She made the bed and she would like to lie in it. Mara Cherkasky’s favorite comfort food is a BLT.
The elements of a perfect BLT
She sleeps best on bacon
- Welcome to the Lunch Encounter, a blog devoted to the mighty sandwich, with particular focus on American regional specialties. I am Lisa Cherkasky, a Washington, DC-based food stylist, writer and cook. To see some of my work take a look at my website:
http://www.lisacherkasky.com
Pages
- –WICH LIT–
- ‘wichcraft by Tom Colicchio
- American Sandwich by Becky Mercuri
- Autobiography of a Delicatessen
- Beautiful Breads & Fabulous Fillings by Margaux Sky
- Great Sandwiches by Susan Costner
- Grilled Cheese By Marlena Spieler
- Hamburger: A Global History by Andrew Smith
- Hot Dog: A Global History by Bruce Kraig
- I’ll Have What They’re Having by Linda Stradley
- Nancy Silverton’s Sandwich Book by Nancy Silverton with Teri Gelber
- Panini by Carlo Middione
- Panini by Melanie Barnard
- Sandwiches, Panini, and Wraps by Dwayne Ridgaway
- Save the Deli by David Sax
- Schwartz’s Hebrew Delicatessen: The Story by Bill Brownstein
- Step-By-Step 50 Great Sandwiches by Carole Handslip
- The BLT Cookbook by Michele Anna Jordan
- The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches: Recipes, History, and Trivia for Everything Between Sliced Bread, By Susan Russo
- The Hamburger: A History by Josh Ozersky
- Toast, Homage to a Superfood by Nick Parker
- Tomatoes, A Savor the South Cookbook, by Miriam Rubin
- CHAINS THAT RATE
- CONDIMENTS
- DIY SANDWICHES
- FIRST COUSINS ONCE REMOVED
- Hamburgers
- Hotdogs
- Ben’s Chili Bowl – Washington, DC
- Chicago Dog Tales from Time Out Chicago
- Frank – Austin, TX
- Holly Eats – Hotdogs – Great list!
- Hot Doug’s – Chicago
- M’Dawg- Washington, DC – CLOSED
- Poochie’s – Skokie, IL
- Super Duper Weenie – Fairfield, CT
- Superdawg – Chicago
- Ted’s Hotdogs – Buffalo, NY
- The Wiener’s Circle – Chicago
- FOOD MUSEUMS
- Cuba Cheese Museum – Cuba, NY, USA
- Deutsches Currywurst Museum – Berlin, Germany
- Doesburgsch Mostard en Aziijnmuseum – Doesburg, NETHERLANDS
- Fallot Mustard Mill – Beaune, FRANCE
- Greensboro Lunch Counter, 1960
- Lunch Box Museum – Columbus, Georgia
- Mount Horeb Mustard Museum – Mount Horeb, WISCONSIN
- Musee de la Moutarde Amora – Dijon, FRANCE
- Mustard Shop Museum – Norfolk, ENGLAND
- Raye’s Mustard Mill – Eastport, ME
- Spam Museum – Austin, Minnesota, USA
- The International Central Services Toaster Museum
- The Mustard Shop – Boston, MASSACHUSETTS
- The Toaster Museum Foundation
- GOOD LOOKIN’ SANDWICHES
- ICONIC SANDWICHES
- Beef on Weck – Buffalo
- Breaded Pork Tenderloin
- Chop Suey Sandwich
- Cuban Sandwich
- French Dip
- Grilled Cheese
- Grouper Dog – South Florida
- Horseshoe – Springfield, Illinois
- Hot Brown
- Lobster Roll
- Mother-in-Law Sandwich – Chicago
- New Jersey Sloppy Joe
- Peanut Butter and Banana
- Pork Roll – New Jersey
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- Spiedies
- St Paul Sandwich
- Tomato Sandwich
- LUNCH FOR BREAKFAST? SANDWICHES!
