Do you call them Hoagies, Subs or Torpedos? Or something else?
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9384)
United States
May 31, 2008 8:00pm CST
In the Philadelphia area, those multi-meat and cheese sandwiches loaded with lettuce, tomato and onion are called Hoagies. The name is derived from the originator who decided to sell shipyard workers sandwiches at lunch. The shipyard was located at that time on Hog Island and the workers known as "hoggies". Soon, the sandwiches were called "hoggies" and eventually "hoagies". This is only one of four versions of their origin. They were designated as the Official Sandwich of Philadelphia in 1992.
The roll is coated with olive oil and piled with capicola ham, genoa salami, hard salami and provolone cheese. Then, shredded lettuce, sliced or chopped tomato, raw onions and oregano. Often salt and pepper is added as well as hot peppers or sweet peppers or roasted peppers.
Variations include roast beef hoagies, ham and cheese hoagies, American hoagies (with domestic meats and cheese), tuna hoagies, etc. All come with cheese, so if you're not a cheese eater, you must ask for NO cheese.
So - what is YOUR version called and what is on it? Do you put butter? Margarine? Mayonnaise and mustard (sacrilege!!
) What part of the US are you in with this particular sandwich?
If you're not in the US, does your country have a similar sandwich? What is it called?
) What part of the US are you in with this particular sandwich?
If you're not in the US, does your country have a similar sandwich? What is it called?3 people like this
8 responses
@vicneedscoffee (1259)
• United States
1 Jun 08
Around here (upstate NY) most people call them subs. My favorite is a steak and cheese with extra cheese,light oil and mayonnaise. On a hot day I will sometimes go for a ham and cheese. I'm not big on salami so I tend to skip the assorted sub which is what we call the one you described.
2 people like this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
1 Jun 08
Interesting since we're not all that far apart how different things can be. It's about 4 1/2 hours to Binghamton from here. Same to Bennington, VT. You'd think there'd be more overlap, but even in North Jersey - they're subs. Don't know what they call the Italian ones there, though.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
1 Jun 08
I grew up in NH and we called them 'grinders', and I haven't a clue why.
I've lived all over the country and there are lots of things that are known by different names. I think 'subs' is universal now, probably because of some of the franchises, like Subway.
I usually use 'sub' now and think it's odd to hear a family member refer to eating a 'grinder', and I cringe when I hear them say 'tonic' for a soft drink.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
2 Jun 08
i live in RI-we call them grinders too.i really don't know the story behind that,but that's what most say.you hear subs once in awhile but not as often.
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
1 Jun 08
My cousin married a girl from Gloucester, Mass, and they called them grinders, too. I've heard from some that grinders are actually hot, but in the 60s, what little I recall, even the cold ones were called grinders. I can only guess it's because of the chewing one has to do to get through the roll?
And, thank you for the tonic - it gave me an idea for another topic!
1 person likes this
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
1 Jun 08
I used to call them hoagies all the time but I felt weird saying it, especially around other people so I've started calling them subs but I do slip and call them hoagies sometimes. I definitely prefer my hoagie to have a capicola ham, and salami. Sometimes I like some nice thin pepperoni on there too. I skip the lettuce but usually have tomatoes, onions and oregano added to it whenever I can. My partner had never tried that before but got curious because it smelled so good. She tried it and loved it. I usually skip out on cheese because when I eat a sandwich I prefer to taste the meat and not the cheese.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
1 Jun 08
The best way to convert someone to a yummy treat, I think, is to make them drool!! That's how I decided to try chicken cheesesteaks when I first heard of them. I didn't think they sounded good at all, but then someone brought one in for lunch and, OMG, the smell just overcame me - the chicken, the cheese, the grilled onions and peppers. I knew I HAD to try one. Well, it was "goodbye beef, hello chicken" after that!! 
@snowy22315 (208782)
• United States
1 Jun 08
They are calle subs here. I grew up calling them subs also. I am orignally from Pennsylvania and I know in some parts they are called hoagies. i like sub oil on my sandwiches but sometimes I have light mayonaisse.
@taface412 (3175)
• United States
1 Jun 08
The way I always viewed a Hoagie was Ham, cheese, lettuce tomatoe, another meat (whatever choice), mayo, mustard. I always figured it was called a Hoagie because of the type of bread youmade the sandwich with.
Subs are similar in my opinion, but the bread is different. Hoagie bread is much tougher. And I remember a torpedo, but I think it was another name for a sub.
Thanks for the background I will add that to my useless facts file in my brain it may help me one day win a million dollars LOL
I live in the South. But originally from Chicago and that's how we always made our sandwiches....
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
1 Jun 08
That 'hoagie' story is only one of four being claimed as the origination of the name. Three of the four all have to do with the workers on Hog Island being called 'hoggies' and the big sandwiches they used to bring to work. So, I'm betting that there's a bit of truth in all three of them. Who knows about that million dollar question, huh? If you win - remember me!! LOL
@Some_dude (86)
• Canada
1 Jun 08
In Canada, they are called subs. There are two main stores that sell them, "Subway" and "Mr. Sub". I never heard of "hoagies" or "torpedos"....
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
1 Jun 08
I haven't heard 'torpedos' used in a long time, but years back it was used about the same as a sub or "submarine" sandwich. We have Subway and Quiznos here, but we also have all the local delis/lunch meat places that serve Philly steak sandwiches, pizza, hoagies, etc.
@danishcanadian (28954)
• Canada
1 Jun 08
I've never heard them called torpedos before, but I can see that. It makes perfect sense to me. Here in Guelph Ontario we call them Subs, and at the stores that sell them in Arizona, I've heard them called Subs too (Subway, and Quizno's Subs, for example)
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
1 Jun 08
Very true - and I do so like Quiznos, I have to admit! LOL I just thought of another name for them - Heroes. Can't put my finger on where I've seen that, but I know a lot of people know what I'm talking about, even though we don't generally use it around here.
I can see the submarine name, too (subs) like the torpedo one - makes sense given their shape, right?
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
6 Jun 08
Here we call them Subs and I'm in Missouri. I like the meat and cheese. Ham and turkey with cheddar and swiss cheese. Add some lettuce and tomato with Miracle Whip and I'm good to go.
Hubby likes his with Salami, Ham and Turkey. He also likes onions and peppers on his.
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