Chef Chatter

Schlotzsky's chef reveals the art behind making 'the perfect sandwich'

Schlotzsky's Culinary Lead Jennifer Keill believes the perfect sandwich must take into account these four elements.

May 14, 2020

By Jennifer Keil, Schlotzsky's culinary lead

Since 1971, Schlotzsky's has been known for bold, authentic and flavorful sandwiches. The Original sandwich, inspired by the Muffaletta, is the perfect blend of 13 unique ingredients, sandwiched between our signature baked fresh-from-scratch sourdough bread. Over the years, we've added more items to the menu, but our guests continue to return for the unique combinations of ingredients that make Schlotzsky's the go-to for hearty, satisfying sandwiches.

When we think about the "formula" for a great sandwich, it always has the same four elements:
1. Texture
When creating the ultimate sandwich, a variety of textures is critical. Your ingredients have to vary in crunch, creaminess and everything in between. Even the order in which you build a sandwich is supercritical. No one wants a soggy sandwich! A few tips are to put the condiments directly on the bread first, followed by denser items such as meat and cheese, leaving room for crunchy veggies toward the top.

2, Acid
Ingredients that provide unique balance contain acid, such as that squeeze of lemon or lime in dressings or toppings like pickles, yellow peppers, and pepperoncinis that give your sandwich a super boost. And let's not forget what a little splash of oil and vinegar can do to a sandwich — the acid in vinegar can give your sandwich the perfect balance and burst of flavor.

3. Spice
Spice doesn't have to mean spicy. Spices add a variety of flavors that transform a sandwich from ordinary to extraordinary. For some of our guests, they do love that spicy kick (and it's one of the reasons our hot sauce is so beloved), but for others, it's a flavor-punch coming from one of our sauces or the bold hit of pepper in our jalapeno cheese. Our top-selling potato chip is Jalapeno, with sweet and smoky BBQ coming in a close second.

4. Great Bread
The foundation of a good sandwich is always the bread. Did you know that we bake our bread from scratch every morning? Mixing fresh ingredients and allowing time for proofing and baking is what gives our bread that cravable crisp outer layer with a soft and airy center. We start with our most popular proprietary sourdough recipe and add additional ingredients to create our specialty bread, such as jalapeno cheese.

Great sandwiches have to be a balanced creation. As a chef, it starts with quality ingredients and ends with customers asking for more. What's your favorite type of sandwich? Let us know —DM us @Schlotzskys.