Let's Get Into It, Man
Welcome back to the weekly recap! This week, we've got sandwiches, chips, and a Barry Is Cooking Again episode. Paying members got the treat that was me making the way too boozy Spiral Staircase dip as seen on 70sdinnerparty on Instagram.
In other news, working furiously to put the finishing touches on my next cookbook, Vintage Party Sandwiches. I'm also off this week to Santa Barbara to get my picture taken for the book (and a little birthday break as well). Now comes the part I know nothing about, planning the subsequent tour. Zoinks.
Anyway, off the recap we go!
Monday, September 7, 2026
Annie's Sandwich
our history
Rating: 5
Plus up™(s): Bacon | Tomato
Plussed up rating: 5 1/2 | 3
The line between an actual sandwich submission and one wherein I might be being pranked is this. There were two reason I didn't think this Nutella and St. Agur blue cheese sandwich was a prank. First, I had seen others try the combo on social media. And second, the gentleman who suggested it had way too many details in the story of the sandwich. If it was, in fact, fake, he should head to Hollywood. I dig a sweet/savory combo but the ultra-sweet Nutella was mismatched to the St. Agur (which love!). Not awful but not great. So I violated one of my guidelines and added meant, in this case smoky bacon, to bridge the gap. And it did so nicely. I also jokingly said I was going to plus it up with tomato never intending to actually do it. Then curiosity got the better of me. I kinda wished it hadn't.
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Tuesday, September 8, 2026
A Man's Sandwich
Our Favorite Recipes (1971)
Rating: 7
Plus up™(s): El Yucateco Habanero Hot Sauce and top piece of bread
Plussed up rating: 7 1/2
While this sandwich did kinda scream 70s, the fact that mashed avocado was on what was called "A Man's Sandwich" seems odd for the era. Still, hard to go wrong with mashed avocado, bacon, and cheese. Cut through the fat of all three with the bright heat of El Yucateco Habnero Hot Sauce. And, because this open faced sandwich was kind of a pain to eat, a top piece of bread.
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Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Surprise Sandwich
our history
Rating: 6 1/2
Plus up™(s): Dijon Mustard
Plussed up rating: 7
I love to learn things. Like how a thick slice of fried bologna is not exactly as uncommon in Nova Scotia as I had assumed. If you like bologna and breakfast sandwiches, this may be the one for you. I though the tomato AND the ketchup was odd but once I bit into had no problem with it. Definitley needed a mustard plus and Dijon mustard with it's nice bite did the trick
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Thursday, September 10, 2026
Peanut-Butter Sandwich
100 Picnic Suggestions (1915)
Rating: 4
Plus up™(s): Sriracha and Basil
Plussed up rating: 5 1/2
This was one of those recipe of old that was at once surprising and made sense at the same time. I mean, with peanut butter and sardines, you're getting a protein-packed snack. Albeit not a tasty one. Taking inspiration from Thai cuisine, I busted out the sriracha and basil for the plus up which dramatically improved the sandwich.
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Friday, September 11, 2026
Hot Turkey Sandwich
The Settlement Cookbook (1965)
Rating: 5 1/2
Plus up™(s): Kompot pepper
Plussed up rating: 6
Quite a few folks heard the part about the original book being targeted to Jewish German immigrant women and how it was published in 1901. What seemed to get lost was that this was from the 1965 edition of the cookbook. So while ham probably did not make an appearance in 1901, it was absolutely called for here. Not a lot of strong seasoning or flavors aside from the slightly boozy sherry. Plussed up with the citrusy, almost Sichuan peppercorn-like flavor of the Kompot pepper really woke things up.
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Saturday, September 12, 2026
Weiss's Chicken Spread Sandwich
our history
Rating: 6 1/2
Plus up™(s): Capers and Black pepper
Plussed up rating: 7
This sandwich spread was pretty epically simple. Cindee, who sent it in, said that here mome would make it with rotisserie chicken, which would be tasty. As would maybe using a combination of white and dark meat. Still, this was a nice bite that almost felt nostalgic with the smooth chicken and the caraway seeds in the bread. It was also ripe for any number of plus ups (which is awesome!) I opted for the pickley pop of capers and the nice bite of black peppers. Really got things going.
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Sunday, September 13, 2026
Broodje Rendang (Indonesia/Netherlands)
International Sandwich Sunday
Rating: 10
Plus up™(s): None
Admittedly, this was a lot of work. I imagine whomever came up with the recipe, had the rendang already made as well as the pickled veggies. So, in reality, it's more of a leftover sandwich. By man, the flavors, the textures, this sandwich had everything going for it. So delicious between the lemongrass tinged fall apart beef to the tangy pickled veg. Will definitely make this again. When, I'm not sure. Lol
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In The Chips with Barry
I kicked things off this week with some Roast Rib of Beef flavored potato chips from the UK. Beef is a tough flavor to nail on a chip as it usually ends up acrid. Here they leaned on more of a super caramelized onion flavor and it kind of worked.
These were a bit of a disappointment. It had a mild flavor of kimichi but no heat and that charactaristic background sweetness of Asian potato chips.
And lastly, these. Not really distinctive in any way. Just savory. Which, I guess is not bad?
Tune in, drop out, find out.
Barry Is Cooking Again
Yes, this week saw the return of Barry Is cooking Again. This time I made a marinated salmon and avocado don over rice. Topped with a coupe of shichimi togarashi cured egg yolks. Soooo tasty. Definitely going to make this again.
Well, that's all the Sandwiches of History recap that's fit to print. Thanks for watching and reading!
Cheers,
Barry
