing to warrant a trademark and all the hype. Great roll. Cheese was like Velveeta.

I'm sure you're asking, "What are some of Dr Zibbs's favorite sandwiches?" Here are a few regional favorites:

- Italian Style Roast Pork (from DiNics at Reading Terminal in Philly). Long hots, sharp provolone and horseradish on top. This is my favorite sandwich on earth.

- Hand Carved Hot Roast Beef Sandwich on Kaiser. Provolone and and horseradish on top.

- Pulled Pork. Cole slaw on top. Various locations.

- Hot Pastrami Sandwich . Mmmm.

- Corn Beef Special - I've only had great ones in NYC.

I've invented a few of my own sandwiches but they're really just variations on regular sandwiches. I really should add that to one of my life goals after that cure for Lupus thing that I opened my big trap about.

So what other sandwiches should I add to my must try list?

43 comments:

Avitable said...

God, I love a hot pastrami sandwich when the pastrami is still steaming and crispy and greasy, on a nice roll.

Dr Zibbs said...

Hey look everyone. It's the first comment on TBY by the famous blogger Avitable. I didn't know he even read my blog.

Avitable said...

Who is this everyone to whom you're speaking?

I do read, but I can only comment rarely!

Verdant Earl said...

Gotta go with:

"Sonny, true love is the greatest thing, in the world - except for a nice MLT - mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe
[smacks his lips] They're so perky, I love that."

Avitable said...

Ah, classic Princess Bride quote.

SkylersDad said...

I have to recommend "tits on a Ritz", try it sometime!

Amy said...

You're making me hungry Dr.Zibbs...

Amy

MJenks said...

At the Mishawaka Brewing Company in Mishawaka, IN, they used to have a Red Devil sandwich that was a spicy chicken that was un-effing-believable.

I say "used to" because, sadly, MBC is no more. *allows a single tear to fall in honor of all the lost Founder's Stout*

Miss Alex said...

Hm... this is a toughie... I'd have to say The Elvis special.

Grilled Peanut Butter and Banana with honey. It's why Elvis is so fat. It's THAT good.

diane said...

Fried egg and sausage sandwich on french bread with hot sauce. Gotta go shower now, I'm sitting here in a puddle of drool (nice visual, eh?).

Prunella Jones said...

How about a Hot Karl?

Not that I've ever had one, but my boyfriend assures me I'll like it. Sometimes I get the feeling he's not talking about sandwiches though...

Peggy said...

Italian Beef from Al’s #1 Italian Beef on Taylor Street in Chicago.

. said...

I don't like too crowded sandwich..I like the simple "mortadella from Bologna"+baguette or italian "Salame"+baguette,but my husband loves one I made once:grilled pork sausage+cooked onions+grilled aubergine+mozzarella and I put it under the grill to melt the cheese..The bread was previously rubbed with ripe tomato and olive oil..

Girl Interrupted said...

Warm roast beef with mature cheddar cheese and caramelised red onion chutney

(I think I might have dated the same guy as Prunella)

Whiskeymarie said...

For me, my favorites are: 1)A Reuben (no thousand island) from a number of places, but Skinner's by my house is my current favorite. 2) A BLT with quality bacon, no mayo and avocado on good bread. 3) A perfect grilled cheese with a cup of tomato bisque.

Crap. Now I'm hungry.

Coffeypot said...

I'm more the exotic type! I love chicken salad with extra mayo on white bread.

Anonymous said...

You must add the potato chip and mustard sandwich on white bread.

Mustard bread, lay chips on top, place other piece of bread on top of chips, the crush.

OMG it's the best ever.

peace
#2

Anonymous said...

**then crush**

#2

Boldly Serving Up Wheat Grass said...

I've always heard about some legendary sandwich down in N'Orleans. It's called a Moufaletta or something nutty like that. Not sure what's on it, but have always been intrigued.

Jennifer and Sandi said...

So the PB&J is not a good sandwich? I think so!!

And what in the hell is B.E.E talking about???? It's his March Madness brain talking I think?

HAPPY HUMP DAY!

- Jennifer

words...words...words... said...

I will second the roast pork with sharp provolone! But I will sub hot peppers for the horseradish.

I also love a good cheesesteak (duh), a chicken caprese sandwich, and the Italian hoagie from the dear departed White House in A.C.

Coolred38 said...

sista #2...damn! you beat me to it...I thought I was the only potato chip smashing sandwich lover in the entire universe...or so my kids seem to believe...sigh.

btw dont forget just a splash of hot sauce...just to add some pizzazz

Anonymous said...

never was a big fan of sandwiches growing up (cause i had to eat what my mom made me) then i started coming up with my own...

panini's overstuffed turkey, fried egg, cheese, fries, coleslaw (not the mayo type) and tomato ALL on italian bread (only in ohio)

turkey, fried egg, avocado, brie,salt & pepper and lite dijon mustard

eggsalad with bacon, lettuce and tomato

Andy - Instafather said...

