My Brother
Posted: September 26th, 2008 | Filed under: Other Sports, Pop Culture | 82 Comments »
I’ve always been amazed at the popularity of Jared, you know, the Subway guy. I don’t mean this as a knock — I like Jared too. I’m just not sure why. I mean, yeah, it’s great that he’s lost like 800 pounds or whatever, and I appreciate the imagination it took to do it by eating lots of Subway sandwiches*, but I mean lots of people LOVE Jared beyond reason. I mean I’ve seen people literally stop and point madly at Jared as they watched him walk by, like he’s one of the Jonas Brothers or something. There he is. Jared! Oh my gosh. It’s JARED!
*OK, so I need your thoughts. I like Subway. I like Subway better than Quizno’s or Blimpie’s or Yellow Sub or Jimmy John or Jason’s Deli. I like the bread more, I like the meats more, I like the experience more. But I suspect that this is wrong, that my inner food judge is letting me down here. I suspect that liking Subway is a lot like appreciating Michael Bolton or finding Dane Cook to be hysterically funny. Is it OK to like Subway best? Does that say something bad about me? Am I missing some of the inner greatness of Quizno’s or Jimmy John’s? I will say that I think part of the thing is that some of the other places put sesame seeds on their bread and, strangely, I’m allergic to sesame**.
**I am really getting off track now, but I just want to point out that we found out last night that Holly, the Amy Ryan character in The Office, is allergic to sesame seeds as well. I don’t know that I had ever heard of anyone else being allergic to sesame — I had one doctor who told me that it is impossible to be allergic to sesame, apparently not having seen me almost die after eating two bites of a falafel. Amy Ryan — so awesome.
OK, back to Jared … I’m thinking that if people are so in love with this guy, then the nation should start falling in love with my brother Tony. First off, he’s my brother, I mean, you know he has to be incredibly cool. Second, he works in the restaurant business, he’s run kitchens and restaurants for years. Third, he’s much funnier than Jared. Four, he has lost 171 pounds.
Yeah, that’s right, he has lost 171 pounds.
It’s absolutely incredible, that’s all. I have watched my brother go through numerous stages in his life — times when he was trying to get in shape, times when he sort of gave up, times when he thought (and haven’t we all been here?) that there was really no point because a little weight loss wouldn’t matter, wouldn’t even be noticeable, so why bother? Then, one day, he simply determined that he would change his life — no grand pronouncements, no promises, heck he didn’t even tell any of us. He just reworked, redesigned and reordered his life. And he transformed himself.
Tony has started his own blog to talk about his weight loss and maybe inspire others to lose a few pounds themselves. He’s a bit self-conscious about his writing — and he shouldn’t be — so if you have a moment go on over there and give him some encouragement. He even inspired me, I’m down 14 pounds myself. I doubt that I’ll start a blog about it, though.
Yes, that’s really Tony. I have no idea who the 7-foot woman standing next to him. Maybe Tony is on his knees … this is a very weird picture.
And here’s Tony now, in his Superman pose. “You can fire those bullets all you want, silly bank robber, I am bullet proof, ha ha ha. HEY, don’t throw that gun at me.”
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Good luck tony!
Holy christ. To put that in perspective, you’re brother lost a whole person. Great for him. That before picture is really freaky though.
Yes, your inner food judge *is* letting you down. Not because those other places are great (although the original Blimpie in Hoboken is absolutely so much better than its chain descendants, truly fine sandwiches there), but because Subway sucks. The food is bland, sterile, and character-less.
But I don’t think that says something horrible about you. It’s not like appreciating Michael Bolton. More like appreciating The Carpenters. It’s a pretty small sin in the grand scheme of things.
I, too, prefer Subway but dislike Michael Bolton and Dane Cook. I think this is because I don’t particularly care for Jimmy John’s bread, and I just find Quizno’s to be overrated on the whole. Blimpie isn’t bad, but it’s not all that good, either. The others, I’m not familiar with.
That said, I’d generally prefer a sandwich at most independent delis, pizza joints, or diners, to any of those chains. But I do occasionally enjoy Subway.
Quizno’s is gross because the meat tastes like plastic.
Great news for your brother, and I’m sure it’s related to last night’s Office episode; but……
I’m dying for your response to the season premiere!
I don’t want to spoil for those who DVR or Tivo’d it, but:
Jim and Pam!!?
Kelly? And Michael’s hug haha
Is that really Ryan? What happens now?
Counting Crows! What an idiot!
Please, no more shots of Dwight’s gut
Look at those biceps– an underrated character
The retard (sorry)
Subway is a classic. It’s part of America. It’s OK to like subway.
