A generous cast mate and her husband were gracious enough to host our cast party last Sunday. Right after set strike the majority of our eight-person cast and guests were welcomed into their home just outside of Gordonsville, about a 20-minute jaunt from the theater. Stephanie is a Philadelphia-born and raised Italian-American and the part of the night I most looked forward to was her "mean giant hoagie."
It did not disappoint. The selection of meats were fresh, the lettuce crisp, the bread firm and crunchy on the outside yet soft and perfect inside, and there was not one sign of mayo. Just before each rehearsal one of my aspirations was to find out as much as I could about an authentic Philly cheese steak from impassioned Steph, but I had no idea how good their Italian hoagies are. Hearing the history of how a hoagie came to be (involving workers from Hog Island on their sandwich breaks) also captured my attention. I myself a Pennsylvania gal, I never knew this important tidbit on what surely is our state sandwich. How privileged we all were to experience an authentic Philly-style Italian hoagie from a Philadelphia native herself.
Since Sunday night I have not been able to think of much else. This hoagie was giant indeed, cut into generous portions. I was polite of course and just had one hoagie after filling up on scrumptious bruschetta (I have a weakness for tomatoes and crostini) and red wine the entire evening, B-U-T the delicious, crisp hoagie taste never quite went away. I savored every oily and vinegary morsel. And could have eaten about ten. Gluttony for the win.
Today I found myself a bit, and this is going to sound dramatic, but...bereft... after temporarily deactivating my Facebook at work yesterday. It was a rather abrupt decision, as per usual. I'd recently made one too many lifestyle comparisons and realized that I needed a social media respite. I looooooove Facebook. Too much. I love reading my eclectic newsfeed and catching up with old friends and keeping abreast of all the moon forecasts and hippie writing and horoscopes and especially food stuffs. But another couple babies emerged and I'm having trouble with that. Don't get me wrong...I'm thrilled for the parents. Babies are like crack to me and EVERYONE AND THEIR MOM IS HAVING THEM. I adore kids and jump up and want to rush over to them and give them hugs and candy when they come into my workplace but that's suuuuper creepy and anyway it's clearly not my time.
I had set the intention to work with kids at a Montessori-style type of school in August but then did not get accepted for the Reggio-Emilia position I'd interviewed for. It might have been an omen that I got a speeding ticket on my way to the interview. Not a good sign. In the end it was not a good fit for me in any way but I was disappointed I did not get it because it felt like another rejection to add to the pile. I know, martyr martyr. I had really wanted to work with babies, but the way the center is run is totally comical and all I could think about was all of the humor essays I could write if I worked there. PROBably not the girl for those babies. Realistically speaking, so much has to happen before kids enter my universe. At the moment my big project is trying, unsuccessfully thus far, to remove some stubborn fleas from my poodle. If that gives you any big picture of my world...
Soooooo deactivating felt like the right decision. Plus I need to focus on some sort of realistic career. Ideally one involving my English major. Despite how out of sorts I feel in the modern American workplace. Fish out of water...
Once the play wrapped I felt glum, looking for the next production to jump into, thinking acting was going to be a part of my life again. But I hardly wrote during the course of the play, and as much as I love acting, when I'm not writing I'm miserable. The applause was addicting and I felt such a rush before and after each performance but there is no feeling that comes close to just having written. It's a necessary purge. One that I haven't felt in at least 2 months. So I deactivated Facebook to develop my writing a bit more. Here's hoping it helps!
With the absence of my greatest social media addiction, all I could think about was what I would be eating and by extension, blogging about, during the month of November. I can't believe this year is almost over and, as is the case with me, I've hardly blogged at all. I'd like to post every day until Jan 1, (when I go back on the good book) but I always say stuff like that and then never get around to it. I think about ideas incessantly but usually my expectations are too high and the whole "comparison is the thief of joy" quote dances through my mind as I'm reading food blogs and eating spoonfuls of Nutella without committing to working on my own. There are so many impressive blogs out there. Sometimes I feel like I don't have anything original to add to the force. But there is something satisfying about having blogged. Even if I'm the only one reading, I like blogging because it's a way for me to keep a record of my days. Oh to be disciplined and inspired enough to blog every single day... Maybe a New Year's resolution for 2015.
This is getting way too long, so I'll say what I wanted to say in the first place. About 6 paragraphs before now. This weekend couldn't end without another Philly style Italian hoagie. So I Googled a bit this morning and found this recipe.
The original recipe sounds tasty but I tweaked it some. I hate boiled ham so standing at the deli peering into the meat case my dad suggested to use tavern ham instead. Genius. Despite telling us to not use pickles at all, I did. I didn't use mayo except by request, and liberally doused each prepared hoagie with an extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing. I made these hoagies for my family of 5 so I doubled the recipe. Spent almost $25 in cold cuts but it was worth it. I told my dad, who is very generous, that if he donated the cash I'd make dinner and then told him my ideas and you've never seen someone drive to a deli so energetically. He even called the local Harris Teeter to see how late the deli was open. Freshness matters. Now that I've made the hoagies I realize it will be part of the repertoire. It's quick and easy for one or two people but also satisfies a ravenous family. When ordering make sure to sample each piece of deli meat and cheese. Best part.
Without further ado: my version:
Classic Italian Hoagie
Yields 5
Ingredients:
5 (12 inch) Italian-style rolls
1/2 pound thinly sliced tavern ham
3 oz Boar's Head thinly sliced capocollo (this was pre-packaged bc my deli doesn't have it another way)
1/2 pound thinly sliced provolone cheese
1/2 pound thinly sliced Genoa salami
4 cups shredded Romaine lettuce
1 thinly sliced large tomato
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
8 teaspoons red wine vinegar, divided
Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning
Kosher dill slices
Directions:
Slice roll horizontally, being careful not to slice all the way through.
There are hilarious comments on the website about this. You should go read them. Man people take this seriously. Eat it like a taco!
Open up the roll and layer on ham, capocollo, provolone cheese and Genoa salami (about 3 slices each).
Be sure to drink some scrumptious, sweet hard apple cider from France if you at all have the opportunity. If you don't have the opportunity, make one! The hoagie will taste better. Trust.
After some cider goes coursing through your veins, you are ready to pile on the meat.
Top with lettuce, tomato slices and pickle, make a dressing of the red wine vinegar and olive oil and douse, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and Italian seasoning.
Devour. It doesn't take long. And yes, one is plenty.
No comments:
Post a Comment