The “Special Vegetarian” at Blimpie is the Spiciest Sandwich in Midtown
“How can I not?” was the first thing that went through my head when I read about the off the menu “Special Vegetarian” sandwich being served at the Blimpie on 46th btw. 5+6th on the Village Voice blog. Doritos? Spicy green chutney? Off the menu? At a Blimpie? How… can… I… not. I posted a quick link to share the info with you people (I’m unselfish like that) and headed straight over to this gross sandwich chain, which had decided to buck the Latin food trend that other Blimpieowners seem to be impressed with, and instead make something for the Indian population working in the area.
Since I know some of you were probably holding off, waiting for the visual proof of this sandwich’s existence- I present, the foot long crime-against-nature, after the jump…
To accommodate the popularity of this vegetarian craziness (the peak of which is towards the end of the week) the owner of the Blimpie decided to create a separate counter in the front, just for these sandwiches. If you’re looking for the standard Blimpie fare, head all the way to the back- if you want the craziness, you order at the counter in the front.
The “Special Vegetarian” starts off with a standard Blimpie roll, and as promised gets topped with crushed Doritos, and American cheese. The whole thing is put in the microwave (yes, you heard me right) to melt the cheese (naturally) and then topped with almost every vegetable Blimpie offers (lettuce, tomato, carrots, onions, green bell peppers, pickled hot peppers) before getting finished off with this neon green spicy “chutney” which is fancy code for jarred habanero sauce. As they’re making this creation you realize this is not so much a cool, off the menu Indian sandwich, as a typical vegetarian Blimpie sub, taken to another level of insanity. I told the guy behind the counter to make it how the regulars order it- but apparently every customer has their own special requests (most of which have to do with how much of the habanero sauce and pickled peppers you want) or as I like to call it- how badly do you want to be able to feel your tongue after finishing lunch. A 6″ sub is around $4.50, the foot long will you run you a little over $8.
Despite it being 95% Blimpie (and 5% bottled habanero sauce) the sandwich was strangely appealing. It helps if you were a fan of putting chips on your sandwiches as a kid (I did- anybody else like fritos or cool ranch doritos on their tuna fish?) and the creamy crunch of the American cheese topped Doritos definitely blended well with the hot peppers and habanero sauce. Oh- which brings up my final thought. To those commenters who complained about me linking to an article about a vegetarian sandwich- did you not read the ingredients? Doritos… topped with American cheese… put in a microwave… with hot pickled peppers… and a habanero sauce that will burn your face off. This sandwich need not answer to anyone! Sarah DiGregorio- we are forever in your debt.
Blimpie, 29 W. 46th St. (btw. 5+6th), 212-869-2189
Posted: 11:15 am, July 9th, 2008 under 46th btw. 5+6th, Fast Food Chains, Indian, Sandwiches, Vegetarian.
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24 Comments
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cheetoes on your sandwich would make life immensely more satisfying. i speak from experience, or lack there of since I cannot figure out if mine is or not. Try it though!
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Cheeto’s on a tuna sandwich sounds good (except for the mayo)
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Dude I totally put Fritos on my tuna fish sandwiches, also Ruffles.
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My old Highschool seemed to live on Cream Cheese Bagels with Doritos on it.
Very good….very very good.
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Adding chips made bland, soggy elementry school sandwiches worlds better!
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Concept: Interesting
Ingenuity:Above Average
Chutzpah: AdmirableBut all-in-all I can’t get excited just because someone dumps a bag of chips and a spread of sauce on a totally mediocre product.
It’s kinda like saying Cockchug’s blow-up doll is beautiful because she’s wearing a great wig
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“deep inside I long to be white trash.”
What a coincidence……I long to be deep inside white trash
I think it’s the damaged goods factor.
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Bossman, I know a lady with an electrolysis parlor in a trailer park in Arkansas (if that should interest you)
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That’s quite nice of you but I’m not one for long lines.
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So it’s essentially a lettuce laden, spicey grilled cheese sandwich. Not bad. I wouldnt ever eat it, but I can see the charm.
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i am also a big fan of doritos, cheetos, or potato chips on tuna fish sandwiches, in fact, I won’t eat one without these accoutrements.
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I always used to make peanut butter, jelly, and dorito sandwiches. I love em.
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At my first office job, I was in my cubicle slipping Doritos into my boring sandwich (I can’t even remember what it was - turkey maybe?) when the mail guy came by. He was around my age and the girl next to me had a huge crush on him which made me nervous around him (this is pre-Feisty days), and he just stood there, mouth wide open, goggling at me because I. was. putting. chips. on. my. sandwich. Had I the wherewithal I have today, I’d have snapped “What, you never saw someone eat before?” and turned away, but instead I sheepishly said “It makes the sandwich crunchy,” to which he responded, “I do the same thing all the time!” and walked away.
To this day I still have NO idea why he was staring at me then. WTF.
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The classic sandwich snack from when I was in elementary school - everyone bought this from grocey on the corner:
1 cheap, commercial bakery bagel (heavy on the juice, bumps on the bottom) - microwaved
Slice open
Add Yellow Mustard
$0.50
Buy your own bag of Wise chips and pour on - $0.25 -
May I suggest Banana Butties with Prawn Cocktail flavoured crisps (Walkers).
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I just sampled one of these, and it’s nose-runningly good.
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[...] Lunch samples an off-menu special sandwich at Blimpie. That’s right. Off menu. At Blimpie. Compliments to the chef are said to [...]
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[...] other sandwich-related news, I can’t wait to try the Blimpie Special Vegetarian this weekend! Valuable lesson: this off-the-menu ordering trick doesn’t work everywhere. When [...]
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does anyone actually call it the “special vegetarian”? all of the regulars seem to call it “nacho sandwich.”
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hey zach i think this blimpie’s location is closed!!
i just walked by last week and the door was locked and windows covered in paper. -
Nacho sandwich
Best sandwich I ever had….
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This was one of the best sandwiches I had around the district….until it closed :(
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before they closed the owner mentioned they were going to try to get the sandwich into another local shop, maybe have a little corner in another establishment, just making the nacho sandwich. anyone know if they ever succeeded in setting up somewhere? i want them back so bad!
reminds me of being a kid (or at college drunk -whatever)
I used to make Lays potato chip sandwiches.
Lays, cheese, mustard and white bread.
I’m also craving a fried bologna sandwich, like the ones you get in Nashvile, with a $1 PBR…..
deep inside I long to be white trash.