Have you ever pondered the uncanny resemblance between a submarine sandwich roll and a giant pickle? The culinary masterminds at Jimmy John’s certainly did, culminating in the arrival of “The Picklewich” – a sandwich that dares to ditch the bread entirely. As a seasoned fast-food critic from johnchen.net with a passion for exploring the boundaries of flavor, it became my mission to dive headfirst into this briny creation and report back.
Pickles and sandwiches both hold a special place in my heart, but the concept of a pickle as the bread for a sandwich initially struck me as a potentially overwhelming experience. Would the assertive pickle flavor dominate? Could the fillings even shine through? And could one possibly eat this in public with any semblance of grace? Driven by curiosity and a commitment to culinary exploration, I ventured to Jimmy John’s to sample the Picklewich the moment it hit the menu. Here’s a breakdown of my experience.
Unpacking the Picklewich: What Exactly Is It?
The name itself is quite self-explanatory: Picklewich = pickle + sandwich. This limited-time offering from Jimmy John’s reimagines the traditional sub by replacing their signature French bread with a substantial dill pickle. The pickle is meticulously sliced lengthwise, creating two halves that serve as the “bread” to encase the chosen fillings.
According to the official Jimmy John’s website, the initial Picklewich lineup featured two distinct options: The Vito Picklewich, loaded with salami, capocollo, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, oil, vinegar, and oregano-basil, and the Turkey Picklewich, featuring turkey, provolone, lettuce, and tomato. However, during my in-person visit, the friendly staff revealed a delightful surprise – any Jimmy John’s sub could be transformed into a Picklewich. This unexpected flexibility opened up a world of possibilities, or perhaps, pickle-bilities.
Taste Test: Navigating the Jimmy John’s Picklewich Experience
Jimmy John Picklewich
Driven by a spirit of adventure (and perhaps a touch of recklessness), I requested the Jimmy John’s team to “Picklewich-ify” their Cubano. This already flavorful sandwich includes bacon, ham, provolone, mayo, mustard, and, notably, sliced pickles. While I admired their willingness to embrace the pickle-on-pickle concept, my initial suspicions proved correct – it was, in retrospect, a pickle too far. The additional sliced pickles within the already intensely pickled sandwich became overwhelmingly redundant. After a polite initial bite, I discreetly removed the internal pickle slices, salvaging them for future snacking endeavors.
Even without the extra pickles, the dominant flavor remained… pickle. This experience highlighted a crucial role that bread plays in a sandwich beyond mere structural support. Bread acts as a flavor mediator, a neutral canvas that allows the diverse ingredients to harmonize. It’s the binding element that prevents flavor clashes and ensures a balanced bite. In the Picklewich’s breadless reality, the sodium and vinegary tang of the pickle took center stage, eclipsing the nuances of the ham, bacon, and provolone. My taste buds, overwhelmed by the saltiness, struggled to detect anything beyond the intense pickle flavor. Bread, it turns out, is the unsung hero, the buffer that maintains peace between the assertive pickle and the other sandwich components. Without it, flavor anarchy reigns.
While my experiment with the Cuban Picklewich veered into overly pickled territory, I can appreciate the Picklewich as a novelty item. It’s a conversation starter, a fast-food curiosity that could be a fun, albeit intensely flavored, experience to share with fellow pickle enthusiasts – preferably those without sodium sensitivities.
Jimmy John’s Picklewich: How Long Will It Be Around?
For those intrigued by this bold pickle-centric creation, the Jimmy John’s Picklewich is available at participating locations nationwide for a limited time. You can experience the Picklewich until November 14th. And for those who appreciate the pickle flavor but prefer a less intense experience, Jimmy John’s has also reintroduced their pickle-flavored potato chips, offering a milder pickle fix.
