The Weird Al Yankovic Namesake Sandwich He Never Knew He Asked For
March 1, 2015 3:30 AM Subscribe
AVclub.com asked Weird Al Yankovic, "If a deli named a sandwich after you, what would be on it?" His answer:
I’d say a fire-roasted eggplant, some roasted red peppers, diced heirloom tomatoes, some thin-sliced red onions—maybe double up on the onions and have some caramelized onions on top of the sliced onions. A little basil, some arugula, some chopped and marinated mushrooms, maybe a slice of fresh avocado, some alfalfa sprouts, a dose of hummus, a drizzle of pomegranate molasses and put it on a warm toasted French roll lovingly sprinkled with some truffle oil.Challenge accepted.
I read another article where they asked Weird Al how he would build his favorite salad and he replied "I would start with a half pound of very rare sliced beef, add three slices of the best sharp cheddar, sprinkle it with grated horseradish, add a bit of dark mustard and top it with sprinkles of bacon."
posted by HuronBob at 3:43 AM on March 1, 2015 [10 favorites]
posted by HuronBob at 3:43 AM on March 1, 2015 [10 favorites]
That salad sounds good too!
posted by TedW at 4:00 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by TedW at 4:00 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
That's not what your cutie mark is telling you, Al.
posted by Wolfdog at 4:10 AM on March 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Wolfdog at 4:10 AM on March 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
I think that the mushrooms are probably not needed. I like a complex sandwich, but you're already getting squidgy depth of flavour from the aubergine and the houmous, and I think an additional ingredient in that role (and that roll) is going to confuse things.
This is an excellent sandwich, however.
posted by howfar at 4:55 AM on March 1, 2015
This is an excellent sandwich, however.
posted by howfar at 4:55 AM on March 1, 2015
I had no idea there were woman and man eggplants! Also, terrific use of the getinmahbelly tag.
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 4:59 AM on March 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Orange Dinosaur Slide at 4:59 AM on March 1, 2015 [4 favorites]
Why dice the tomatoes? So you can pick them out of your lap?
posted by makonan at 6:01 AM on March 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by makonan at 6:01 AM on March 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
protip: you can straight up buy pomegranate molasses. It costs like $3 a bottle and eliminates all the work and cost of doing it yourself. (Pomegranate juice is so expensive! Why buy it just to concentrate it down into something that already exists for cheaper?)
posted by phunniemee at 6:07 AM on March 1, 2015 [8 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 6:07 AM on March 1, 2015 [8 favorites]
"I would start with a half pound of very rare sliced beef, add three slices of the best sharp cheddar, sprinkle it with grated horseradish, add a bit of dark mustard and top it with sprinkles of bacon."
Source? Because Al is a vegetarian, leaning vegan when possible.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:07 AM on March 1, 2015 [12 favorites]
Source? Because Al is a vegetarian, leaning vegan when possible.
posted by Faint of Butt at 6:07 AM on March 1, 2015 [12 favorites]
Yeah, looks nice, but has nothing on Jake's Perfect Sandwich.
(I have my version of that pretty much nailed down, except that I don't know what's playing on the radio. if anyone here can identify that music, let me know.)
posted by effbot at 6:08 AM on March 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
(I have my version of that pretty much nailed down, except that I don't know what's playing on the radio. if anyone here can identify that music, let me know.)
posted by effbot at 6:08 AM on March 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
With doubled up onions, surely it should be called the "Weird Allium".
posted by Cold Lurkey at 6:15 AM on March 1, 2015 [21 favorites]
posted by Cold Lurkey at 6:15 AM on March 1, 2015 [21 favorites]
Mod note: A few comments deleted; let's not start off a friendly sandwich post with a fight about veganism.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:05 AM on March 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:05 AM on March 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
Source? Because Al is a vegetarian, leaning vegan when possible.
I would assume that that salad recipe is a joke. I know it's a stretch to assume that Weird Al has the capacity for satire, but that would be my guess.
posted by phunniemee at 7:07 AM on March 1, 2015 [28 favorites]
I would assume that that salad recipe is a joke. I know it's a stretch to assume that Weird Al has the capacity for satire, but that would be my guess.
posted by phunniemee at 7:07 AM on March 1, 2015 [28 favorites]
That French roll wasn't multigrain? Forget it.
