A really great breakfast sandwich!! (with pics)

I've been eating at 'wichcraft in NYC for a few years now and I was so very delighted when I first picked up a copy of Jane and Michael's "Roadfood Sandwiches" and saw that they had included the fried egg breakfast sandwich from here. It is the best breakfast sandwich I have ever eaten in my life (and I've eaten quite a few)! I've been meaning to bring my camera and finally did yesterday. They weren't sure about me taking pictures inside at first, but they ended up being cool about it. Hope you enjoy the pics!
A shot of my sandwich: fried egg, bacon, gorgonzola cheese, and lightly dressed frisee lettuce on a toasted ciabatta roll.

The breakfast menu. These are a bit pricey and I wouldn't buy them regularly, but they are a nice treat.

The after breakfast sandwich menu. The grilled cheese and the triple decker PB & J are very tasty as well. One of the things I like is that they have some really great breads from local bakeries and they use them throughout the menu. Not your standard sandwich shop fare and when a few ingredients are used, quality is key. I especially like the Fresh Air Fund idea. Nice to see them giving back. I wish more businesses did it.

Outside the shop.

A mug of peanut butter hot chocolate. The peanut butter made it very rich and silky, but I think the chocolate flavor was somewhat weakened by it. I think they used a chocolate mix of some type instead of melted chocolate.

A side view of the sandwich.

An open shot of the sandwich. Some might think that the frisee is a bit excessive, but every ingredient in this sandwich makes sense and makes it presence known. Two fried eggs (with somewhat runny yolks, a good thing), sharp tangy gorgonzola cheese, crispy bacon, and crunchy frisee that has a light dressing on it (dressed just before added to the sandwich. The ciabatta is a perfect vehicle as it is soft and the filing doesn't squish out as it might with a firmer bread.

That is one fine looking sandwich and a great report, as usual. It really does look like a perfect combination of tastes and textures. Thank you for bringing it our way, and making me hungry.

Billyboy, you've outdone yourself -- do you keep raising the bar so that you don't bang your head on it? I'll send this to a friend of mine whose world revolves around b'fast sandwiches...he'll go bonkers!

The Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate sounds good.

quote:

Originally posted by billyboy Two fried eggs (with somewhat runny yolks, a good thing

Truer words were never spoken. I always, even when I make it myself, go for runny yolks on egg sandwiches so the dog can lick the plate.

Looks Yummy!!! Thanks for sharing.

I'd pass on the sandwich. Lettuce on eggs?

$6.50 isn't too bad to find out if lettuce on eggs works. They're not doing these randomly. They had a real chef set up the menu.

Hate to say this, but I prefer Jimmy's Deli in Huntington, Long Island, NY.

"Ham and egg on a roll (hold the lettuce, please)just salt and pepper Jimmy
and a light coffee to go, no sugar !!!!" "Thanks, Jim. Still $2.99 after all
these years---------What !! you had to raise it to 3.99 because of the price
of eggs and gasoline."

"Hey Jimmy, what's gasoline gotta do with my sam-itch ???"
Mamma Mia !!!!!! Which it just so happens is a great musical on
Broadway. Try it, you'll like it !!!!!

Boy, what I'd give to be able to get anything on a hard roll. Heck, just to be able to get a hard roll .........

Just go to any corner deli in NYC and virtually every one of them does all sorts of sandwiches, all day, on hard rolls.

quote:

Originally posted by billyboy

Just go to any corner deli in NYC and virtually every one of them does all sorts of sandwiches, all day, on hard rolls.

Anyplace where I grew up in Connecticut, too. Unfortunately, you can't get a hard roll out here in Central Ohio.

billyboy, I'd say yum to your sandwich but I am weirdly anti-gorgonzola... now if it was with jack or american or some other soft-melty stuff, mmmmm. I know I should like those blue-type cheeses but I just can't hack 'em!

Did anyone ever have a breakfast sandwich from an Amish pretzel place in/around Philly?? I just realized I forgot to put it in my trip report, but the most amazing breakfast "sandwich" I ever had was actually from a stand in the Ardmore Farmer's Market. Fresh Amish pretzel wrapped around egg, cheese and bacon. It really truly melted in my mouth - bacon included! Yum.

Billyboy, thanks for the post. I've been to 'witchcraft twice. Both times I ordered the warm chicken sandwich (grilled with mozarella, peppers, and pesto -- yum!) I've never tried their breakfast snadwiches, I don't think I realized that they served them all day. Next time I am there, a fried egg sandwich it is!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman I'd pass on the sandwich. Lettuce on eggs?

Think of it as lettuce on bacon with eggs instead of tomatoes, which, after all, are probably out of season in New York anyway.

Thanks, but I'll pass. I detest lettuce.

quote:

Originally posted by divefl

$6.50 isn't too bad to find out if lettuce on eggs works. They're not doing these randomly. They had a real chef set up the menu.

'wichcraft is part of the Craft family (Craft, Craftsteak, Craftbar), created by master chef Tom Colicchio. Yes, he's the judge on "Top Chef", but don't hold that against him. This man knows how to put ingredients together. Those breakfast sandwiches are so good they are beyond belief. The bread is astoundingly good. They're a a little more expensive than an average NYC deli, but the prices are right on par with any midtown semi-upscale place, and you get bang for your buck in freshness and quality.

While I love all the ingredients separately, I cannot fathom them together.Guess I would have to try it.....

Has anyone seen this?

http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2007/10/08/AR2007100800757.html?wpisrc=newsletter

IMHO, Nothing green should go on a breakfast sandwich.

quote:

Originally posted by db1105

IMHO, Nothing green should go on a breakfast sandwich.

Roasted chile peppers?

quote:

Originally posted by db1105

IMHO, Nothing green should go on a breakfast sandwich.

You would not eat it on a train, you would not eat it on a plane...

Thanks BillyBoy... I agree, this *is* a perfect morning meal. My only concern is that it would have to be done at home, as I do not know of a local breakfast place that could do this without error. In my opinion, the soft yolks are needed here. I would also add a mere smear of dejon mustard to the bottom side of this sandwich....

i've only have had their lunch sandwiches, which are all absolutely fabulous. espec. the roasted pork.

Reminds me of the Egg Bacon and Cheese I used to cook up at the Flea Market!

Two eggs scrambled and fried
Six slices of bacon
Two 1/8" slices of yellow American cheese
Hard roll toasted on the griddle with a little bacon fat and butter underneath

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Dog King

Reminds me of the Egg Bacon and Cheese I used to cook up at the Flea Market!

Two eggs scrambled and fried
Six slices of bacon
Two 1/8" slices of yellow American cheese
Hard roll toasted on the griddle with a little bacon fat and butter underneath

Now that's a breakfast sandwich!!!

aww snap..thats a good lookin sammich!!!

Billyboy, what would you think they are using to dress the greens, a vinagerette? of which type, was it tangy or sweet? Thinking of trying this at my cafe. YUM!

I think it's a light vinaigrette. I make one at home with olive oil, dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt pepper and a touch of honey to balance out the tartness of the other ingredients. I know the green are VERY LIGHTLY dressed. Just a hint of the dressing on them, but it has a presence.

BillyBoy, that sandwich looks wonderful. When I read your description of the ingredients, I thought to myself, "This is not any amateur, slap-jack creation". Then I read further done-thread that it is a Coliccio restaurant.

BTW, a poached egg on a frisee salad with vinaigrette is almost a cliche at a French bistro. It is easy to see where that combination came from.