The unfairness of it all

Zagat Names Rhode Island’s ‘Official’ Sandwich

Tracey Minkin, GoLocalProv Features Editor

 We love them, and now Zagat has named them Rhode Island's state sandwich... the hearty Italian Grinder.

Rhode Island may be best known for stuffies, gaggas and coffee milk, but now, it's got an official sandwich: the Italian Grinder. At least that's the pronouncement of Zagat, the well-known restaurant rating guide.

In honor of August being national sandwich month, Zagat set out to name one classic sandwich for every state in the union, and for Rhode Island, the honor fell squarely on the humble, but never bland, grinder.

Of course, the Zagat editors felt it necessary to interpret the moniker. "In case you were confused, a grinder is the same as a hoagie, or a hero, or a submarine sandwich," they say. "Basically, it’s a long, soft white roll stuffed with thinly sliced meat, lettuce, tomatoes and condiments. An Italian grinder traditionally consists of hot capicola, pepperoni, genoa salami, provolone cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, mayonnaise and Italian dressing."

Zagat gives a special grinder shout-out to Hudson Street Deli in Providence, "where they make their grinders in two sizes, large or extra large."

What sandwiches were crowned the state special in New England's other 5 states?

Connecticut: Connecticut-Style Hot Lobster Roll

"While many consider the cold, mayonnaise-driven Maine lobster roll to be the quintessential version of the sandwich, the first lobster roll was actually a hot, buttered one served at a restaurant called Perry’s in Milford, Connecticut, in the 1920s," according to Zagat, sending the curious (and hungry) to Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough in Noank. "They take the simplicity of the Connecticut-style hot lobster roll and turn it into an art form."