Tastes Like Home! Recreating a Fast Food Favorite

They say food reminds you of home, so in between all the bangers and mash and cottage pies we've been consuming, I've been trying to incorporate our favorite meals from home into the rotation each week (ie., my Ritz Cracker Chicken challenge...)

On Monday, I got an insane craving for Jersey Mike's--a chain sub shop that we used to go probably once a week because it was next door to my apartment in Manhattan. I'm a creature of habit and always ordered the same thing: the Original Italian, Mike's Way (their version of the "special sauce," served with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, olive oil blend, red wine vinegar, and spices.) So, I decided to re-create it--it's just a sub after all... it can't be that hard.

Newsflash: it's actually not that hard--if you're in America. But I soon discovered even the most simple ingredients were hard to come by in England.

What's in the original:

What I found at the grocery store:

• Provolone doesn't exist here. Basically the only deli cheese here is Mild, Medium, and Strong English Cheddar. We decided to try the medium. 
• I gave up on prosciuttini and cappacuolo. They looked at me funny when I asked for cilantro last week so I didn't want to make an even bigger fool out of myself this time.
• Pepperoni also doesn't exist here either. It's called salami. How was I supposed to get salami and pepperoni if they were the same thing? So I got salami and chorizo, crossing my fingers it wouldn't be weird.

Step 1: Chop up red onion and lettuce

Step 2: Layer meats, cheese, lettuce and onion on sliced baguettes 

Step 3: Sprinkle salt, pepper, oregano on sandwich. Pour about 2 teaspoons each olive oil and red wine vinegar.

Step 4. Enjoy!

Turns out, the chorizo and English cheddar were actually fine to use as substitutes, despite my initial worry. Although it didn't taste 100% like the real Jersey Mike's, I think it'll be a good fill-in until we get back home and can actually have a real one. 

What's the one restaurant recipe you would miss the most if you moved abroad? I had so much fun re-creating this one, I'd love more ideas for my next attempt!

Want to be notified each day a new post goes live? Click here to subscribe to Across The Ponderings!