Sandwich Américain

Stephanie told me that during college in Nice, when funds were low, she would occasionally treat herself to an “American Sandwich” because it was cheap and very filling. The funny thing is, the Sandwich Américain doesn’t really exist in the US, outside of the occasional TGI Friday’s promotion. Which is all the more reason I HAD to have one during our recent trip to France.

So what’s a Sandwich Américain? Start with half a baguette, cut open and filled with lettuce, tomatoes, Gruyère or Emmental, add browned ground beef (steak haché), and finish with french fries—on top! Fear not, I took pictures.

Sandwich Américain
Le one-and-only, Sandwich Américain
Stephanie eating a sandwich Américain
Stephanie digs in (I love the sign: Le Petit or The Big)
A half-eaten Sandwich Américain
I added “barbecue” sauce to mine

Update: My sister Katie had her first sandwich américain in Saint-Malo.

14 Comments

Wow, that looks horrible. Also, the “Le Petit — The Big” dichotomy is really funny.

Horribly AWESOME!

Max

It look horrible but it so GOOD, i eat once in the past in France and it delicious

Best things on earth. Go try a Mexicain, same but with chicken insteaad of beef. yeeeeeeewwwww

Sean

These are the best!

as

looks yum!

J

Looks like one of those sandwiches you get from a grease truck. At school we had a place called “R U Hungry” which sold food like that.

JP

“The” is only 1.50?

Rob

I’m Pretty sure that’s just a Fat Cat sandwich. If you’re anywhere near Rutgers in New Jersey you can get one at a bunch of places.

ejtttje

Come to Pittsburgh! This is the locally famous Primanti Bro’s sandwich :) We make all out-of-towners experience the culinary delight of eating the fries on your cheesesteak sub before they are allowed to leave the city limits.

Al

It’s not as grotesque if you’ve ever been to southern California with their California burritos or put fries inside your burger.

I’m curious how it works with the gruyere or emmental, though.

Chris

just like the grease trucks at rutgers! (google: “R U Hungry, new brunswick, nj”) i think maxim voted it as one of their top ten sandwiches one year. best hangover (as well as drunk) food ever!

Tim

So basically it’s a Cali burrito sans guac, and in bread instead of a tortilla.

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