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:12 AM on March 1, 2015
posted by Smart Dalek at 7:12 AM on March 1, 2015
Silly music, serious sandwich. I'm officially starting the count-down timer before one of the hipster places in DC puts this on the menu.
posted by adamsc at 7:13 AM on March 1, 2015
posted by adamsc at 7:13 AM on March 1, 2015
It sounds a little heavy on the prep, and probably needs more slicing than chopping to hold it together. However, I have had some very sloppy vegan bánh mì carryout that kind of dissolved the filling and bread into semi-pudding on the trip home, and all the bits were kind of
fused together deliciously in the crust, so that would be a way to keep all the chopped stuff (and the smaller things like mushrooms) together, but you would need to go back to french bread rather than the less crusty italian. I'm also dubious about the truffle oil, which mostly exists for restaurants to add $3-5 on to the cost of the dish, but it sounds very tasty, and, if any of my local restaurants picks it up, I'll order it in a second.
I would have enjoyed the essay a lot more without the .gifs. I don't actually need motion on the page, nor does the recipe. We're kind of past the point where all the cool kids need moving .gifs, so could we only deploy them where actually useful?
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:30 AM on March 1, 2015
fused together deliciously in the crust, so that would be a way to keep all the chopped stuff (and the smaller things like mushrooms) together, but you would need to go back to french bread rather than the less crusty italian. I'm also dubious about the truffle oil, which mostly exists for restaurants to add $3-5 on to the cost of the dish, but it sounds very tasty, and, if any of my local restaurants picks it up, I'll order it in a second.
I would have enjoyed the essay a lot more without the .gifs. I don't actually need motion on the page, nor does the recipe. We're kind of past the point where all the cool kids need moving .gifs, so could we only deploy them where actually useful?
posted by GenjiandProust at 7:30 AM on March 1, 2015
The one .gif I appreciated was the the one showing the assembly order. It looks tasty, and the only thing I would change for personal preference would be to slice the fresh onion much thinner and use about 1/3 as much.
posted by gimli at 7:42 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by gimli at 7:42 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
That sounds awfully fussy for a Weird Al sandwich. Where's m-m-m-my bologna? Where's the ham on, ham on whole wheat, all right? Where's a banana, where's a whole bunch?
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:43 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:43 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
I record Jeopardy every day (daytime and evening editions). My son and I binge watch them on the weekends. I cannot get the earworm out of my head of Weird Al singing "I lost on Jeopardy, baby" My son says I can't sing. He is right.
That sammy looks darn good.
posted by 724A at 7:48 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
That sammy looks darn good.
posted by 724A at 7:48 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
one of the hipster places in DC puts this on the menu.
Presumably with a footnote on the menu.
_____________
* Note: If you don't like it, you can't send it back.
posted by Wolfdog at 7:56 AM on March 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
Presumably with a footnote on the menu.
_____________
* Note: If you don't like it, you can't send it back.
posted by Wolfdog at 7:56 AM on March 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
One thing, though. You really don't need to salt and degorge aubergines. Maybe they used to be bitter, but modern varieties taste fine just as they are. If you're worried about sogginess and discoloration, you'll get better results by (a) preparing your aubergines at the last minute before assembly/service (b) slicing thinly and cooking over a medium-high heat that browns but does not burn the flesh and (c) slicing your aubergines and immediately tossing them with oil before transferring straight away to a pre-heated pan/grill.
I haven't degorged an aubergine for more than a decade; life is too short.
posted by howfar at 7:56 AM on March 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
I haven't degorged an aubergine for more than a decade; life is too short.
posted by howfar at 7:56 AM on March 1, 2015 [7 favorites]
The way that article was written is really annoying...it's like "I know this is a WEIRD ingredient but if WEIRD AL says so..." "This ones for you AL..." "AL Baby you have the BEST taste in sandwiches..."
posted by pravit at 8:12 AM on March 1, 2015
posted by pravit at 8:12 AM on March 1, 2015
I love finding out that Weird Al now qualifies as a "Music Legend." I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it, but it's nice to see him appreciated for decades of work that was long-dismissed as being "gimmicky."
posted by endotoxin at 8:15 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by endotoxin at 8:15 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
I assume he meant it as a joke (so much slicing and dicing?) but wow, that sounds and looks amazing. I'm gonna make lunch a little early.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:17 AM on March 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:17 AM on March 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
I was worried about the long, loooonnngg list, but the end result looks fantastic.
posted by oddman at 8:21 AM on March 1, 2015
posted by oddman at 8:21 AM on March 1, 2015
I haven't degorged an aubergine for more than a decade; life is too short.
I agree; it's way better to gorge on aubergines than either degorging or disgorging them.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:26 AM on March 1, 2015
I agree; it's way better to gorge on aubergines than either degorging or disgorging them.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:26 AM on March 1, 2015
Why dice the tomatoes? So you can pick them out of your lap?
