#pubsub - Go Get Your Life Changed

At Charleston Plates, we're all about eating/sourcing local. Take a quick look through some of our articles and I don't think you'd be able to dispute that. Charleston's diverse culinary scene offers a plethora of local alternatives to the well-known national brands and chains that we love to hate. Of course, exceptions can be made.

There have been a few local sandwich shops in the area over the years. I've tried some of them with mixed opinions. There's a Subway within spitting distance of my home in West Ashley and, I have to admit, I went there way too often for way too long. However, about 3-4 years ago, the day after a night of heavy drinking, a friend of mine (who drunk crashed for the night), suggested a cure-all hangover sub. Open to the idea, I queried as to who would be driving us to Subway to pick one up. "Subway?!" he shouted. "We're not going to Subway, you idiot! We're going to Publix!" "Publix? I've never had a sub from Publix," I replied. "What?! Get in the car, now!" he exclaimed. "You're about to get your life changed!"

Considering that Publix was an agonizing 2 miles further away than Subway and with bourbon brain setting in deep, needless to say, I was a bit annoyed. I bitched and moaned the entire way there, wondering why I was being denied my gelatin turkey on cardboard that I had come to know and love. My friend simply smiled and nodded, assuring me that I would soon be quite literally eating my words.

About a thousand years later, we arrived. Walking up to the store, I remained skeptical. I never really cared much for Publix. They're usually more expensive than your average grocery store and I never understood why. The place is really clean, the decorum is up to date and the employees are usually pretty nice, but I've never been one to mind catching an attitude from a 50-something cat lady cashier, as long as I'm saving a few bucks. Anyways, as we approached the deli counter, little things start to catch my eye. I noticed fresh baked rolls being replenished at the counter, Boars Head meat displayed in the meat case, the lack of stale preservative scented bread permeating the air. We get up to the counter and my friend orders a Boars Head turkey on white...but with a twist: He asks the girl if she'll slice up some fresh blackened turkey. Smiling, I waited for a sneer, an eye roll, an excuse as to why this wasn’t possible...it never came. My jaw dropped as a quick "Sure thing!" from the attendant was followed by a laborious process of removing the slab of turkey from the case and slicing just enough meat for my friend’s sandwich. "Mayonnaise?" she asked. "Gourmaise, please," my friend replied. My mouth still hanging open, I watched as she brought out a little tube of Boars Head Gourmaise, a mayo/mustard/black pepper concoction, and spread it on the sandwich. He followed this request with a number of vegetable topping choices, which she gently placed onto this now artwork of a sandwich. She proceeded to cut the sub in two, roll each half in its own paper and place them into a single, sealed bag. Blank stare on my face, still gawking, I muttered, "I'll have what he got".

The drive back home was torturous. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this thing. About a thousand years later, we arrived back to my place. As we sat down on the couch and I began to tear open my sub, as fast as I possibly could, my friend sat back and waited. He watched as I stared at this masterpiece for a moment, taking it in, in all its glory. He watched as I took my first bite through that crusty bread, spicy turkey, cheese and assortment of fresh vegetables. He watched as my eyes closed and my head tilted back in complete nirvana. He said nothing, nodded and began eating.

Never in my life had I been treated to such an inspiring sandwich experience. It was a divine moment, a turning point. I credit it with being one of my "awakenings"; those places in time that you look back on and realize you knew nothing about something before then. This was my submarine sandwich awakening. I was lost and now I was found. The days of Italian Herbs and Cheese were over. I was free.