Tio Wally Eats America: Jersey Mike’s Subs

I’m happy to have Tio Wally (long-time Me So Hungry reader) aboard to send in his eating adventures from across America. Here he is in Asheville, North Carolina.

Greetings from Asheville, North Carolina
N 35° 34.936’  W 082° 36.237’  Elev. 2208 ft.

It’s funny what you can find when you leave the land yacht and wander around. Such was the case recently when I was parked in one of my “secret spots” in Asheville — okay, West Asheville.

I awoke early on a Sunday morning and, knowing that my favorite Sunday Brunch spot had stopped serving Sunday brunch for the season, went looking for something to eat. Although I’d parked in this spot many times I’d never wandered into the little strip mall that adjoined the little side street I called home.

Much to my surprise the place is a goldmine of foods. There is a little Mexican market with a deli/cafe in it; a tiny Chinese take-out place; an American burrito place; and a sandwich place called Jersey Mike’s Subs.

Jersey Mike’s caught my eye because they had a Grilled Pastrami Rueben on the menu. But it seemed kind of pricey; $6.55 for a regular. I don’t know why that seemed like a lot at the time, but it did.

Nevertheless, I bit the bullet and ordered the Rueben (pastrami, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on a French roll) and … good gawd y’all, the thing felt like it weighed about two pounds. I lugged my booty back to the yacht and, geez Louise, it was absolutely awesome.

So good was it, in fact, that I promised myself I’d get another one next time I was there, regardless of whether I was hungry at the time or not. I knew they are as good cold as they are hot because, at nearly 8” long, I couldn’t finish it all in one sitting.

So keeping my promise, I went back to Jersey Mike’s in Asheville to get another Grilled Pastrami Rueben and was soon faced with a real dilemma: I wanted another Rueben but the special that day — they have a different one every day — was a Jersey Mike’s Famous Philly with chips and a 22 oz. drink for $6.99, only 4¢ more than the cost of the regular sandwich.

Who could possibly pass up a deal like that? Not me. But I also wanted the Reuben. So I did the only thing a quick-witted, logical sailor would do: I got both.

The Philly (grilled steak, American cheese, onions and peppers) was great, too. The steak was really tender and generously piled on. It was all I could do to finish it.

While I was waiting for the sandwiches I noticed how fresh the vegetables in the cold station were, and that the tomatoes were actually red and ripe. I mentioned this and was told that they get their veggies from the Asheville Farmer’s Market, which is truly the real deal, a world class Farmer’s Market. It’s amazing what a huge difference ripe, farm fresh veggies make flavor-wise, especially when compared to a certain ubiquitious sub-par sub chain; I think that particular chain busses its produce in on a phantom, once-monthly Wolverine.

And so we roll.

Jersey Mike’s Subs, 1341 Parkwood Road, Asheville, North Carolina, with locations scatted nationwide

Tio Wally pilots the 75-foot, 40-ton(max) land yacht SS Me So Hungry. He reports on road food from around the country whenever parking and InterTube connections permit.