Imaginary diced heirloom tomatoes don't fall out of fantasy sandwiches.
posted by zennie at 8:42 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Imaginary diced heirloom tomatoes don't fall out of fantasy sandwiches.
posted by zennie at 8:42 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Weird Al Yankovic has been vegetarian for over 20 years, which makes me think he's actually quite serious about his sandwich.
posted by jonp72 at 9:03 AM on March 1, 2015
posted by jonp72 at 9:03 AM on March 1, 2015
I'd like mozzarella di bufala on this. But the vegan version does sound yummy.
posted by mondo dentro at 9:04 AM on March 1, 2015
posted by mondo dentro at 9:04 AM on March 1, 2015
Hmm. Yeah I'd take out the mushrooms and hummus and double down on the avocado as a connective paste, still sounds tasty ...veggie sandwiches like this are always something I'll pay for cause the prep is so exhausting and time intensive -- it just makes more sense to make them on an assembly line.
Although I did have a moment of clarity when I realized the toasted spinach-tomato-mozzarella-basil sand which I was eating was essentially just PIZZA IN ANOTHER FORM.
posted by The Whelk at 9:29 AM on March 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
Although I did have a moment of clarity when I realized the toasted spinach-tomato-mozzarella-basil sand which I was eating was essentially just PIZZA IN ANOTHER FORM.
posted by The Whelk at 9:29 AM on March 1, 2015 [5 favorites]
i originally laughed at the sandwich, but after seeing the assembly, i might tweak this or that a bit for personal taste, but that seems like a damn fine veggie sandwich.
posted by nadawi at 10:46 AM on March 1, 2015
posted by nadawi at 10:46 AM on March 1, 2015
I'm also dubious about the truffle oil, which mostly exists for restaurants to add $3-5 on to the cost of the dish
Most truffle oil isn't--it's just artifically flavoured oil that someone said the word 'truffle' to at some point. Still, the flavour is nice, I just take exception to calling it that.
Count me among the ranks of PUT THAT SANDWICH IN MY FACE.
For non-vegans, may I suggest a wrap made of julienned: red/green/yellow peppers, cucumber, mango, red onion; equal volumes of everything except the onion. Hummus--not too garlicky, but you want a punch, spread that over the whole wrap as glue. A squirt of sriracha. Good handful of alfalfa or other sprouts. Some whole leaves of Thai basil if you roll that way. And little knobs of goat cheese dotted throughout.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:52 AM on March 1, 2015 [8 favorites]
Most truffle oil isn't--it's just artifically flavoured oil that someone said the word 'truffle' to at some point. Still, the flavour is nice, I just take exception to calling it that.
Count me among the ranks of PUT THAT SANDWICH IN MY FACE.
For non-vegans, may I suggest a wrap made of julienned: red/green/yellow peppers, cucumber, mango, red onion; equal volumes of everything except the onion. Hummus--not too garlicky, but you want a punch, spread that over the whole wrap as glue. A squirt of sriracha. Good handful of alfalfa or other sprouts. Some whole leaves of Thai basil if you roll that way. And little knobs of goat cheese dotted throughout.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:52 AM on March 1, 2015 [8 favorites]
Wow, fffm, I think I'm going to do a vegan version of that as spring rolls. Sounds terrific.
posted by Lexica at 11:00 AM on March 1, 2015
posted by Lexica at 11:00 AM on March 1, 2015
Is tasty! And the fun thing about the mango is it really doesn't matter if it's super-ripe and sweet, or more green; the wrap is good both ways.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:25 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:25 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Weird Al Yankovic has been vegetarian for over 20 years
It probably came to him the 37,412th time he played "My Bologna". And considering the mix of styles on a Weird Al album (required when half the songs are direct parodies), it is perfectly appropriate that he'd take every veggie he likes on a sandwich and throw them all onto one major production. The Weird ALL.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:42 PM on March 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
It probably came to him the 37,412th time he played "My Bologna". And considering the mix of styles on a Weird Al album (required when half the songs are direct parodies), it is perfectly appropriate that he'd take every veggie he likes on a sandwich and throw them all onto one major production. The Weird ALL.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:42 PM on March 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
I dunno, twelve ingredients in the filling sounds like twice as many as you could taste. But hey, it's weird Al.
But "truffle oil" is the one thing to avoid.
posted by SteveInMaine at 2:07 PM on March 1, 2015
But "truffle oil" is the one thing to avoid.
posted by SteveInMaine at 2:07 PM on March 1, 2015
Why are we avoiding it again?
1. Inauthentic/unnatural/chemicals
2. Tastes bad
3. Actually unhealthy in some way that other oils aren't
?
posted by Drinky Die at 2:30 PM on March 1, 2015
1. Inauthentic/unnatural/chemicals
2. Tastes bad
3. Actually unhealthy in some way that other oils aren't
?
posted by Drinky Die at 2:30 PM on March 1, 2015
I'm thinking maybe we should just eat it.
posted by Drinky Die at 2:32 PM on March 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Drinky Die at 2:32 PM on March 1, 2015 [2 favorites]
... put it on a warm toasted French roll lovingly sprinkled with some truffle oil.
