Why Do Deli Sandwiches Taste Better...?

...than the ones you make at home? Anyone else feel the same way?

I'm not talking about 'fancy' deli-sandwiches either, but even your regular Turkey on Wheat, or whatever you order.

For Example: I sometimes *crave* a Turkey on Wheat, w/ Lettuce, Tomato, Onion & Horsey from Deeb's (Morris' Deli). It's so damn good. Nothing special.

I could make that *exact* same sandwich at home, and it wouldn't be close. Anyone else feel me here? Always found it kinda weird...



PS - what are some other great 'hole in the wall delis like Morris? I used to love Thornberry's when I worked on that end of town.

I feel the exact same way. I used to work at Paul's, and when I'd pick up a sandwich for lunch, it always tastes better than it did when I took the exact same things home and made it there. How weird. I thought I was the only one who felt that way!

^ I had a feeling I wouldn't be alone.

This came up last weekend while drinking, and everyone at my table pretty much agreed.


Just one of those things I guess...

Speaking for myself.....Most things taste better to me if I have didn't make it....
But with Boar's Head deli meats and nice bread options readily available now, It's easy to make a great sandwich at home.

[Robin Garr]

Boar's Head deli meats

Off on a tangent, I'm going to disagree slightly here. In my experience, Boar's Head makes high-quality cold cuts, but they make them in a middle-of-the-road style that strikes me as designed for the mass market. I tend to look for alternatives like Volpe (for example) for more of an up-front Old World flavor.

I love Boar's Head deli products.

I don't normally look for "up front & Old world" flavors when I'm enjoying a good deli sandwich......whatever in the hell that is supposed to mean.

I feel the same way about salads. No matter how I try to recreate a restaurant salad, it's never as good.

I don't normally look for "up front & Old world" flavors when I'm enjoying a good deli sandwich......whatever in the hell that is supposed to mean.

Robin would tell you, but then he'd have to teach you the secret handshake before killing you.

We should have a contest. What does "up front & Old world" mean?

Totally agree. I can make a helluva sandwich at the house but it always missing something.

Also agree on Boars Head. Really prefer it over any other meat i have tried. Granted I have not tried "Volpe."

Wish I could find that Spicy Mustard Boars Head used to make. That stuff was awesome. Can't find it anywhere now.

Boar's Head makes a mean spicy mustard. Got a nice kick to it. Love their Horsey too. A little short on Up front & Old World Flavors, but I suppose they'll work in a pinch...

My favorite Horsey Sauce is 'Inglehoffer' brand. That stuff is

I feel the same way about salads. No matter how I try to recreate a restaurant salad, it's never as good.

I'm the opposite. The salads I make usually taste better than the ones I get in most restaurants. It's about quality of ingredients and what goes well together. Even store-bought dressings can be of high quality -- try Wishbone's balsamic vinaigrette, for instance -- it's killer, esp. if tossed with cracked black pepper and parmesan cheese.

My wife made me a sandwich the other day. She put the same stuff on it that I would have. But it tasted waaaay better...because someone else made it.

Something about slicing the meat as needed makes it better.

I think I'll go get a 13 at Jersey Mike's now.

Hm, not for me either. There are exceptions -- the to-die-for pork sandwich at a deli in Chicago I'd walk ten miles for, and a duck salad in Arizona that might be the only thing that could persuade me to want to go back to Arizona, but otherwise, not really. My husband feels the same way and will embarrass me in public by saying he'd rather eat at home anymore, and this is a guy who loves good food.

Maybe it's the bread....

[Robin Garr]

I love Boar's Head deli products.

I don't normally look for "up front & Old world" flavors when I'm enjoying a good deli sandwich......whatever in the hell that is supposed to mean.

Okay, I'll restate it: To my taste buds, Boar's Head products seem bland. "Up front" means bold and robust. "Old World" means "more like what you'd expect in Europe than the Midwestern U.S."

I'm not saying that Boar's Head is awful, just that it's a little bit toned down to suit me.

And I do agree that a good deli sandwich tastes great because somebody else made it.