I’m allergic too sesame seeds, too. I think it’s a lot more common than you’d believe, but it’s not a common topic of conversation.
Independent deli joints are still the best sandwich places around. Subway fills the bill for quick cheap lunch food but for quality, the local deli is usually tops. In Los Angeles no one can beat a Mario’s in Glendale.
Someday we should do a million bald man march somewhere. We all look the same, I understand why everyone wore hats in the early 20th century, what I don’t understand is why they stopped.
I once worked at a Subway and I would still eat there. I once worked at Hardee’s–the Midwest analog to Carl’s Jr.–and I would not eat there.
Take that for what it’s worth–like war, absolutely nothing.
Subway may be worse than Bolton or Cook because they are easily avoidable. When was the last time a Bolton song playing where you couldn’t leave or change it. For me it may have been a middle school dance or something along those lines. I also have no concept of how bad Dane Cook is because I have never seen any of his work. (A point of honor at this time) It seems that there is a Subway on every corner and they are all bad. There is no flavor and they cannot understand simple directions at any of them. I said I wanted a little mayo not enough to clog an artery. Their toaster is a joke as well as it seems to just make the bread stale and nothing else.
Potbellys is pretty good too, but $4 12 inch subs on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at Subway is hard to beat.
Joe, you live in KC. There are dozens of Mr. Goodcents around. Those are vastly better than Subway.
Subway is no worse than other chains like Quiznos, and possibly better. And Dane Cook actually used to be hysterically funny.
Also, please: No more polls where I have to choose between the Yankees and Duke. That was brutal.
Kudos to your brother, that’s an amazing accomplishment.
When I lived in Atlanta I always liked Publix (Yes, the grocery store chain) subs. Crazy I know. My wife and I used to pack a cooler with Publix subs and drinks when we went to the Braves games.
When I’m in the south, I still make point of getting a Publix Sub.
Subway is terrible. Support your local sub shop or deli, you’ll get better service and better meats/bread. Plus it’ll help out your local economy.
The only thing that I know about Subway is that I went to college with a guy who was completely and totally obsessed with running a Subway. He spend hours telling us about a “top secret” location in Connecticut where he was going to open his store after college and how he was going to be a millionaire. He endlessly spoke about the patented U-gouge method that Subway has of splitting open their roles. He’d regale us with stories about customers and how it was hard to be a Subway assistant manager. Most of his business research papers were on Subway.
When he got out of college he and a co-worker pooled their money together and opened two stores (one in the top secret location). About a year later his partner embezzled a butt-load of cash and he was left broke. He has since become an owner and manager of–and I’m not making this up–a Blimpies.
first of all, congrats to your brother who eschewed the “easy” fix of gastric bypass and decided to lose weight the right way, diet and exercise.
Losing weight isn’t that difficult. You simply have to burn more calories than you intake. There are no quick fixes or magic pills.
Now, about Subway…here in the Pacific NW we have very few real delis or real pizzerias. We have been overloaded with chain stores. Given the choices between fried fast food and really bad sandwich shops…Subway is probably the lesser of a bunch of evils mostly because the bread is good.
I know I truly enjoy those 2 weeks a year when I’m on the east coast and can pull off into almost any town, find a local deli or a house of pizza and get really good subs, grinders and pizzas.
Subway is perfectly fine, but Quizno’s…..boy, I had two (TWO!) chicken carbonara subs last night and my god, it was like heaven just set up shop on my tongue.
Food snobs make me crazy. Earth to food snobs – IT’S FAST FOOD. If you’re hungry and you want something – FAST – don’t be friggin picky.
That said, good for Tony. And being too lazy to actually go over to his site, I’m curious to know why he refers to himself as the “anti-Jared”
I hate to judge (really), but I’m not sure it’s okay to list Subway or Mr. Goodcents as your favorite sandwich shop. Or Blimpie’s for that matter. It might be truly be your opinion, and therefore perfectly reasonable, but I will just say that Yello/Planet Sub and Jimmy John’s seem to be much more unique in taste, atmosphere, and friendliness of help (at least in my experience around KC)… So, to each his own taste, I guess, but Yello Sub and Jimmy John’s are much cooler! And let’s face it, nobody wants to be spotted at an un-hip sandwich shop.
Also, if you are listing Jason’s deli (they of the 2000 item menu), you are obligated to consider Panera, I think, which blows them all away except Yello Sub in my opinion.
