What is a "Grinder" ?(menu item up North)

[aprilgail2]

Sooooo, where does the Hero sandwich fit in? Is that the New York version of a grinder??

A hero can be hot or cold....the only thing that comes to mind hearing the word grinder is some kind of sex act, certainly not a sandwich LOL!!!!

 

[Mr. Pig]

According to the History Channel show "American Eats" the Hoagie, Sub, Grinder, Po' Boy, etc. are names for the same thing. Grinders were named because of the chewing (grinding) you had to do to eat them. They didn't say anything about whether they were toasted or not. Sub sandwich comes from the fact that they were made and sold in mass for submarine workers at an East Coast shipyard during WWII (and they looked like them also). I can't remember the rest of the name origins but it was an interesting show.

 

[DawnCt1]

A sandwich toasted in an oven.

Not in Ct. Grinders can be HOT or cold. Its a sub, basically an Italian long sandwich roll with choice of meat, provolone, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, onions, oil and vinegar. Or a meatball grinder with meatballs, sauce, cheese and peppers, same for sausage.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I've lived in Cleveland 34 out of my 37 years, and this is the first time I've heard of a "grinder." I don't think we have those here!

We have subs and hoagies. Subs are on sub buns (and can be hot), hoagies are on hoagie buns (and are never hot.)

Regional stuff is so interesting. One state away, everyone has grinders.

 

[wheeler1]

Reminds me of the time I asked for a cruller in a California donut shop. Lady you want a what?????????????????

And for the record, if you're in our neck of the woods, ask for a grinder if you really want a sub...Doesnt matter if its toasted or cold or what is on it for that matter. And, glazed donuts are known as honey dipped. In case you were wondering!

 

[phillybeth]

Hoagies got their name from the shipyard workers on Hog Island, who ate big sandwiches full of sliced deli meats, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, hot peppers, etc on half-loaves of Italian bread. Lots of old menus and signs still have them as "Hoggies".

 

[THE HAT]

Let me really confuse the thread...
Up here a Hoagie is only this: a hot (meaning in the pizza oven) Ham, cheese and bacon, that is it.
A grinder is: either hamb, peperoni or sausage with cheese and spag sauce
An Italian is: ham, cheese, tomatos, onions, pickles, green peppers, and black olives with salt/pepper and oil
and anything sub is usually a fish sandwich
Ayuh, and they are all wicked good!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Let me really confuse the thread...
Up here a Hoagie is only this: a hot (meaning in the pizza oven) Ham, cheese and bacon, that is it.
A grinder is: either hamb, peperoni or sausage with cheese and spag sauce
An Italian is: ham, cheese, tomatos, onions, pickles, green peppers, and black olives with salt/pepper and oil
and anything sub is usually a fish sandwich
Ayuh, and they are all wicked good!

See, in Philly, that is one variety of a STROMBOLI...

 

[annegal]

In Louisiana, a po boy originally was named for "poor boys" who could not afford a hot meal, so meat was put on a French bread for them.

 

[acadia1960]

Ok now I am craving an Amatos ham italian.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Here in MA, grinder is just another name for sub (sandwich). Any type of ingredients. Not necessarily toasted --- that's always optional.

 

[Fan2CSkr]

What is the origin of grinder, as in sandwich?

You might be aware that a substantial sandwich, often on an elongated roll of Italian or French bread, is referred to by different names in different parts of the US. The first term used was poor boy, meaning that it was a 'meal even a poor boy could afford'; this term originated in New Orleans in 1952 and was limited to the Deep South.

Shortly thereafter, when it migrated to New England, it became known as the grinder, supposedly so named because eating this long sandwich required a lot of 'grinding' or chewing.

Then, in 1954 in Connecticut, the sandwich was called the submarine, with reference its similarity to the shape of the boats built and housed in Groton, Connecticut.

In 1955, the other names for this concoction- hero sandwich (New York City) and hoagie or hoagy (Philadelphia and New Jersey) - came into use. The use of 'hero' alludes to the heroic effort that was needed to eat the sandwich, but it is not known where the term hoagie came from.

Submarine and sub are now widely used and not particular to a region. In Maine, they use both the terms Italian sandwich and sub. Sacramento, California joins New England in using the term grinder. In Miami, people use the name Cuban sandwich and the poor boy in New Orleans often features fried oysters. Other names for this sandwich are torpedo and zep (New Jersey), and wedge (downstate New York).



In the United States, the terms "submarine" and "sub" are widespread[2], but there are also many regional names for the sandwich, especially in the northeast part of the country:

Grinder — New England (some say this refers specifically to an oven-toasted sub)
Hero — New York, northern New Jersey and the Eastern United States

Hoagie — Philadelphia and environs, including South Jersey

In some regions, "grinder" also refers to a huge sandwich; see hero sandwich.

 

[sha_lyn]

We have a lot of transplants around here so you hear them called a lot of things. Generally speaking for those from around here

Sub=hot or cold sandwich on a long roll
Hoagie= grilled meat and cheese on a steamed bun
po boy= toasted french roll with fried seafood

 

[Mono~rail]

Dh said they called all sandwiches on his ship grinders (he was in the Navy, Pacific base). I thought it was an interesting tid bit to add to the thread.

I'm gonna have to get a shrimp po' boy for lunch tomorrow! Yum!

