🥪 National Eat A Hoagie Day
Forget politics, pandemics, and Wall Street — today it’s all about National Eat A Hoagie Day.
The celebration honors the long, layered sandwich that goes by many names: hoagie, sub, grinder, hero. The tradition traces back to Italian-American communities in Philadelphia in the early 20th century, where the combination of Italian cold cuts, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and dressing was piled high into crusty rolls. The name “hoagie” is often credited to Philadelphia shipyard workers nicknamed “hoggies,” who carried these hearty sandwiches to work.
The day recognizes both the sandwich itself and its many regional variations across the United States. While “hoagie” is Philadelphia’s word of choice, most of the country knows them as subs, and in New England they’re just as likely to be called grinders. Whatever the name, the essence is the same: a long roll, stacked with meats, cheeses, vegetables, and that messy-but-perfect balance of oil, vinegar, and seasonings.
For this year’s National Eat A Hoagie Day, I photographed three Jersey Mike’s Original Italian hoagies, cut and stacked against my signature black background. Jersey Mike’s, which started as a single sub shop in Point Pleasant, New Jersey in 1956, has grown into a national chain with over 2,000 locations. They’ve built their reputation on freshly sliced meats and cheeses, rolls baked fresh daily, and sandwiches made to order “Mike’s Way” — onions, lettuce, tomato, oil, vinegar, and oregano.
The hoagie is both a cultural icon and a humble meal — straight from the bag, unstyled, layered with flavor and history.
And if you think hoagies look good, wait until you see what happens when tacos, burgers, and sushi get the same black-background treatment. Explore my ongoing series, “Food From Bag To Background,” here: https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000wQ3fbeEezF0 Just don’t click on an empty stomach.
National Panini Day — Grocery Store Counter Style
Finding a panini in the world of fast food is a bit like spotting a vintage sports car in a grocery store parking lot — rare, but worth the stop. My hunt ended here in Palm Springs, not at a café or chain, but at the counter of Jensen’s Foods. Freshly made when ordered for takeout. Not fast food fast, but quick enough.
This is their Arrivederci Panini: peppercorn turkey, white cheddar, Genoa salami, onion, pepperoncini, and basil on focaccia bread, finished with Italian vinaigrette. Pressed to order, sliced, and packed to go — it’s proof that “fast” can still be fresh.
The panini — an Italian term for a small bread roll or sandwich — became popular in Italy in the mid-20th century and found its way into American cafés in the 1980s and 1990s, often prepared on a ridged grill to create its signature pressed texture and golden stripes. Once considered an upscale alternative to the standard sandwich, today the panini is a staple in cafés and delis around the world.
Photographed here against my signature black background, the stacked halves show off the grilled bread, melted cheese, and layers of savory filling. A fitting way to mark the day — and maybe an excuse to pick up lunch.
Hungry? More of my Commercial Food Photography on my website at https://www.secondfocus.com/index/G0000WFAqDJQOgKU
National Onion Day
National Onion Rings Day
Happy National Onion Rings Day, June 22nd The origin of onion rings dates back to 1802, with a recipe called “Fried Onions with Parmesan Cheese” featured in John Mollard’s cookbook, The Art of Cookery Made Easy and Refined. This early recipe recommends slicing onions into 1/2 inch rings, coating them in a batter made of flour, cream, salt, pepper, and Parmesan cheese, and then deep-frying them in boiling lard.
These onion rings from Sonic Drive-In are consistently ranked as the best among fast food offerings. They have a slightly sweet taste, which comes from an unusual ingredient. Do you know what it is? More of my food photographs on my website at http://SecondFocus.com
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