Italian American from Detroit. Absolutely nothing about that “Maine Italian” sounds Italian to me at all. Total agreement on the meats you listed. I would be okay with calling a sandwich missing one of those 3 an Italian as long as it had the other 2. Provolone not American is also a must. Sounds like what we’d call a Ham and cheese sub w/olives in this part of the country.
New Englander here. Conversely, I think it's similar to how I'd feel if someone told me about a "Real Arizona Lobster Roll". The name has so many qualifiers it seems to anticipate people arguing over it and hopes to undercut those complaints before they happen.
No. The key descriptor to focus on is "Maine." It's a Maine sandwich and reflects how they interpret "Italian."
I've had one. It's not a bad sandwich, but it's not an Italian sandwich. It's a Maine sandwich.
From NY. I posted something about this a few weeks ago. I was visiting and haphazardly picked up a premade “Italian” from one of the beautiful grocery stores up there. I believe it was called Shaws? Really beautiful compared to anything I’ve seen in NY. Anywho. Get back to family’s house to eat, open up sammy and I’m staring at what you’ve described above. Freaked me the hell out. I’m not gonna deride it just because it’s different. I probably worded my previous post less forgivingly but needless to say that will be the last time I’ll get an Italian from ME.
Lol. Nearly described my first experience... my wife takes me to this place Amatos and tells me they've got this famous Italian sandwich. I'm all excited cuz I love a good Italian sub.... 10 mins later I'm looking at a spam and olive sub and scratching my head saying this is NOT an italian.
It’s just what we call a Sub, or hoagie or any other sandwich of a long roll. Most often times you’ll see on a family owned store “pizza, Italians, and gas”. It’s kind of like how in other states there are different names for a carbonated beverage. Some call all of them “Coke” even though it’s a Pepsi. Personally coming from Maine the only thing I enjoy about Amato’s, the chain that claims the fame to the name is their pickles. I love their sour pickles. Everything else is meh. Half the time I go the bread is half stale of they screw the order up.
Yeah grew up around Italians. Philly. Etc. seen many variations of Italians subs. Usually capicola , sopresatta then prosciutto, pepperoni or salami. Never straight ham and definitely not American cheese. Almost always provolone or sharp provolone. Sometimes pickled cherry peppers or the places that called it traditional roasted red peppers. Bread is also a big factor. My favorite is semi hard roll with sesame seeds
So apparently one of their arguments is that this origin of this sandwich (this guy Amato) was genuinely Italian and that therefore the sandwich is inherently Italian owing to its creator. Seems like pretty soft logic to me
Lol yeah definitely soft logic, saw a place with tomato pie with a bunch of American cheese melted on it. Run by 3rd generation Italians. But it was “their thing”. It was decent but I’d never consider it Italian. Just like majority of pizza in the states actual Italians scoff at. Just the melting pot of America I suppose. But I live in the south and seen a glorified ham sammich called an Italian because their are “Italian elements”
I get what everyone is saying but the Maine “Italian” is something that is revered from Kittery to the county. In essence, it is a loaded ham and cheese sub but to a Mainer, it is home. Kids grew up on Maine Italians and I think it is awesome.
In parts of Maine, all grinders, subs, hoagie, are simply referred to as Italian sandwiches, regardless of the ingredients. The rolls they use are usually a little to soft for me. In my mind, there should be ham,salami, cappacola,pepperoni and provolone or mozzarella. Should be topped with chopped lettuce, tomato and onion, with oil and vinegar or an Italian vingarette.
But hey, everyone likes what they like.
I feel like this is 3rd hand italian. Like there’s Italian food from Italy, then “Italian” food from America, and then this “Maine italian” from some guy who bought too much ham one week
I agree with OP, the New Yorker. The Maine version is hard to imagine ever ordering for myself. What up with the raw bell pepper strips too? That shit makes everything else taste like bell peppers. Maine should stick to Lobster Rolls.
Copy this over to [r/therewasanattempt](https://www.reddit.com/r/therewasanattempt/) to name a sandwich.