 

[Kycha]

OK, for clarification, this is the Philly area I speak of:

Grinder = Oven Toasted Sandwhich

Hoagie = cold sandwich with deli meats, onions, mayo or oil, cheese, and maybe peppers ( can be called a grinder if toasted )

Sub = well, with the exception of Subway, they don't get called that here, but I guess that is basically a hoagie?

Zep.... very local to the Norristown area ( a Philly suburb )... Basically a hoagie on a round roll, but to be true to its origins, it needs to have pickles on it.

Hmmmm. I'm going to Eve's tomorrow for a Zep. I love those things. Basically a hoagie, but without all that pesky lettuce.

I never understood the whole grinder thing. It's pretty funny when you look at a menu and they have a whole section of hot subs/hoagies and then a whole section of grinders. I always thought they were the same thing. But, how would I know. They don't have them around these parts(Lancaster County, PA). I have only seen them on menus near my office in Plymouth Meeting near Philadelphia.

 

[DMRick]

Hopefully no one posted this yet (I skipped the middle page), but wikipedia says (in my neigborhood, all the restaurants call all of the below whatever they want):
A submarine sandwich (or just submarine where context would exclude the sea vessel, or even just sub) is any of various sandwiches made on a long roll (usually at least 12" long by 3 " wide) or baguette (called "French bread" or a "submarine roll" in the U.S.) , so called because of its shape. The contents typically include meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and various condiments, sauces or dressings.

The term is believed by some to have originated in a restaurant in Scollay Square in Boston, Massachusetts at the beginning of World War II. The sandwich was created to entice the large numbers of navy servicemen stationed at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The bread was a smaller specially baked baguette intended to be similar to the hull of the submarines it was named after.

Another legend suggests, the submarine sandwich was brought to the US by Dominic Conte, an Italian immigrant who came to New York in the early 1900s. He named the sandwich after a submarine hull he had seen on display. During World War II, the sandwiches were served by the thousands to soldiers at the submarine base in Groton, Connecticut which cemented the legend that the sandwiches originated in Groton.


Regional names and variations:
In the United States, the terms "submarine" and "sub" are widespread, but there are also many regional names for the sandwich, especially in the northeast part of the country:

Bomb — New England, usually used for hot sandwiches with melted cheese & other toppings, such as a Steak bomb
Bomber — New Jersey
Cosmo — North Central Pennsylvania in and around Williamsport, PA - a cosmo is an oven toasted sub.
Grinder — New England (some say this refers specifically to an oven-toasted sub) and Riverside, CA
Hero — New York, northern New Jersey and the Eastern United States
Hoagie — Philadelphia and environs, including South Jersey
Poor boy or Po' boy — Gulf Coast, especially around New Orleans
Spuckie — Boston, Massachusetts (now rare)
Torpedo — New Jersey
Wedge — Specific to some northeastern coastal sections of the Bronx, and the Long Island Sound shore towns of Westchester, New York, and Fairfield County, Connecticut, though definitely not universally recognized even in the region. Also in sections of northern New Jersey, adjacent Rockland County, and Putnam County in New York.
Zep (poss. trunc. of German zeppelin) — New Jersey and Norristown, Pennsylvania
Italian — Maine, where "Italian" is used regardless of the filling, which is specified separately, as a "ham Italian", "veggie Italian" or "roast beef Italian". A regular Italian is usually a ham Italian, made up of: ham, cheese, onions, olives, green peppers, pickles, and tomatoes. Italians are made to order at most convenience stores and gas stations. This term is also found in New Jersey.
An Italian sub, Italian combo, or Italian hoagie consists of Italian luncheon meats, typically capicola, prosciutto, and Genoa salami, with provolone, lettuce, tomato, oil, and vinegar. Thinly sliced pepperoni and bologna are sometimes added, and less expensive ham is often substituted for capicola and prosciutto.

A cheesesteak or steak and cheese is grilled sliced steak with melted cheese on a submarine roll. Common local variations include grilled onions, peppers, lettuce, tomato, ketchup or tomato sauce. The cheese is usually American, cheddar, provolone, or Cheez Whiz. Cheesesteaks are strongly associated with the Philadelphia area, while "steak and cheese" is more often heard elsewhere.

Submarine sandwiches are sold by delicatessens and a number of fast food restaurants and chains, including (listed by date opened); Jersey Mike's Subs (1956),Blimpie Subs (1964), Subway (1965), D'Angelo Sandwich Shops (1967), Mr. Sub (1968), Port of Subs (1972), Quiznos Subs (1981), Jimmy John's (1983), and Charley's Grilled Subs (1986). Submarines are especially popular in Pennsylvania.[citation needed] There are many "Mom and Pop" subs shops in the cities and boroughs of Pennsylvania.[citation needed] These sub shops are some of the most popular eateries in PennsylvaniaA small town will usually be the host of 2 or 3 sub shops.Larger cities have 2 or 3 sub shops per neighborhood.

 

[Michelina]

Mmm... I forgot about wedges, one of the pizza shops in my home town made them. It was pizza dough folded over different sub fillings. The Italian was Genoa salami, pepperoni, cappicola, provolone, lettuce, tomato & onion and Italian dressing all baked in the pizza oven. Delish!

 

[Mermaid02]

I guess the bottom line is: A grinder is a sandwich. The particulars depend on the sandwich shop you're in at the time you order it.