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sara s moulton's avatar

Jolene,

Thanks for shouting me out on Time Travel Kitchen! I love reading your column. And, I agree. It is time to make a club sandwich.

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Thanks, Sara! Your bacon method keeps my kitchen clean! And, yes to club sandwiches! 🥪 🥓

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Ruth Stroud's avatar

Every time I read your posts, I get hungry for whatever you’re writing about, Jolene. Now it’s a club sandwich, something I haven’t tasted in probably 50 years! I do remember those toothpicks–and how it felt to bite into one despite the frilly tops! I never thought to make such a sandwich—it seemed like something you just had to buy at a roadside diner while on a summer trip. Now, after reading how to do it, I just might give it a try—with maybe a few of those Clementine Biscuits for dessert! Happy St. Patrick’s to you and yours!☘️

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Ruth, let me know if you make a club sandwich at home! 🥪They are just so delicious! And those Clementine cookies are among my favorites! Thanks, as always, for your lovely comment! 🤗 xx

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Ruth Stroud's avatar

You’re welcome, Jolene! I’ll definitely will let you know if I make the sandwich.🥪

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Definitely! 🥪🍅❤️🥓☺️

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Gabrielle's avatar

My favorite lunch order at my mother in laws senior housing restaurant (it’s actually really good!) They skip the third slice of bread which is always what I thought MADE it a club sandwich, but now I know they do have some history on their side.

The only thing lacking? Those particular frilly toothpicks!!! Fill me with nostalgia—I used to save them to play with afterwards 😂

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Jolene Handy's avatar

“They have some history on their side” 😆 love this, Gabrielle, how great that they have a good restaurant at your mother-in-laws residence. Love those frilly toothpicks, too, they’re so cheerful! 🥪

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Alison Acheson's avatar

Bacon in the oven - my brother in law suggested it once, visiting. Never looked back...

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Truly! No mess, stays flat and you can still smell it baking! 🥓

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Jenovia 🕸️'s avatar

Okay, now I have to have a club sandwich too! 😍 Your description of your sandwich made my stomach growl!

Also a fan of bacon in the oven! The frilly toothpicks filled me with such nostalgia, gah! Your newsletters always feel like a hug from a deeply loved friend. Thank you 💘

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Jenovia! What a sweet comment, hugs 🤗! Isn’t bacon in the oven so much easier? I hope you make and enjoy a club sandwich soon 🥪🥬🥓🍅 xx

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Julia Matusik's avatar

There should be a frilly toothpick emoji!

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Yes!! Where is our frilly toothpick! 😆

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Christene Barberich's avatar

Jolene, YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHAT I WANT TO EAT!! Also, anything cut into threes or fours with toothpicks inevitably reminds me of my grandmother (she did this with tuna sandwiches, which she faithfully made with Miracle Whip...and I LIVED for it). I just adore you AND this!...xxCb

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Adore you back, Christene! I’m keeping a list of all of the things we will eat 🥪and drink 🍸 when I finally go home for a visit! Love the memory of your grandmother and the tuna sandwich! xx

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Lisa Bolin 👑's avatar

My hubby is a fan if bacon in the oven but it’s hard to get good bacon here. We like the British style and smoked. No thin rashers for us!

Also: would love to know when and why serving crisps/ potato chips became a thing. It’s definitely not a thing in Australia

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Checking on the Chip history, Lisa! xx

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Pam's avatar

Your club sandwich looks better than any I have ever eaten! Is there anyone smarter and more appealing than Sara Moulton? I can see why you're friends❤️

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Jolene Handy's avatar

She’s wonderful and so talented! Thanks, Pam! xx

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Amy Cavanaugh's avatar

One of the all-time great sandwiches!

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Hi, Amy, I agree! 🥪 🍅 🥓 🥬

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Pat Willard's avatar

Oh, man, I hate you! I would so love to have a club sandwich but my stomach is acting up. As soon as I get better, I'm going to ignore caution and make one....and it's all your fault, which is why I love this story!

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Don’t hate me! 🤣🤣🤣 I hope your stomach feels better, Pat, and you’re enjoying a club sandwich soon 🥪! 🍅 🥬 🥓

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Harrison's avatar

Love this! Reminds me of the Mortadella Focaccia sandwich recipe I adapted from L.A.-based Roman cuisine restaurant Mother Wolf for easy home cooking!

check it out:

https://thesecretingredient.substack.com/p/recreating-evan-funkes-la-mortazza

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Thank you so much for this, Harrison, I love Mortadella!

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Andrea Nguyen's avatar

Frilly toothpicks cheer up the sandwich and keep it in place. They make for a win-win sandwich situation.

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Love it, Andrea: “a win-win sandwich situation” 🥪❤️

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Michael Procopio's avatar

Frilly toothpicks just make things taste better. Especially when the pointy end pierces the roof of one's mouth, releasing more flavor receptors into the oral cavity.

Club sandwiches always remind me of getting dragged along shopping with my mother. My reward for behaving was lunch at one of those white tablecloth restaurants that always seemed to inhabit the top floors of the better department stores of my childhood. I often got the club because I wanted to be a fancy boy eating a fancy sandwich.

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Michael! 😂😂😂

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Andrea Eschen's avatar

Though my days of eating club sandwiches have long past, this post brought back how much I loved them. The crunch of bacon, creamy mayo, tomato, salty turkey, and iceberg lettuce. I ate them on special occasions with my grandparents or at a tennis or beach club with my parents or our hosts. I was grateful for the toothpicks to keep the darn thing together.

Once again, your post stirred up sentimental and lovely memories. Thank you.

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Jolene Handy's avatar

“Toothpicks to keep the darn thing together” love it, Andrea! 🥪 Thanks for sharing your memories. 😊 xx

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NEMM Design's avatar

It reminds me of my childhood… 🩶 🥪

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Me too! 🥪

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