More Cooking Adventures

The Ben Johnson Sandwich.

Never heard of it? Read on. Who was/is Ben Johnson/Jonson? Have you ever wished you hadn’t asked a question? That’s how I feel now that I asked, “Who was Ben Johnson/Jonson?” So I went out to the internet and found this:
Ben Johnson or Benjamin Johnson may refer to:
Ben Johnson (sprinter) (born 1961), Canadian sprinter
Benjamin Johnson (c. 1665–1742), English actor
Benjamin Johnson (judge) (1784–1849), United States federal judge
Ben Johnson (politician) (1858–1950), American lawyer
Ben Johnson (actor) (1918–1996), American actor
Ben Johnson (artist) (born 1946), British painter
Ben Johnson (pitcher) (born 1931), former MLB pitcher
Ben Johnson (outfielder) (born 1981), MLB outfielder
Ben Johnson (footballer) (born 1981) Australian rules footballer
Ben Johnson (cricketer) (born 1973), Australian cricketer
Benjamin F. Johnson (1818–1905), American pioneer

So I am no closer to the correct answer than I was before. Maybe he was the guy who invented the sandwich and that’s his only claim to fame! So much for curiosity!

It was at least 20 years ago, Anne and I went to Boston and, as usual, she knew exactly where she was at all times, and I was completely lost.

We went across to Cambridge and the Harvard Coop where somewhere nearby (I seem to think it was right around the corner from the Coop) was a restaurant…sort of a Rathskeller. Anne recommended the Ben Johnson sandwich.

I recently recalled the incident and Anne and I exchanged emails about what the sandwich was called and how it was made. Neither of us can remember the name of the restaurant. You already know the name of the sandwich, now here is how it’s made.

* Crusty bread such as a French Baguette.
* Cut into three equal sections and cut each section in half lengthwise.
* Slather each section with French dressing…don’t be afraid…you can’t use to much.
* Place two or more (folded to fit if necessary) slices of deli turkey on each section and, on top of that, two (or more) slices of Swiss cheese, also folded to fit. Use as much as you want…it’s your sandwich!
* Place under a broiler for 6 min. or until the cheese is well melted.

That’s it. Enjoy! Let me know if you make it and how you liked it.

Note: either before or after broiling, you can slice in 1” thick sections and serve as a finger food at a party. Make sure you have made plenty…they are good and will disappear quickly.