Sub Sandwiches

[john60ri]

Yes, indeed, down here in RI, it's called a "grinder", but you don't hear that word as much as you used to. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that there's a Subway Sandwich Shop on every other corner down here. And speaking of the Holderness General Store, they have a great little spinach and feta cheese pastry. We had a little party up there in August and our guests loved 'em.

[eillac@dow]

Spuky is restricted to the Boston area!


Nah, don't buy it. I spent 20 years working in Boston and live 20 miles south of Boston. Spuky! Never heard of it! Ok...maybe I have...but certainly in Boston.

But....Jo-Jo's gets my vote. Great place to stop on the way home. 100 times better than hitting that McD place.

[Argie's Wife]

What about "hogies"? Isn't that a grinder or sub?

[Lakegeezer]

It was always a hogie where I grew up (near Philly), but sub seems to be the going term around here. That said, the Subway in M'boro, especially the italian sub, satisfy's me. Jojos is better, but you pay over 7 bucks there and only 5 at Subway. Plus - Jojos will close in October and its a long time till they reopen in April.

[Grady223]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

It was always a hogie where I grew up (near Philly), but sub seems to be the going term around here. That said, the Subway in M'boro, especially the italian sub, satisfy's me. Jojos is better, but you pay over 7 bucks there and only 5 at Subway. Plus - Jojos will close in October and its a long time till they reopen in April.

The origin of the Hoagie (a Philly term) comes from Hog Island, which is where the Philadelphia International Airport is located. Prior to the airport it was a port and warehouse area, the Italian laborers there took to making sandwiches on a long roll - they became know as Hog Island sandwiches and then shortened to Hoagies.

And that's the rest of the story....

[SIKSUKR]

I like the hoagie history. It's easy to see where the name sub came from(submarine), but what would the background of a grinder be?

[KonaChick]

Grinder= Mass all the way!

[Argie's Wife]

KC is right...

The name Grinder was named after the men who worked the ship building
yards of New Bedford, Massachusetts during WWII.

Local Italian vendors would set up shop near these ship yards and
build overstuffed sandwiches to sell to the men who ground the hot
iron pegs used in the construction of our war ships. They were known
as “The Grinders”. These oversized sandwiches made on fresh homemade
Italian Loaves came to be known as a “Grinder”.

I searched extensively and this is the only mention of the origin of
"grinder". It seems a very feasible explanation.

[upthesaukee]

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

KC is right...

The name Grinder was named after the men who worked the ship building
yards of New Bedford, Massachusetts during WWII.

Local Italian vendors would set up shop near these ship yards and
build overstuffed sandwiches to sell to the men who ground the hot
iron pegs used in the construction of our war ships. They were known
as “The Grinders”. These oversized sandwiches made on fresh homemade
Italian Loaves came to be known as a “Grinder”.

I searched extensively and this is the only mention of the origin of
"grinder". It seems a very feasible explanation.

North of Boston, at least in Middlesex County, Essex county, and close to Boston on the North side, they were Submarine sandwiches. My favorite:
Gregory's in Reading.

Oh for a large italian with everything including hots and oil. Oh my mouth is watering uncontrollably.

Oh my, see what you have done.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by john60ri

Yes, indeed, down here in RI, it's called a "grinder", but you don't hear that word as much as you used to. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that there's a Subway Sandwich Shop on every other corner down here. And speaking of the Holderness General Store, they have a great little spinach and feta cheese pastry. We had a little party up there in August and our guests loved 'em.

Grinder, in my neck of the woods, used to mean it was toasted in the oven after being made. My MIL who grew up in Boston always called them spuckies.

[jmen24]

Ginder or sub is the same for me and both get used about the same, but when is a sub not a sub, but a "CoffeePot". Tell me where that comes from.

[Pineedles]

Specifically, the Coffepot Restaurant in Bangor Maine. Very, very local name for a sub.

[jmen24]

Well done. Its funny as my wife is a Maniac from that location with family still in the area and we cannot pass by without stopping to get her one. I always seem to get into trouble by saying it is really a variation of an Italian sub, but I only say that to her, because if I said that aloud in the streets of Bangor I would probably go to jail and be called a terrorist. And I do not even think to say anything to her grandparents.

[Paugusbaby]

I am NH born and bred, and grew up calling them grinders. Not sure when they turned to "subs." Like "jeans" used to be "dungarees". . . probably a little off topic!

[garysanfran]

Spent many years living in Boston and other areas of New England...That term is new to me. Love The Forum!

The sub, hoagie, grinder, torpedo, spukie, etc. are one of the best convenience foods there is. They seem to have regional differences depending on what part of the country you are in.

I have had them in many areas and wish I had made notes. The bread is probably the biggest difference along with local veggies and dressing. AND THE HOTS! But there is a certain flavor to a good Italian made in the North End Boston tradition that is a unique flavor found no other place.

I agree with the posts, VitaBene and Phoenix, about WB...The meatball is fantastic, I was not a fan of the chicken parm, but haven't had one anywhere else.

I like Taylor's, next to Cumberland Farms, Meredith and Louis' on Rt 104.

Unfortunately, they don't keep all that well...get a bit soggy, so should be eaten right away!

[Pineedles]

You got that right about the bread! That is soooooooooo important to a good hoagie! I have called them whatever the proprietor wanted to call them. I am lucky enough to have a branch of the sub shop that sells spukies in Southington, CT called GIANT GRINDER. Original shop is in lower Hartford on Franklin Avenue. SOOO GOOD Poor Boys!!