On a slightly related note, maybe its just me, but it really creeps me out at Goodcents that I have to see that giant cube of processed meat as its sliced for the sandwich. If I wouldn’t even buy a pound of the stuff for 99 cents at the grocery store, I don’t want it on my $5 sandwich!
I feel better now.
I would really appreciate it if the blogger and all bloggees of this site would refrain from giving anything away from episodes from the office for at least 24 hours. I recorded it last night, but haven’t watched it yet to due some plans (I mean who has a b-day on the same Thursday as the Office season premiere? It’s just tacky)
Thanks.
P.S. I like Subway, too, and always felt insecure about it. Thanks everyone for helping me feel good again about my sandwich choices. Spicy Italian, here I come!!!
Man, I was just thinking about how much I hate Subway when a co-worker who was out getting lunch called and said she was picking up Subway. If you are going to bend reality to your columns, Joe, talk about lobster or hookers or something.
Congrats to your brother Joe. That’s fantastic!
Maybe I’m going to the wrong ones, but I’ve found Subway subs to be generally bland at best and flavorless at worst. Or maybe I just don’t like Jared.
I’d go:
Jason’s Deli > Firehouse>Schlotzsky’s>Quizno’s>Blimpie>Subway
Jimmy John’s loses points for proclaiming themselves to have the ‘best sandwiches on earth’. Talk about setting yourself up for disappointment.
Subway’s fine. There was one real close to where I used to work. I’d eat the meatball sandwiches, but no more. Strictly turkey now.
I bookmarked Tony’s blog. And I like his handle. I guess 1986 was his version of 1980 as far as the playoffs went for his football team.
There’s a Subway next to the University that I wish I could claim as a dependent.
Subway is just nasty, and here’s why it’s cheap – they take a couple of pieces of “meat”, fold them in half, place them side by side and call it a sandwich. Not even close.
Although….back in college I had a friend who worked at and often closed a Subway. Apparently they only inventoried the bread at the time (this is over 15 years ago), so we’d get the munchies, buy a roll for 50 cents, show up just before he locked up, and go to town. Good times!
1) Planet Sub
2) Da Bronx (I suppose technically not deli…but awesome)
3) Deli sandwiches are another part of normal life lost entirely when you get diagnosed with Celiac Disease…so this is all making me sad. Boneill…I agree with the lobster/hooker suggestion…wait, I live in KC and I’m married so, really, both of those are out, too. I mean, you CAN get lobster here, but it is gonna be a little older than you’d hope for. (Go ahead…imagine your own finishing punchline…)
I too enjoy ‘The Way’, aka Subway, aka Riley Escobar, and I too put too much thought into why it has a not-so-great reputation:
Guess: It used to stink. It really did. The stores were gross and the food was gross. If you haven’t eaten there in 5 years, your last memory is of a crappy sub.
But a few years ago Subway decided to remodel their stores, add a few new breads, and start offering toasted subs. And what a world of difference toasting a sub makes! Now I wholeheartedly enjoy a nice turkey on Italian Herbs & Cheese w/ jalapenos. And a nice fountain coke.
And if you’d asked me what I thought of Subway 5 years ago, I would have blanched and said it sucked.
As for your concern that you may be eating the Michael Bolton of the sub world, well, remind yourself that Michael Bolton charges a lot less for his concerts than Janet Jackson, and neither one is really that great, right? Now, Subway doesn’t cost any less than Quiznos, so this may not allay your primary concern, but what I tell myself is that at least I get the same value out of the Way as a lot of people can only get from a steak, and some unfortunate souls find only at Panera.
Ya know what you’re gonna get at Subway.
And it’s okay.
I kinda like the Quizno’s toasted angle and don’t really trust that thing the Subway people but a sandwich in to get it hot.
Thing is, I think my New Year’s resolution next year will be to refuse to eat at a chain or franchise or any place but the original outlet*
* That’s the Gates & Sons exception; It also applies to Garrozo’s and Winsteads. Hey, a guy’s gotta eat!
I seek out original places and especially like Mom & Pop places. Where Mom waits tables and Pop’s back in the kitchen cooking Mom’s recipes.
In the 70s, it was Frasco’s in Pittsburg, Kansas. They didn’t have a liquor license but if Mama Frasco liked you she’d serve you “cold coffee,” which was their homemade wine served in a coffee cup.
She and her husband used to argue that the sauces had too much — or not enough — oregano or whatever. And she made all the pasta next door in her own kitchen and brought it to the restaurant in her apron.
Your brother’s transformation is something to admire, Joe. But I never trusted a skinny cook. I hope he hasn’t ruined his restaurant career.
