Even before fat Jared became skinny Jared just
by eating Subway sandwiches, I was already a fan. My dad used to bring my usual roast beef on
white while I was book-keeping for our high school basketball games. And my dorm room at UConn had Subway open 24/7
– a great place to grab a snack for 3 a.m. muchies.
So, of course, when Subway began to make their
way over to France, I was ecstatic. And when one opened up only ten minutes
away from our Paris suburb dwelling, I couldn’t wait to test it out.
However, there was one small thing I forgot to take into
consideration while anticipating a taste of home:
This is France.
The sandwich doesn’t hold much novelty for
French people since they’ve been serving baguette sandwiches for the last
hundred years. But they’ve never seen a sandwich shop set up like an ice cream
stand where you pick your own combination.
At first, nobody could figure out how to order.
Which annoyed the staff. (again. French) and the lines were insanely long.
When you finally order, the staff treats you
like you’re a moron. (just normal French procedure)
They put cheese on everything – whether you want
it or not.
They put it in the oven - whether you want it or not.
What they don’t
do is put enough meat on your sandwich to reach from one end of the bread to
the other. I’m lucky if I got three
small slices of roast beef.
And whereas you pay 5 dollars for a foot long in
the U.S.
In France
it’s 6.20 euros. ( a little over 8 DOLLARS!!!)
*sigh*
While it did taste much like what I remember
(the bread is the same. thank god for that),
I have a feeling Subway isn’t going to make a lot of headway in the big octogon.
Are you a fan of Subway sandwiches? Have you ever experienced a european subway?
Hope you all are having a great weekend!
29 comments:
I love Subway! I've never been to Europe, so I haven't had the pleasure of ordering there. ;) Sounds horrible!
Nice post!
I've heard from a few sources that there are actually more Subways in the US than McDonalds. I do enjoy eating there, but I don't recommend the Philly--it just tastes wrong with cold meat.
Also, never order the salad--it's just shredded lettuce.
Aww, sad (although kind-of funny). I should admit, though, I've become a Quiznos snob over the last few years (their Sammies are really good and only $3 here)
erica
Long lines and little meat would certainly be a put-off for me, and I love to eat at Subway. Ah, France, she is a harsh mistress. Roland
I went to a Subway restaurant in Ekaterinburg, Russian a few years back. My guide/friend took me there because she thought I wasn't eating enough. I don't remember how much I paid for my little turkey sub. Probably a couple hundred rubles, which would've been about $7 American.
It would if they put strip-loin stake into the thing. The French love their semi-cooked beef.
In NJ, Subway sandwiches are a joke. They put one slice of crap meat on seriously deficient bread and try to peddle it off as a sub. My kids even changed their slogan to, "Subway, eat YUCK!" My oldest swears this is why Jared became skinny.
My friend, if you ever find yourself on the Jersey Shore, I will gladly hook you up with an Italian sub that would kick Subway's derierre!
I love Subway, even though I do not eat there often. The French experience with it sounds pretty bad...but like you said...at least the bread is the same. :)
I've never been much of a Francophile (for some of the reasons you mentioned in your post), but I had a similar experience with the Scots and Mexican food.
I lived in Scotland 3 summers and then one full year. Especially during the full year, I missed Mexican food. Now, the Scots like Indian food, and you can get some really tasty stuff. I liked that. But I missed Mexican food.
One day I was delighted to find "nachos" on the menu in a cafe. I ordered them -- and got minestrone soup poured over corn chips and served on a plate. Seriously, my "nachos" had potatoes, carrots, and zucchini. Um. No. It was a tasty combo, as the soup was well-made, but it certainly wasn't anywhere near Mexican (and nachos are really a Mexican-American creation anyway).
Our Subway is kind of hit or miss on quality - not a huge fan lately.
Not even going to mention the "mexican" food in Great Britain thing, Lisa.
Went to Subway in Bangor, Wales - because despite my thinking a bakery would be open at 6 in the morning, only Subway was. It was the weirdest thing ever. First of all, all their cheese is grated, which doesn't make sense to me on sandwiches, mayo is not an option (nor is how much they slather on your sandwich), there are no pepperocinis or peppers for that matter and the meat situation is scant. So...I had to give up Subway for about a year. :) I do however go to Subway here in Montreal.
I like Subway, but I'd be disappointed with a stingy helping of meat. The filling is what makes it.
Of course, the French are used to insanely yummy bread, which might explain it. On family holidays there (before we moved to the other side of the world) I would rarely desecrate a fresh baguette with anything more than an artery-clogging gob of butter.
Isn't it odd, though, how innate cultural differences can make or break something that sounds like a perfectly simple formula?
Subway is all right. Not sure I could handle the moron treatment though.
So, Subway is lost in translation? That's sad.
I enjoy a Subway sandwich every now and then but I'm not their biggest fan. After hearing Jared also lost a lot of his weight from walking a whole lot the "Subway diet" lost some of it's novelty. Plus, there's just so much bread. But, darned if they don't make a good sandwich :-)
Can't say I've had a European sandwich. And 8 US dollars? Really? Egads, woman!
Hah, what a great subject...yes, I love subway-particularly their vegetarian bugers but you can't find them in all the subways.
I don't like Subway very much, but I do like the cookies. I think they should have a store or bakery devoted just to those cookies and others like them.
I love Subway! Their sandwiches and cookies are so good.
Now I'm craving a footlong melt with swiss cheese.
Darn.
I am not a huge Subway fan. I think it's because I can make a better cold sandwich at my house. But my family loves it so we do go there every once in a while.
Over here, they are all operated by teenagers. So I see your European attitude and I counter with the bored/resentful air of a typical American teen.lol They do pile the meat on though.
Never is quite like home, is it? Visiting from the A to Z Challenge http://takingbackmylifemakingitmyown.blogspot.com/
France has it's own culture, it doesn't need yet another American multi national trying to suck money out of the country.
I'm a Subway fan, but not enough of one to tolerate long lines or rude service. They'd lose me as a customer fast, if that wasn't corrected.
I'd sure like to go to Europe to try one though! :)
I always make the mistake of likening Subway to Jreck subs...ewwwww! Subway is much better than that, but the one near my house is across the street from an actual deli/butcher, that is also cheaper, so I don't show subway much love....now if they put cheese on everything, I might be lured!
Too bad Subway didn't measure up to your memories. I'm not a fan of sandwiches in general, I'd much rather have a crepe or a donair.
I did go into a Starbucks,in Montmartre, and found it crowded too, but friendly and helpful. It was right across from the Moulin Rouge. I'm weaker when it comes to my coffee.
Liked the post.
DG Hudson - Rainforest Writing
We enjoy Subway from time to time, but there is a chain here that does those sandwiches better.
It is less personal, but more accurate in that you place your order at a computer terminal where everything you want is precisely recorded. The sandwich makers can then just focus on making your sandwich to spec rather than asking 10 million questions and waiting form me to stutter through a serous of "yes" and "no" responses.
I do love me some Subway. Although the one closest to my house is now run by potentially the slowest sandwich makers on the planet, so I don't go as often as I'd like.
Wishing you continued success with the A to Z challenge,
Jocelyn
Kelly's first job was at Subway!
I think I'd rather pay 3 euros for a baguette sandwich from a vendor in the metro than 6 for Subway. Although they really do have yummy bread...
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