- Parm
- SANDWICH JOINTS
- CANADA
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- UNITED STATES
- GREAT LAKES
- New York – Western
- Pennsylvania – Western
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- Big Jim’s – lower Greenfield
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- Danny’s Italian Hoagies – Bethel Park
- Emil’s Lounge
- Enrico’s
- Isaly’s – West View
- My Ngoc Restaurant
- Pittsburgh Deli Company – Shadyside
- Primanti’s
- Roland’s in the Strip
- Rudy’s Grill
- Sam and Rini’s Truck in the Strip
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- Triangle Bar – Swissvale
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- Ben’s Chili Bowl
- Booeymonger
- Bread Line is closed :(
- Bub and Pop’s
- Cafe Ole
- Church Key
- Cowgirl Creamery – CLOSED
- Deli City Restaurant – Bladensburg Road
- DGS Delicatessen
- Dupont Italian Kitchen
- Dupont Market on 18th Street
- Estadio
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- Hank’s Oyster Bar – Lobster Roll
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- Hodge’s – New York Ave
- J.J.’s Cheesesteaks – 14th St, NW
- Jettie’s on Foxhall Road
- Juice Joint – Vermont Avenue
- Luna Grill – on Connecticut Ave – Grilled Cheese
- Mama’s Kitchen – Anacostia
- Mangialardo and Sons
- Market Lunch at Eastern Market – Crabcake
- MGM Roast Beef – Brentwood Road
- Modern Times Cafe-Upper Northwest, Connecticut Avenue
- Morty’s on Wisconsin Avenue above Tenley
- Mr Henry’s – Capitol Hill
- Muncheez – Georgetown
- Neopol Savory Smokery at Union Markey
- Pepitos Bakery or Tacos Pepito or something like that
- Pizzeria Paradiso – Dupont Circle and G’Town
- Public Option – Langdon in NE
- Red Apron Butchery
- Schwarma Spot – Adams Morgan
- Shawafel
- Shawarma Spot – Adams Morgan – Late Night too
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- SUNdeVICH
- Taylor Gourmet
- Two Amys – Panini
- Vace
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- Z Burger
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- Maryland Suburbs
- Cornucopia – Bethesda
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- Cubanos – Silver Spring
- Gilly’s – Rockville
- Gilly’s Craft Beer and Fine Wine – Rockville
- Louisiana Kitchen – Bethesda
- Marcella’s in Chevy Chase
- Marchones Italian Delicatessen – Wheaton
- Mark’s Kitchen
- Max’s Kosher Deli in Wheaton
- Moti’s Falafel Stand – Rockville
- Orion Gourmet Takeaway-Greenbelt
- Parkway Deli – Silver Spring
- Pita Hut – Rockville
- Red Tomato – Bethesda
- Riccuiti’s in Olney – Good vegetarian choice
- Roy’s Place in Gaithersburg
- Saint Michel Bakery- Rockville
- The Tomato Place – Columbia – Vegetarian Choice
- Smoked and Stacked
- Virginia Suburbs
- Al’s – Cheesesteaks in Del Ray
- American Seafood – Arlington
- Athens – Bailey’s Crossroads
- Atilla’s – South Arlington
- Banh Mi DC Sandwich – Falls Church
- Bayou Bakery – Arlington
- Cafe Parisien Express – Lee Hwy – Arlington
- Caribbean Grill on Lee Hwy
- Celebrity Delly – Falls Church
- Chutzpah – Fairfax
- Chutzpah Deli in Fairfax
- Cosmopolitan Bakery – Alexandria
- Eammon’s – Old Town Alexandria
- Earl’s in Arlington – Wilson Blvd
- German Gourmet – Falls Church
- Kilroy’s – Springfield – French Dip
- Le Matin de Paris – Annandale
- Majestic Cafe – Old Town Alexandria
- Perfect Pita on Fairfax in Alexandria
- Ray’s Hellburger – Rosslyn
- Ray’s to the Third – Arlington
- Rebel Heroes – Arlington
- Rustico – Burgers! – Alexandria
- Sauca – South Arlington – CLOSED
- Song Que – Vietnamese Bakery and Deli
- The Blue and White – Alexandria, VA
- The Broiler on Columbia Pike at Monroe
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- Clementine
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- Defonte’s of Brooklyn
- Ino – Bedford Street
- Kai Feng Fu Dumpling House – Sunset Park, Brooklyn
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- Lamazou – Murray Hill
- Liebman’s – The Bronx
- Little Morocco – Astoria, Queens
- Loeser’s – Bronx
- Los Girasoles – Woodside, Queens
- Mamoun’s Falafel Restaurant
- No. 7 Sub
- Porchetta – East Seventh Street
- Press 195 – Park Slope, Brooklyn and Bayside, Queens
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- Central Grocery
- Charlie’s Seafood
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- Johnny’s Po-Boy
- Liuzza’s
- Liuzza’s by the Track
- Mahony’s Po-Boy Shop
- Napoleon House
- Parasol’s Restaurant and Bar
- Parkway Bakery and Tavern
- Rocky and Carlo’s – Chalmette
- St. James Cheese Company
- Stanley
- Stein’s Market and Deli
- Zimmer’s Seafood
- North Carolina
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- Tennessee
- SOUTHWEST
- GREAT LAKES
- WEST
- WEST COAST
- California
- Los Angeles
- All About the Bread
- Artisan Cheese Gallery
- Attari Sandwich Shop
- Banh Mi My Too
- Bay Cities Deli
- Capriotti’s
- Clementine’s
- Cole’s – French Dip
- Cooks Tortas
- Gram and Papa’s
- Joan’s on Third
- La Brea Bakery
- Langer’s
- Mario’s Italian Deli
- Musso & Frank Grill
- Papa Cristo’s
- Philippe the Original
- Porto’s Bakery
- Porto’s Bakery – Cuban Sandwiches
- Sando’s Sub Shop
- Spitz
- The Grilled Cheese Truck
- The Nickel Diner
- The Oinkster
- Xoia – French Dip Banh Mi
- Oakland
- Palm Springs
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Venice
- Los Angeles
- Nevada
- California
- –WICH LIT–
The Lunch Encounter 
Falling out of my chair at work looking like a complete tool as I laugh hysterically at the Bed O’ BLT!
Why is there a woman on the blt?
It’s like a fairy tale. Lovely.
Hi Claire,
Do you know what “comfort food” is? It’s something you eat when you’re tired or sad or stressed and you want to feel safe and good and, well, comforted. It might be something that your mom made that you really like, or it might be something easy to eat and not challenging, like mashed potatoes, or it might be something that you always like no matter what. A BLT is what always sounds good to my sister and always cheers her up when she is a little down.
So, the woman in the sandwich represents my sister who would like to sleep in a big BLT. The BLT is her perfect comfort food. Get it? A bed is comfortable and safe,and comfort food makes you feel comfortable and safe.
Hope that helps.
Snack
And what a comfort that would be–laying on the BLT bed, dreaming of cupcakes for dessert.