When I order steak, I no longer try to explain to the server how I want it. I order a steak the way the steak-cooker likes it. S/he knows the meat, the grill, and (I hope) how to make it taste good.
I’ve never been burned using that approach in a steak house.
I always order anchovies on pizza. If the high-school girl behind the counter scrunches up her nose, I’m not offended. At least she has an opinion. If I get, “What are anchovies, I try to find a different pizza place.”
I look for menudo on the menu of a new Mexican place. If it’s on the menu, it’s gonna be great food. Except for the menudo. The stuff is always horrible and smells like dirty sweat socks. But — especially if it’s available only on Sunday mornings — menudo on the menu means native Mexicans eat there regularly. Menudo is the common folk remedy for a hangover. If you’ve ever needed a remedy for a hangover, you know where to go.
If menudo is available, order the chilis rellenos. The two dishes have nothing in common, but the correlation has always worked for me.
Never trust a Greek restaurant where the server doesn’t talk too much.
At a sushi place, tell ‘em you want whatever the chef thinks will please you. The Japanese love that.
There used to be a place in Yates Center, Kansas — Frannie’s — that served a dollar lunch. No this was up until a couple of years ago.
Lunch was a dollar and a slice of pie was a dollar and you got your drink for free. The cash register was open and you paid on the honor system (complete with a chart to help you figure your own sales tax).
It was all a sneaky gimmick. The lunches were okay. A taco salad one day, a crock pot goop another day, meatloaf the next day with a scoop of canned corn on the side. But Frannie’s pies — she sometimes had 14 varieties available each day — were addictive like crack. What Frannie cooked up in her kitchen — all the usuals, cherry, apple, pecan… and rhubarb and gooseberry and pawpaw (just try to resist saying “Pawpaw Pie” when it’s staring you in the face) and creams and mirrangs — should have been on the FDA’s list of category 1 substances.
Go Mom & Pop.
Go non-chain, non-franchise.
Explore places that don’t have a marketing budget.
At its worst, it’s not awful; just ordinary.
But sometimes… wow.
Also, not that anyone ’should’ thumb their nose at others for liking an inferior product, but liking Bolton or continuing to like Dane Cook is a sign of intellectual lesserdom, which, if you’re going to rank these things, is more damaging to society than having undiscerning taste buds.
Quiznos is rank awful. The meat is prison/spam quality and they put that nasty oily cream sauce on EVERYTHING. You have to go out of your way to get them to leave it off.
Doesn’t KC still have Mr. Goodscents? So tasty. I’d put Subway 2nd as far as chains (not counting dBronx which rules all of course).
Also how could your poll not have Denver Broncos or USC football? Come on Joe.
Another thing about Subway – I always stick to their cold cut sandwiches (usually the Subway club), and never get them toasted. For some reason, the idea of toasting a Subway sub doesn’t appeal to me. And anyone who walks into a Subway and orders a meatball sub or a Philly cheesesteak is just asking for it.
On the other hand, when fresh, their cookies are actually very good.
Mr. Goodcents
Never disappoints and is MUCH better than Subway.
I’m going to have to slightly disagree with Monkeyhawk’s statement about menudo. I do agree that Mexican restaurants with menudo are typically worth eating at. However, I would suggest giving the menudo a try. It is a delicious tripe stew. I know that not everyone is up for eating tripe, but I don’t find it to smell of sweat socks. The broth is just phenomenal, it is salty, fatty, with some spices thrown in to keep it interesting. And it does indeed do wonders for a hangover.
Hey Joe–You probably know this already, but in case you don’t, falafel generally has no sesame in it. It’s usually the sauce that contains tahini, which is ground up sesame. So you can still enjoy the great taste of falafel–only with a different sauce.
Two words – Firehouse Subs! Or should that be three words? Whatever, it’s awesome.
The answer to your question, Joe, is “No, there’s nothing bad about you for liking Subway.” It’s not my favorite, but tastes vary. Be proud of yours.
Congratulations to your brother. As someone who has battled the pounds for a while (and has lost 15 pounds in recent weeks. Whoohoo!), I’m in awe of anyone who has the willpower to drop that much weight. Kudos.
I dunno.
I’m used to going to real delicatessens where the guy behind the counter just seems to be slicing off more meat than you expect.
When the pimply-faced kid at Subway pulls out the “serving-proportionate pre-weighed” lunch meat, it’s just not the same
I don’t go to Subway unless it’s late at night in a small town and the choice is Subway or McDonald’s. I don’t go to McDonald’s unless the choice is McDonald’s or starvation. (Except for the coffee in the morning. sometimes)
I like places where you can go in and order a cheeseburger with grilled onions at 5 in the morning and they don’t look at you like you’re disrupting the corporate structure.