Nothing from Primanti Brothers? If you're talking about regional sandwiches...

Peggy said...

Yeah, so I, um, came back for some dinner ideas...and I happen to love chips smashed on my pbj's (smooth only) and a rarer treat, pretzel sticks smashed on your pbj is fine option for those with a more discriminating palette.

mhawf said...

I absolutely LOVE the schmitter..."Cheese was like Velveeta" no way Zibbs its melted sliced American Chesse.

Other favorite sandwiches are from both from places in Stone Harbor New Jersey...

Yvette's Cafe

grilled chicken on french bread with goat chesse, arugula, and sun dried tomatoes...

The Green Cuisine
Tuna Salad Melt on a bagel
The tuna salad had sliced grapes, apples, and Carrots in it, tomato topped with a sliced tomato and melted provolone served open face.
YUM!!!
Perfect Combinations.

mhawf said...

Boldly Serving Up Wheat Grass, I have never been to New Orleans but I do like a muffaletta sandwich...
The ones I've had consist of sliced steamed zucchini and squash, carrots, and then red onion/ leeks served on grilled bread...
In the Philadelphia Area, Race Street Cafe has a good one, although they changed their bread.

I Am Who I Am said...

Yum...pastrami is my most favorite

Anonymous said...

Is this the same one they sell at the ballpark? Looks good!! I Googled it and found lots of people feel the same way you do!

There are SO many good sandwiches around here! It's hard to narrow it down. Tony Luke's roast pork w/ provi and broccoli rabe is a winner.

Did you ever have a DiCostanza/DeCostanza's sub? That's my fam, baby!

Dr Zibbs said...

Kimmie - I've never heard of them. I will research them and ad to my list.

Anonymous said...

Well, there is one left in Brookhaven. The one in Claymont closed years ago due to a lawsuit for buying dated meats. They catered a Zeneca picnic and over 200 people got salmonella. Doh!

The one in Brookhaven is better. They use prosciutto on their subs, and marinated peppers.

But the Claymont one was known for the size. They would PILE the meats on so high, you'd need an extra roll. I'm guessing they could do this bc of the deals they got on dated meats. At least that's what I heard.

Cameron said...

Hot bologna sandwich, Zibbsy....it's too die for. You get yourself a good cut of Oscar Mayer bologna, slap some bread around it and throw it in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Magnificent!!

Dr Zibbs said...

Kimmie - Brookhaven? I lived there for a few years.

Dr Zibbs said...

Oh yeah. Avitable. The "everyone" that I speak of is all of my readers. It gets them "hepped up" when I use this term.

Scope said...

I tried to comment yesterday, but all the hyperlinks killed me. Anyway, my big 3 are the Ricobene's King Sized Breaded Steak, Avanti's Gondola, & The Belgian Village Inn's VandeReuben on Raison Bread.

Read more HERE

(I know you already have, this is for "everyone")

Anonymous said...

Sorry! Boothwyn. I always get those two confused! My dad lived in Brookhaven too.

http://www.dicostanzas.com

Anonymous said...

I love the classic grilled cheese myself!!!

Andrew Rodriguez said...

IF you're ever in Orlando, Pancho's Spanish Bakery and Deli for the best Cuban Sandwiches in town north of Miami, and for the best subs, Larkin's Restaurant, try the Mayor's Meal or the Euge!

Anonymous said...

Michelle, I eat grill cheese with jelly on top. AWESOME.

I eat Fritos smashed on my PBJ sammies.

I think I need therapy.

peace
#2

Anonymous said...

based on your blog, and pedestrian taste. i thought you would like the mcrib sandwich from mcdonalds. or perhaps the double patty melt from wendys.

a pulled pork from various locations? as if every "various location" makes equal pulled pork. the best pulled pork is from bebe's in the ital market.

im not a blogger, im a commenter and my comments are very very valuable.

also, the shmitter is a 95/100 sandwich look at established bloggers reviews and you will find the same.

good day.
larry the good guy barnaby. aka barns from the yarns in eschelon.

king of nicks roast beef, got my name on the bar with my own reserved seat and trademarked sandwich. the barna-beef-buddy.

Dr Zibbs said...

Haha. Thanks for the tip Anonymous.

BigSquareKeith said...

Do open faced sandwiches count? I wanted eggs benedict, really I wanted the sauce, but had nothing other than the sauce. I made a creation of rediculous deliciousness.
Texas Toast, pre-made from the grocery store (I used the one slatherd in butter & garlic)
Then Genoa and Hard Salami's, seared right on the stove top, no pan
Then the scrambled eggs (I hate yolk) dripped on top
And the coup de gras - home made (From a packer, knorrs) Hollendais sauce.
It was insane, I took pictures it was so impressive. Tty it.

Anonymous said...

If you like hot pastrami try the capastrami sandwich from capriottis, its like a rueban on a roll!
Can't go wrong with hot pastrami russian dressing swiss cheese and cole slaw on a roll! Booom!!!