Wha? Not the rye or the Kaiser?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 4:33 PM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
Wha? Not the rye or the Kaiser?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 4:33 PM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
What a philistine--truffle oil, seriously? That stuff isn't fit for human consumption.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:07 PM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Joseph Gurl at 8:07 PM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]
All the anti truffle oil snobbery is making me want to use it on loads of stuff.
Lots of flavourings are artificial and also delicious. I love the taste of synthetic strawberry in red sugar bootlaces covered in industrially produced citric acid crystals.
If there is no physical harm (and no one is suggesting there is) and people like it, then they should take their French fries and their truffle oil and drown them in that shit.
And everyone who likes to police other people's taste should grow the fuck up.
posted by howfar at 4:37 AM on March 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
Lots of flavourings are artificial and also delicious. I love the taste of synthetic strawberry in red sugar bootlaces covered in industrially produced citric acid crystals.
If there is no physical harm (and no one is suggesting there is) and people like it, then they should take their French fries and their truffle oil and drown them in that shit.
And everyone who likes to police other people's taste should grow the fuck up.
posted by howfar at 4:37 AM on March 2, 2015 [3 favorites]
people like anthony bourdain and gordon ramsey (who i generally like, make no mistake) have loudly mocked it and the people who like it, and alas, that sort of opinion and temperament has bled over into internet comments. go forth and enjoy your truffle oil and ignore the faux snobbery of tv chefs.
posted by nadawi at 5:09 AM on March 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by nadawi at 5:09 AM on March 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
If there is no physical harm (and no one is suggesting there is)
Well, someone linked to an article above where the author says it's "infused with fart aroma and one of the most toxic substances commonly used by humankind" and toxic sounds kind of scary (of course, he gets promptly beaten up in the comments since that toxic thing is something that's present in any heated food but who cares because OMG CHEMICALS!).
(fwiw, the bottle I have here says it's made from Taggiasca olives and a tiny amount of white Piemonte truffles, plus aroma, and is indeed full of flaky things, with no trace of farts anywhere. YMMV, I guess.)
posted by effbot at 1:18 PM on March 2, 2015
Well, someone linked to an article above where the author says it's "infused with fart aroma and one of the most toxic substances commonly used by humankind" and toxic sounds kind of scary (of course, he gets promptly beaten up in the comments since that toxic thing is something that's present in any heated food but who cares because OMG CHEMICALS!).
(fwiw, the bottle I have here says it's made from Taggiasca olives and a tiny amount of white Piemonte truffles, plus aroma, and is indeed full of flaky things, with no trace of farts anywhere. YMMV, I guess.)
posted by effbot at 1:18 PM on March 2, 2015
Taggi olives are the best, sorry Nice.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 1:32 PM on March 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 1:32 PM on March 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
A little bit of fake truffle oil on duxelles is just enough to push them into heavenly.
posted by The Whelk at 3:34 PM on March 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 3:34 PM on March 2, 2015 [1 favorite]
>And everyone who likes to police other people's taste should grow the fuck up.
Everyone who likes to police other people's maturity should [?]
(I keed, I keed)
posted by Joseph Gurl at 4:21 AM on March 8, 2015
Everyone who likes to police other people's maturity should [?]
(I keed, I keed)
posted by Joseph Gurl at 4:21 AM on March 8, 2015
Behold.
Now that is a damn fine looking sandwich.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 7:09 AM on March 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
Now that is a damn fine looking sandwich.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 7:09 AM on March 8, 2015 [1 favorite]
All the anti truffle oil snobbery is making me want to use it on loads of stuff.
Have at it.
My problem with the stuff is that it's called truffle oil, rather than artificially flavored truffle oil. Based on pungent taste alone, I'm guessing the stuff in the "dipping sauce" that came with my $12 burger was fake.
posted by SteveInMaine at 3:02 AM on March 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
Have at it.
My problem with the stuff is that it's called truffle oil, rather than artificially flavored truffle oil. Based on pungent taste alone, I'm guessing the stuff in the "dipping sauce" that came with my $12 burger was fake.
posted by SteveInMaine at 3:02 AM on March 31, 2015 [1 favorite]
My problem with "truffle oil" is that it tastes bad. Like, very bad. Socks bad. Not like truffles.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 7:03 PM on March 31, 2015
posted by Joseph Gurl at 7:03 PM on March 31, 2015
« Older "I'm here to get what's mine." - Fox's 'Empire' | Shirley Scott, Queen of the Organ Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by TedW at 3:36 AM on March 1, 2015 [1 favorite]