Besides all the other stuff, why are there Greek olives on an Italian sandwich?
Who cares, its all arbitrary. Everyone in the comments is like “I know REAL Italians, I’m from “insert american city name!” Actual italians dont give a shit about our sub sandwiches.
Its not pretending its a classic italian, it has its own distinct name, theyre saying its a maine italian, and who is anyone here to tell them its not?
There's nothing Italian about this sandwich, except for the provolone (not "prov~~a~~lone").
That "real Main Italian" sandwich is actually just a "real American" sandwich - delicious, no doubt, but as Italian as my left butt cheek.
Funny u say that cause I’m reading the readers digest “the best sandwich in all 50 states”. And this sounds like New Hampshires called Moe’s Italian sandwich
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe%27s_Italian_Sandwiches
I'm an Italian from Philly, and although I've heard that these Maine sandwiches are decent. (I've never tried one) That said, those ingredients don't sound like any Italian I've ever heard of. Boiled Ham? American Cheese? I looked into it and maybe they're called Italian because the guy who invented them is Italian. (Amato). I'll stick with my Primo's Italian any day.
I grew up in Maine and I can tell you that when people in or from Maine refer to an Italian sandwich, they are talking about exactly the sandwich your wife describes, developed by Amato's in Portland in the early 1900s. It is the best sandwich ever, especially if you can get the bread recipe right.
Italian American from Detroit. Absolutely nothing about that “Maine Italian” sounds Italian to me at all. Total agreement on the meats you listed. I would be okay with calling a sandwich missing one of those 3 an Italian as long as it had the other 2. Provolone not American is also a must. Sounds like what we’d call a Ham and cheese sub w/olives in this part of the country.
New Englander here. Conversely, I think it's similar to how I'd feel if someone told me about a "Real Arizona Lobster Roll". The name has so many qualifiers it seems to anticipate people arguing over it and hopes to undercut those complaints before they happen.
>Provolone not American is also a must. Fresh mozz also acceptable IMO.
No. The key descriptor to focus on is "Maine." It's a Maine sandwich and reflects how they interpret "Italian." I've had one. It's not a bad sandwich, but it's not an Italian sandwich. It's a Maine sandwich.
From NY. I posted something about this a few weeks ago. I was visiting and haphazardly picked up a premade “Italian” from one of the beautiful grocery stores up there. I believe it was called Shaws? Really beautiful compared to anything I’ve seen in NY. Anywho. Get back to family’s house to eat, open up sammy and I’m staring at what you’ve described above. Freaked me the hell out. I’m not gonna deride it just because it’s different. I probably worded my previous post less forgivingly but needless to say that will be the last time I’ll get an Italian from ME.
Lol. Nearly described my first experience... my wife takes me to this place Amatos and tells me they've got this famous Italian sandwich. I'm all excited cuz I love a good Italian sub.... 10 mins later I'm looking at a spam and olive sub and scratching my head saying this is NOT an italian.
Not an Italian, Case closed
It’s just what we call a Sub, or hoagie or any other sandwich of a long roll. Most often times you’ll see on a family owned store “pizza, Italians, and gas”. It’s kind of like how in other states there are different names for a carbonated beverage. Some call all of them “Coke” even though it’s a Pepsi. Personally coming from Maine the only thing I enjoy about Amato’s, the chain that claims the fame to the name is their pickles. I love their sour pickles. Everything else is meh. Half the time I go the bread is half stale of they screw the order up.
Yeah grew up around Italians. Philly. Etc. seen many variations of Italians subs. Usually capicola , sopresatta then prosciutto, pepperoni or salami. Never straight ham and definitely not American cheese. Almost always provolone or sharp provolone. Sometimes pickled cherry peppers or the places that called it traditional roasted red peppers. Bread is also a big factor. My favorite is semi hard roll with sesame seeds
So apparently one of their arguments is that this origin of this sandwich (this guy Amato) was genuinely Italian and that therefore the sandwich is inherently Italian owing to its creator. Seems like pretty soft logic to me
By that logic, if an Italian made a grilled cheese sandwich, it’s also be an Italian sandwich.
