Where To Celebrate National Sandwich Month

By Lauren Wulf LaRoche

Move over Labor Day, there's another summer holiday in town - National Sandwich Month. Throughout the month of August these local Chicago restaurants are paying homage to the all American sandwich.

Duran European Sandwiches

529 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL
www.duraneurosandwich.com

In light of August being National Sandwich Month, Duran European Sandwiches café and bakery is giving away its namesake menu item throughout the celebratory month of August. Whenever a guest orders any two Duran open-faced sandwiches from August 1st to August 31st, they will get a third sandwich for absolutely free! Owner Tracy Mills can't think of a better excuse than National Sandwich Month to give back to the West Town community who's been supporting her over the last year than to let the guests chose any of her 35 daily sandwich options - for free! Duran is also BYOB and has a spectacular patio along Milwaukee Avenue, perfect for people watching and soaking up the sun.

Bistrot Zinc

1131 N. State Street
Chicago, IL
www.bistrotzinc.com

Bistrot Zinc will take National Sandwich Month to new levels with - the Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame, both $12.95. These are no ordinary grilled ham and cheese sandwiches. The best things to happen to sandwiches since sliced bread, tangy Gruyère cheese and thinly sliced ham are melted between grilled sour dough, topped with Gruyère custard, and broiled to a bubbly, golden brown. These French favorites are served with pommes frites, making them perfect lunchtime indulgences.

The Croque Madame is not actually on the menu but place an order and it's yours. The Croque Madame features the same gruyere cheese and grilled ham featured in the Croque Monsieur, but with the addition of a fresh fried egg served on top. The Gigot D'Agneau, or lamb sandwich, is served on thick, toasted bread with grilled lamb, lightly pickled red onion, watercress and rosemary aioli. The Croque Monsieur (or Croque Madame) and the Gigot D'Agneau, as well as Le Sandwich d'Oeuf Haché (Egg Salad Sandwich: truffled egg salad on toasted whole grain bread, $8.95) are featured in the Soupe et ½ Sandwich Special ($13.95), featuring half a sandwich and a bowl of the soup du jour.

Da Lobsta

12 E. Cedar &
131 N. Clinton at the Chicago French Market
Chicago, IL
www.dalobstachicago.com

The ultimate sandwich indulgence, Da Lobsta's lobster roll, is coming to a curb near you. Da Lobsta launched its Da Lobsta Food Truck on July 31st, just in time for those hungering to celebrate National Sandwich Month with the delicious Chicago area lobster rolls. Locate the Da Lobsta Food Truck by following its whereabouts on Twitter and Instagram using hashtag #FindDaLobsta and like its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/FindDaLobsta to get regular updates.

You can also find Da Lobsta at its two Chicago store locations, 12 E. Cedar in the Gold Coast and 131 N. Clinton at the Chicago French Market.

Delightful Pastries

French Market at 131 N. Clinton
Old Town at 1710 N. Wells St
Chicago, IL
www.delightfulpastries.com

Delightful Pastries sandwiches showcase their unique twist on sandwiches all month long. The Thanksgiving Sandwich ($8.25-$8.95) will make you feel eternally grateful for another American holiday (more widely celebrated than sandwich month). This sandwich is made with turkey breast, Swiss cheese, Dijon mustard, cranberry sauce, homemade horseradish,mayonnaise, tomato and field greens. Other scrumptious sandwiches include The Polish, made with Polish ham, Swiss cheese and Dijon mustard ($8.25-$8.95), Three Piggly Wigglys ($10) made with Polish ham, bacon and pork cutlet and served on a everything bun, and the Big Fish ($8.25-$8.95), a Mediterranean tuna sandwich.

All these sandwiches can be made with a choice of seven-grain bread, sunflower rye bread or a butter croissant. Complete your sandwich lunch with one Delightful Pastries' freshly made soups of the week ($4.50-$5.75).

Jerry's Sandwiches

Wicker Park - 1938 W. Division Street (at Damen)
Andersonville - 5419 N Clark
jerryssandwiches.com

You could very well celebrate National Sandwich Month with Jerry's Sandwiches all year long. With over 100 sandwiches including traditional favorites, their own inventive combinations, warm sandwiches, burgers, hickory-smoked gems and a rotating collection of specials - there's a sandwich for everyone. You can also create your own, choosing everything from the bread, fillings, cheese and sauces. To wash it all down, they also have a fully loaded bar featuring North American craft beers on tap and in a bottle as well as over 75 American whiskeys. Aside from sandwiches and their amazing beer and whiskey selections, music is the third pillar of these sandwich icons.

Lauren Wulf LaRoche writes about living in Chicago on a budget on her website, A Poor Girl's Guide Chicago.