Or where you can go in at four in the afternoon and get bacon and eggs and the bacon isn’t too crisp and the hash-browns are brown, not tan.
Phil Gurnee — Men stopped wearing hats (in this country, anyway) after JFK gave his Inaugural Address on a very cold January day in DC without one. At least, that’s the folklore. My extremely unscientific observations would confirm that fact — for instance, look at the film/video of the same event over a period of time (say, the World Series), and you will see that starting in the early 60s, the percentage of hat-wearing men drops rather steadily.
Much the same as the folklore that tells us that sales of men’s undershirts declined precipitously in 1934 after the release of “It Happened One Night”, wherein Clark Gable undresses for bed, revealing (gasp!) nothing under his shirt.
Don’t have time to research these on the intertubes, but I kinda like the stories, so I’ve always accepted them as the truth.
There should be an OPS+ when it comes to weight loss. That way we can put Jared’s weight loss into perspective with Tony’s since he doesn’t have to work in a kitchen, surrounded by food, every single day of his life. That way the comparisons come easier:
Weight loss (Weight loss)+
Jared Subway 285 lbs 215 lbs
Tony Posnanski 210 lbs 235 lbs
Maybe putting his accomplishments into perspective would score him a gig with Saladworks or something.
First I find out that Joe reads Jeffrey Flanagan, and now I find out that Joe likes Subway more than Yello Sub. I’m quite disturbed by these developments.
Carpe Diem, Tony!!
Subway is like your grandmother’s tuna noodle casterole that everybody’s grandmother makes, but she puts like crumpled up guys potato chips on top instead of Ruffle’s, and while it’s still the same Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup, 99 cent egg noodle, and Chicken of the Sea in Conola Oil mixed and put in the oven for 35 minutes at 350, the Guys potato chips put it over the top, and besides you’ve been eating it since you were like three years-old, and your mom still makes it the same way and your grandmother gave it a name like “Lorrie’s Casterole” and so it’s like your families and nobody elses so when your buddy Gary makes his “Grammy Hall’s Tuna Goulash” it tastes like crap, but it’s probably because he used Ruffle’s.
Yeah.
Subway’s like that.
Subway isn’t bad, but if you’re ever in Montana, be sure to hit up a Pickle Barrel. Just make sure you only order a half-sized sandwich, cause the whole is about a foot and a half long and 5 inches packed with ingredient. Great sandwiches, can’t recommend it highly enough.
Subway isn’t great, I don’t think. But the thing about Subway is the point was never really to be great. They’ve long made a big deal about the health issue, and it always kills me that Quizno’s makes ads about how lousy Subway tastes. I mean, this may be true, but most Subway sandwiches also have half the fat of Quizno’s (at least) and are cheaper. So what, really, is the debate? It’s just a matter of your priorities.
But loving Subway would be a little strange, I think.
Jimmy johns sucks, but liking subway more than yellow sub is just strange.
Congratulation to your brother! And, since I’m probably the only female responding, tell him he’s hot. ;D
As for Subway, whatever you like is what you like. There are no right or wrongs in opinions, other than mine is always right.
I haven’t eaten fast food for over 25 years, so the only thing I like that you mentioned is falafel.
Subway’s fine. Sure, an independent local deli would be better, but it’s rarely a direct either/or option.
Blimpie’s bread always tastes to me like it’s made with sawdust.
I’d probably like Subway better if I found any with better “sandwich artists”. I say this as a former multi-year employee.
And much congratulations to your brother Tony
Subway, Quiznos, Jimmy John’s, etc. are all inferior to going to the grocery, buying the food, and making your own Dagwood.
Ah, but let’s say you’re traveling about, eh? I suggest a grinder at a pizza/Italian place.
Have a Subway cheesesteak. Compare it to a Quizno’s cheesesteak. If you like the Subway one better…well…you should probably not eat subs anymore.
I can’t handle reading all of these comments defending subway. Subway sucks. Jared sucks. Yes, its cool he lost a lot of weight, that doesnt make him any less bland or boring than Subway itself. Maybe he’s the perfect spokesman for them then…
Potbellys >> Blimpie > Subway >> Quiznos imho.
I’d probaby rather have Potbelly’s than a random delly. I love Potbellys.
Also, kudos to Tony. Way to go man, f-ing awesome.
