defonte's of brooklyn

i started to write this on friday, but ran home and forgot to post:

to make up for the horrible lunch i had yesterday, a "low-fat tuna salad" sandwich (i question whether it was actually low in fat and if it even was tuna), i had to seriously redeem myself today.

i asked myself a question that seriously takes up most mornings, what can i eat for lunch that will be delicious? trying to look busy, i suddenly remembered reading about some sandwich shop, on some street, known for some yummy sandwich. after frantically searching through old e-mails and countless, futile attempts at the google machine, i was finally victorious: defonte's of brooklyn.

 (i didn't take this picture)

defonte's on 261 third avenue is the 2nd branch of the 88-year-old red hook hero shop, founded by nick defonte, an italian immigrant who decided to sell sandwiches after not being able to find work, according to new york magazine. brother, i know how that goes...

i had the pleasure of experiencing why defonte's has been around for so long, especially now, when restaurants have popped up and out faster than you can say "tyra is going weaveless!" when i got to defonte's, i don't know how helpless i looked, but a kind gentleman behind the counter swiftly guided me through the menu, pointing out the hot roast beef (injection! jk) and the pork hero.

i happily left with the pork hero and devoured it within 10 minutes of returning to my desk. the bread's crust was crunchy and what was left of the interior was fluffy and chewy. my sandy guy had pulled out most of the interior to presumably make room for the two inches of thinly-sliced, hot, flavor-packed roasted pork with a slice of swiss. below that was a crispy, paper-thin layer of fried eggplant. side note: do you have a "fry" equation? how much more delicious does X food item become when you add "fry?" i think this sandwich was at least 1.5 times more delicious.

back to the meatwich, underneath the mountain of pork and eggplant, laid what is oddly named, hot salad. hot salad is a pickled and spicy medley of veggies, served cold, including: celery, bell peppers, sport peppers, pickles, zucchini and cauliflower! my colleagues got to hear me, for the brief, but probably horrifically memorable moments in which i feasted.

so...i'm probably going back. tomorrow. if i can brave the cold and walk there.

amazing phone picture, which will surely make this sandwich seem even more tantalizing!

and if you need another example, here a photo from nyc food guy: