Run to the White House
On this Election Day, I thought it appropriate to discuss a sacred institution, the White House. No, not the one in Washington D.C., the one in Atlantic City, NJ …. White House Submarine Sandwiches. I have been informed by my friend that this storied institution, founded in 1946, creates the best submarine sandwiches in the world. Such an assertion is problematic on many levels, beginning with the name. Everyone knows that a sandwich, crafted from a long piece of Italian bread, and stuffed with cold cuts, cheese, lettuce tomato, onion, oil, and hot peppers is a Hoagie, not a Submarine. Even ignoring the nomenclature for a moment, it is widely acknowledged that Philadelphia is the home of the classic sandwich in this genre. To add additional insult, they also make what they call a Cheesesteak Submarine. The utter audacity. Such effrontery requires an on the ground investigation and yesterday was the day.
We arrived right around 1, in the middle of the lunch rush, and waited few minutes outside for a booth. The little place was packed. The White House is on Mississippi Avenue, 2 blocks up from where my friend grew up. She claims to me that her father would pick up “Subs” (its even hard to type it) every Sunday after the late Mass. She further claims that the secret to the sandwich is the bread .. Atlantic City Bread, sourced from two bakeries in the same neighborhood. It’s the kind of place I love, full of locals, with waitresses who look like they had been working there since they were 13. All had the raspy voice of cigarette smokers, and the rude pleasantness of old hands. There were at least 5 men working behind a high counter, filling orders. I overheard one customer ask for French Fries and he got “no French fries here, go down the street.” They make sandwiches, that’s it. The walls are covered with pictures of celebrities who stopped in over the years – Elvis and Joe DiMaggio were over our table.
We had predetermined our order ahead of time … a half “regular”, what Philly people would call an Italian Hoagie, and a half Cheesesteak, both with everything. They came out in about 10 minutes. Don’t be misled by the “half”, each was at least a foot long and cut in half. We started with the Cheesesteak. It was, in a word, ridiculous. The bread was thin, with the doughy part removed, with the perfect amount of crunch. Fried onions done just right, not greasy at all. Heaven. We moved to the regular. Like a Philly sandwich, the roll was cut lengthwise, not through (cutting the roll all the way through is a NY sacrilege). Unlike Phillly, the meat was on the outside with the lettuce and tomato on the interior. I ate my half of the half and most of her half of the half. Outstanding.
After some good natured banter with the cashier, we walked 2 blocks to the boardwalk to work off lunch. Atlantic City is a mess … ugly existing casinos, derelict old ones, lots of people living rough. After our walk we headed back to the car, past the White House. I wanted to stop in for another. She was right, best Sandwich I ever had. If you are upset about the election results – visit the White House.