I loathe Subway. The Subways, at least in this area, are disgusting and no one knows what is going on. Togo’s is decent. Quizno’s is only marginally better as far as ingredients go, but I’m a sucker for anything toasted. Melted cheese on a hot sandwich is 173 times better than a cold sandwich. So generally I do the Quizno’s thing, if I’m going to do a chain. The hole-in-the-wall sandwich places are always better, and usually only a buck more or so than a Subway sandwich.
Also, to someone up above who worked at Hardee’s: I worked at Carl’s Jr. and I eat there more than any other fast food place. The Western Bacon Cheeseburger is the greatest thing invented by mankind since the cinammon roll.
This sort of thing has been going on for centuries, 20-odd at least —
“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.”
The guy who gave us that gem, Luke, also had a bit to say about a wastrel who later found fame as the Prodigal Son.
I don’t get it. Is the guy who used to be a wife-beater and now buys his missus flowers every day a better husband than the fella who has been a steady provider from day one?
No wonder I gave Christianity away at age eight.
“I can’t handle reading all of these comments defending subway. Subway sucks. Jared sucks.”
-Thank you, Dan.
Joe, I have to confess that your preference for Subway is abnormally disturbing to me. Who kidnapped Joe and took over his blog?
I am equally dumbfounded by your revelation that Jared seems to be incredibly popular. If I noticed Jared at an event/location, I too would point him out to my companion(s). I would proceed to make humorous, derisive comments (either to Jared, or about him-depending on the situation) and laugh wildly with shameless glee. I judge Jared’s fame to be completely inexplicable and on par with that of Paris Hilton. He annoys me. His commercials annoy me. The fact that Subway is a registered trademark of Doctor’s Associates Inc. annoys me.
I think they’ re all generally mediocre. Not great, not awful. I’d add Port of Subs, a local Nevada chain to that list (what in the world is a Yello Sub). Their hook is that you watch them actually slice the meat for you individually ot make your sandwich. Not bad, but at the end of the day, the quality of the cold cuts at all these places is never great. Safeway/Vons (depending on your location) actually makes terrific sandwiches at their deli counter. Growing up in NY, I got spoiled in that there was a great local deli in every neighborhood in the suburbs and on almost every corner in Manhattan. The funny thing is, most of these chain places are not delis, they are sandwich shops. Even Jason’s isn’t really a deli, although they do make great soup…
I’ve never even considered seeing a Michale Bolton concert, and the reason he charges less than Janet Jackson is because the world wok up and realized he sucks. That said, he’ll probably get a headliner gig in Vegas in about 2015 or so, since Manilow now has one. I actually saw Dane Cook 2 years ago. I had heard he was the “hot” new comedian and never seen anything of his. Got free tickets through a connection, and he just SUCKED. I didn’t laugh out loud once — a few minor chuckles. Surprisingly though, all three of the warm up guys that were part of his Tourgasm show were really funny, and certainly worth my price of admission — I just should have left prior to Dane Cook coming on stage…
Steve,
Have to agree about the Pickel Barrel. Use to eat at the one in Missoula. Most excellent.
Ranking:
Most independents
Publix (I cannot believe whoever mentioned them. I thought I was a weirdo who preferred their deli meat subs better than the alternatives in Atlanta).
Potbelly.
Quizno’s (just because its toasted well/correctly)
Jimmy John’s
For any place, it does make a huge difference on the personnel at the location. I’m not exactly sure why, but an even distribution of meats/chesses/toppings makes a big difference for me. I have two Subway’s close to me and one is eatable and one is absolutely not.
I hate Jared. If I were to see Jared on the street, I would not point and stare. But I would have to restrain myself from punching him in the face.
But if you say I should love your brother, then I love your brother.
There’s nothing wrong with liking Subway. I don’t understand the people who are so anti-Subway. Sure, I wouldn’t go to Subway if I wanted a gourmet deli sandwich, but sometimes nothing is better than a Subway sandwich.
I predict the next poll will be “best fast-food chains” …
I’m thinking Arby’s.
I personally prefer Quiznos, but damn do (really, did. i don’t eat at chains much anymore) I eat more Subway. You can’t beat the prices. When I lived in College Park, MD (up until a couple months ago) the local subway had a Tuesday and Thursday special of any non-bacon sub for like 4 bucks. I used to go pretty much every tuesday and thursday.
Anyone want to re-take the NL Cy Young poll?
Santana today: 9 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 9 K
I eat at Subway perhaps once every two months and have done so since before Jarrod lost weight. I eat a plain veggie footlong on Wheat with a tiny bit of mayo AND a tiny bit of mustard. It’s great if they put enough jalapenos on it. I hope they never change.
The only really good fast food is the fish and chips at Long John Silver’s, but it’s only REALLY good when the place is really busy and the food is really hot. Between the waiting and the price, I seldom eat there any more.