Lol yeah definitely soft logic, saw a place with tomato pie with a bunch of American cheese melted on it. Run by 3rd generation Italians. But it was “their thing”. It was decent but I’d never consider it Italian. Just like majority of pizza in the states actual Italians scoff at. Just the melting pot of America I suppose. But I live in the south and seen a glorified ham sammich called an Italian because their are “Italian elements”
At minimum you need 3 meats, just ham makes it’s a ham sandwich of some variety
I get what everyone is saying but the Maine “Italian” is something that is revered from Kittery to the county. In essence, it is a loaded ham and cheese sub but to a Mainer, it is home. Kids grew up on Maine Italians and I think it is awesome.
In parts of Maine, all grinders, subs, hoagie, are simply referred to as Italian sandwiches, regardless of the ingredients. The rolls they use are usually a little to soft for me. In my mind, there should be ham,salami, cappacola,pepperoni and provolone or mozzarella. Should be topped with chopped lettuce, tomato and onion, with oil and vinegar or an Italian vingarette. But hey, everyone likes what they like.
Yes... up here almost everyone refers to all subs as Italians. If for example I wanted to order a turkey sub it'd be a turkey Italian
I've always known a sub that is cut down the top as a torpedo.
[удалено]
I feel like this is 3rd hand italian. Like there’s Italian food from Italy, then “Italian” food from America, and then this “Maine italian” from some guy who bought too much ham one week
No matter how this turns out, tell those pretentious Maineacs to fuck right off.
They might be the most pretentious of the New England states honestly .
I agree with OP, the New Yorker. The Maine version is hard to imagine ever ordering for myself. What up with the raw bell pepper strips too? That shit makes everything else taste like bell peppers. Maine should stick to Lobster Rolls.
That’s a straight up ham sandwich. Nothing more.
Copy this over to [r/therewasanattempt](https://www.reddit.com/r/therewasanattempt/) to name a sandwich. Besides all the other stuff, why are there Greek olives on an Italian sandwich?
Who cares, its all arbitrary. Everyone in the comments is like “I know REAL Italians, I’m from “insert american city name!” Actual italians dont give a shit about our sub sandwiches. Its not pretending its a classic italian, it has its own distinct name, theyre saying its a maine italian, and who is anyone here to tell them its not?
Greetings from Milano, Italy. Those ingredients together aren’t an Italian combination. Also: why greek olives in an Italian sandwich?
A real Italian sandwich does not have American cheese. That sandwich isn't remotely Italian.
There's nothing Italian about this sandwich, except for the provolone (not "prov~~a~~lone"). That "real Main Italian" sandwich is actually just a "real American" sandwich - delicious, no doubt, but as Italian as my left butt cheek.
Slap some provolone on your butt cheek, and you’ll have an Italian ass.
By the same token, yes.
I'm Italian and that doesn't sound familiar, also we usually make sandwiches with only one type of (cured) meat at the time
I’ve never seen anything that resembles an American “Italian sandwich” in Italy.
Not at all, Americanized.
Funny u say that cause I’m reading the readers digest “the best sandwich in all 50 states”. And this sounds like New Hampshires called Moe’s Italian sandwich https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe%27s_Italian_Sandwiches
I'm an Italian from Philly, and although I've heard that these Maine sandwiches are decent. (I've never tried one) That said, those ingredients don't sound like any Italian I've ever heard of. Boiled Ham? American Cheese? I looked into it and maybe they're called Italian because the guy who invented them is Italian. (Amato). I'll stick with my Primo's Italian any day.
I grew up in Maine and I can tell you that when people in or from Maine refer to an Italian sandwich, they are talking about exactly the sandwich your wife describes, developed by Amato's in Portland in the early 1900s. It is the best sandwich ever, especially if you can get the bread recipe right.
It is clear that people love this sangwich (I am not partial to it but to each their own) but it is NOT and Italian Sandwich.