National Sandwich Day Goes Stale In Forest Hills

Wednesday was National Sandwich Day, and celebrations were plentiful across the United States. Disney handed out coupons for sandwiches in Orlando, FL., and Nicaraguan rum company Flor de Caña published web instructions on how to turn favorite stuffers – peanut butter & jelly, BLT, cheeseburger – into mixed alcoholic drinks with a blender and some tricks. Meanwhile, Colorado-based restaurant chain Noodles & Co. was handing out free sandwiches at stores from California to Maryland.

Forest Hills must have been on a low-carb diet.

In informal interviews with people from the Rego Park border to Forest Hills Gardens, nobody had any idea of the commemorative event. Some locals laughed upon learning of the tradition, while others suspected a prank. Still more simply didn't care that Nov. 3 is 18th Century British noble John Montagu's birthday. Montagu, also known as the fourth Earl of Sandwich, is credited with the culinary creation, although it was probably one of his servants who stuck pieces of meat between two slices of bread so he could eat lunch with one hand while playing card games with the other.

"I didn't read the news," chuckled Brenda Dominguez of Yellowstone Boulevard. Dominguez, who is Dominican, said she doesn't really like sandwiches that much anyway, and when she eats out, she prefers the Latin restaurants in Corona.

Corona over Forest Hills? She doesn't really like sandwiches? What's going on over here?

Truth be told, it's hard to find a deli that specializes in just sandwiches in the neighborhood, which is located smack dab in the middle of the most diverse county in the United States. Different people, different palates.

At Mediterranean eatery , owner Barry Ohana sells a delicious falafel. He also grills up all kinds of meats and vegetables and puts them in a pita, just like a sandwich. But the best-selling items are his hummus, babaganoush, tabouli and eggplant dishes.

Longtime landmark sells 18 kinds of bagels and 11 varieties of designer cream cheeses, but no sandwiches. Nevertheless, worker Sergii Marsh suggested that there's not much difference between the two items if they have the same fillings. After all, a bagel can double as bread, can't it?

What about Ascan Avenue's , where all kinds of bread are baked daily? "We are vegetarians. It doesn't make sense," says owner Devi Raval of India. "They could buy a croissant and make their own."

There is at least one sandwich oasis on Austin Street, Europan Bakery Café. Employee Katherine Gil, who is from Colombia, has a variety of mouth-watering sandwiches on display, including a particularly popular turkey-American cheese combination. However, she reports that the store's paninis and wraps are the more requested items.

What about Happy Fresh Tortillas a block east? Tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, but no sandwiches. two doors down? Forget about it. The  must be the place, right? They specialize in sandwiches, a man behind the counter explained in Spanish, but business has been slow lately.

Maybe customers are going elsewhere, suggested Middle Village native Harry Kraker. He says the best sandwich shop in Queens is Iavarone Bros. on Grand Avenue in Maspeth, where the portions of cold cuts are generous and the fresh cheeses are homemade.

"It's expensive," he said. "But it's good stuff."

Maybe they should think about a location in Forest Hills, the neighborhood that seems to have forgotten an American staple cuisine.