Your taste buds are lying to you. Subway es malo. I’m not a Quizno’s advocate and would actually probably eat Subway before Blimpie’s, but Subway is a place that I haven’t been able to bring myself to eat at in about four years (and that was on a road trip). There are other options for subs, many local or regional (Cousins, Milio’s, Big Mike’s (who may have been bought out by Milio’s entirely) Thundercloud) that I’ve lived around, and I’d never had to make myself stoop to eating Subway.
Dane Cook is not a funny man.
Tony Great! weigt loss is a very odd subject for me and most people quietky hate me for it. I am 48 yrs old and recently started seeing a doctor, I have 3 compressed discs in my back and had lived at least 6 years without any ins. or treatment. I became a very unhappy,miserable and unliveable person to be around. In March of 08 my ins. kicked in(pre-excisting blah blah time period up,when your 48 everything is pre-excisting) once there I was diagnosed with high blood pressure(shocking) severe back problems and to my surprise diabetis.Well the pain medication and HBP medicine dropped those numbers immediatly.The diabetis was a little different, I was told I needed to change my diet(who would of thought) my first visit I weighed 209, all I did was stop eating bread and potatos and have (without even thinking about it) lost over 30lbs. I don’t know if I have stumbled on something or am just lucky but for anyone out there no matter how big my advice is just start with something small and go from there.I do not doubt for a second that I am a very lucky man but I swear all I did was just eat the meat & cheese w/out the bread,no potatos and no OD’ing on a huge bowl of icecream with fudge,caramel,etc.Maybe I am lucky and maybe I found something either way this wasn’t painful at al and I weigh 173 now.Next up quit smoking but please hear me I swear I didn’t even try and it was gone.Everyones body is different but a lot of us blow up from breads and starches(which I love beyond belief) but when your hungry at night just hit the cheese and meat and leave out the sandwich part and you will be surprised.Good Luck and Godspeed.
Wow. Fantastic for your brother.
But yes, you’re missing out. Maybe its a KU thing, but Yellow Sub (or Planet Sub) – their signature sandwhich – is the best damn sandwhich in the lower 48.
Subway is fine. When nobody is running any specials on anything, I go there. I like cucumbers (which nobody else has) and lettuce and tomato and sprouts, get some decent fiber into my sandwiches when I’m eating healthy (usually the teriyaki chicken). When both are running specials, as they are right now, I go to Quizno’s, because their BBQ sauce has more tang than Subway on the roast beef and cheddar. But then again Danny’s Pizza Factory is running $5 for any mini-pizza all month, and after much experimentation, thick crust, extra cheese, pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, and pineapple is a fine if somewhat greasy pizza, and two meals for $5 is too good a bargain to pass up, usually extended with a salad or some such.
I have not yet been to Mario’s in Glendale, Phil Gurnee. But IMO the best deli in Los Angeles (if price is no object) is Junior’s in West LA, just two miles south of UCLA straight down Westwood Blvd. If price is a factor, then I pick Brent’s original location in Northridge. Many television shows (24, for one) have featured Brent’s. Plus I go near both Brent’s frequently, West LA infrequently. The Westlake Village location still hasn’t matched the original; I wonder if their suppliers are the same, or maybe the water isn’t as good. Actually, I *know* the water isn’t as good; the San Fernando Valley and West Los Angeles get Owens River water, which is some of the best tasting big city tap water in the world. The rest of L.A. city, and indeed most of the area, gets Colorado River water, which isn’t nearly as good. Cook with worse water, get worse food. The other big delis in Los Angeles don’t compare. But we’re mostly comparing 8.5’s to 9.5’s on a scale of one to ten. My ten remains the Carnegie Deli in New York, and boy did I enjoy those few years they had a branch out here in Beverly Hills.
And I have to mention, off topic but clearly sports, that Greg Maddux did his best to get consideration for the fourth starting pitching spot on the Dodgers in the post season, assuming they last to game four. Six innings, 47 pitches, 38 strikes, 9 balls, one run. I think Maddux is at a stage of his career where he benefits from long rest (he had an extra three days off for root canal surgery). The Dodgers scored in the 7th after a pinch hitter to make him the pitcher of record, Billingley threw two scoreless innings in a tuneup for the playoffs, and Saito seems to have demonstrated a full return to health with a 1-2-3 save, hitting 93 on the radar gun, one strikeout. So the Dodgers are peaking at the right time. And I’m really glad that the win pushes Maddux past Rogesterone Clemens on the all time wins list. Yes, I wrote this paragraph just to perpetrate that pun. I’m a naughty naughty boy.
