Do You Dip?

The “Pick 2” at Panera Bread (Saint Louis Bread Company to my friends in STL) probably doesn’t get the respect it deserves in the world of sandwiches.  You can do soup-sandwich, sandwich-salad or soup-salad (although that’s not recommended).

Personally, I like the soup-Turkey Sandwich option because it gives me the opportunity to dip my sandwich in the soup.  It doesn’t matter if it’s Chicken Noodle (although that’s my fave) or Tomato, Corn Chowder or even Chili – I’m dipping my Turkey Sandwich like a mofo.

I also enjoy dipping my cookies in milk.  Dipping, dunking, whatever, I’m all about it.

Are the loyal readers of the Turkey Sandwich Report dippers like me?  Let me know with the poll below:

Reader Mail: No Love for Turkey Sandwiches in The Lou?

I am originally from the St. Louis area.  I grew up there, but I last lived there in the Summer of 2000 – so it’s been a while.

My best friend in the whole wide world, Pat Murphy (who still lives in St. Louis) left me a message this week and asked, “Why I aren’t you giving St. Louis any “Turkey Sandwich Report Love”?

Great question, Pat.

Here’s the reason:  Back in the day, when I lived in St. Louis, there was a place called “St. Louis Bread Company.”  They were a nice little business and expanded across the St. Louis metropolitan area.  They even opened up a store down in Cape Girardeau, MO.  Bread was their name, but sandwiches was their game – and maybe their soup in a bread bowl.  But for me, it was their TURKEY Sandwiches.

Fast forward a couple years.  As I traveled the country, I started to see sandwich shops called PANERA Bread popping up all over the place.

Panera Bread?  It looked like St. Louis Bread Company.  It smelled like St. Louis Louis Bread Company?  It tasted like St. Louis Bread Company? What the hell is going on here?

I’ll tell you what’s going on here.  St. Louis Bread Company expanded.  But when they expanded, they pussed out and changed their name because the name of the city (St. Louis) could have potentially been polarizing to mainstream America.

So, to answer Pat’s question directly: I’m bitter about Panera Bread.  Their name was ST. LOUIS BREAD COMPANY.  And if they don’t have the balls to name all of their stores that, then it shames ALL of the Turkey Sandwiches that come out of the City of St. Louis.

What?  You don’t think that’s fair?  I really don’t give a shit.  I’ll change my opinion when the Panera Bread down the street from me sacks up and rightfully changes their name back to St. Louis Bread Company.