I eat Subway on occasion, but Planet/Yello Sub is vastly superior. I don’t know if it’s still around, but W.G. Grinders in Columbia MO was great during my college days.
I have found a few places with better bread, a slightly better sandwich. But Subway is like half the price of all the others and isn’t it not quite American to pay more needlessly? Plus their ubiquity is handy (just wanted to see if I could do that ubi-word without spellchecker).
Hasn’t anyone ever eaten at/tried/even HEARD of D’Angelo’s? They are here in the east coast, and I think even have a Big Papi signature sandwich at their Boston locations. It’s definitely different than Subway, they have chicken salad to die for, they make your sub to your size (they have three sizes, the large is as long as a 7 year old’s leg), and have much more in the way of unique fixin’s than most places (want sauteed mushrooms on your sandwich, cooked right in front of you on the grill? You got it!)
That said, I have no idea why anyone can call Subway bland, you can make your own sandwich in the image of your choice, providing your local sandwich artist has a decent mastery of English, which few do here in Connecticut. And if you’re not monetarily challenged, I always suggest ordering your Subway double meat and double cheese–costs a few bucks more, but often times with a foot long, you get full off the first half, and have a second half for a snack/meal or work the next day).
Michael Bolton and Subway are also BOTH from the same local area here in Connecticut—I apologize on behalf of my state for any who are upset about that.
For me, both Quizno’s and Planet/Yello Sub are far superior to Subway. I am still mourning the loss of the Yello Sub within walking distance of the KU campus here in Lawrence.
On the other hand, Potbelly (only in Chicago and Minneapolis, as far as I know) is even better. Gotta get a Wreck with hot peppers.
My kids love Subway. It’s their sub of choice for “cold” subs. (pixisubs??) However, my wife refuses to eat there (or Quiznos, etc). She will insist we drive around until we find a pizza shop and get her a sub there. She mumbles something about being true to her Italian heritage or something…
Personally, I liked Army chow. Therefore, I will eat almost anything. Price and convnience (and family harmony) come first.
Subway is truly the most ubiquitous food chain in America. If there isn’t a website about all the odd places you can find one, then there should be. I seen scores of them that amaze me they ever have any customers. The overhead must be really low.
I prefer Jimmy John’s the most and would rank Quizno’s above Subway, though Quizno’s seems pricey to me and many in the Austin area have closed without notice.
I second Oddibe… I prefer Jimmy John’s by a wide margin (though the sprouts are unpalatable). However, I agree with Joe and many others that the non-Subway chains like Quizno’s, Blimpie’s, etc. are gross.
I do my best to be a loving person, but for reasons I don’t entirely understand, I cannot stand Jared.
Joe- what the hell…? I feel like one of Joe’s best friends from college, who has shared story after story, beers, late nights going nowhere. I feel like we were friends- good friends even. And now, all of a sudden, you have a brother? How many stories have I heard (ok- read) and there was never any mention of Tony. Is he adopted? Is he anywhere close to your age? While you were soaking up Americana, and collecting baseball cards and admiring Duane Kiuper, was he playing with Barbies or what the hell was going on? What do you mean you have a brother- where did he come from?
Here in LI-NY, Subway is worthwhile only for the bread, when still warm (the meat looks & tastes like an artist’s satiric representation of meat), so the vegetable sub is very good then. Although the jardiniera-jalapenyo brine is only fit for soaking Nolan Ryan’s blisters, & so leaving that whole briny stuff off is also best.
We kidney stone sufferers also can’t eat sesame safely, & so pfui on the whole “sesame chic” way of doing things. Especially when one of your favorite comestibles is cold noodles w/sesame paste.
But I’m whining like a dog now.
I have never seen a guy get so disgustingly rich because he used to be a fat slob. It wasn’t that Subway caused Jared to lose all that weight, it was Jared’s doctor/father who told him that if he didn’t stop stuffing his fat face full of 10,000 calories a day he’d keel over dead from a coronary. Fear of death is what caused Jared to lose weight.
When’s the last time you saw a fat slob inside a Subway ordering a 6″ lite turkey sandwich on wheat, hold the mayo, because Jared motivated him to lose weight? Answer: Never.
Jimmy Johns wins. If only they toasted their sandwiches…
Congrats to Tony. And he doesn’t need mass-media adulation to know he did good, hopefully.
Really, get yourself over to Lawrence and get a Yello Sub. The bread is to die for, and the meat is ample, and the toppings are what they should be–a compliment to the sandwich, not most of the sandwich.