The LuLac Edition #5, 426, August 30th, 2025

 

FOOD-TASTIC

NEWS

 

EDITOR’S NOTE: Lulac will be highlighting food news for our readers. Since the President and his stooge, RFK Junior are now tinkering with our nutrition needs, we felt this addition to our editions will satisfy the politicos, foodies and pop culture readers.

HOAGIE MALPRACTICE

Last Saturday I was at an eatery in the county and ordered an Italian hoagie sandwich.  I’m not naming the restaurant, but this was the strangest Italian hoagie I have ever had in my life. Now it’s been a while since I had one of these tasty sandwiches, so I decided to have one.

I rarely complain about any order I get but this one I felt compelled to tell a story about it. When the sandwich arrived, it was huge. As you see from the picture, it was so big and packed with meat, the bun broke. 

Then there was the issue of the contents inside. A true Italian sub should have ham capicola, not boiled ham. The thing was loaded with it along with some very pale salami and American cheese. The only thing “Italian” was the pepperoni.

I wound up eating a quarter of it. I made my complaint known to the server and she said, “Sorry” with no other response. No telling the manager, no saying “Let me see what I can do” nuthin’.

On the way out the door, I mentioned the same comment to another employee who said “sorry” and just gave me a blank stare.

I was not upset though and decided to make lemonade out of this lemon. As a Catholic school kid, it was drummed into me never to waste food. And my God with that lying Netanyahu saying there was no famine in Gaza despite photographic evidence to the contrary, I took the sandwich home, I wasn’t about to waste it. 

As you can see by photos 2 and 3. \You can see the ingredients bursting in the bag as well as the amount of ham they stuffed into it.

So, with the contents of this “Italian” hoagie with boiled ham and American cheese, I made 6 normal sandwiches. 6!!!!! So, I was set for lunch every day this week.

In the future I will buy any REAL Italian sub from an Italian eatery, not a beer store masquerading as a restaurant. Any connoisseur of Italian food will tell you it’s quality not quantity that prevails every time. Recently I attended a Live Well meeting and the subject of eating healthy came up. A few members of the committee opined all the food festivals we have here in LuLac land and the various ethnic choices loaded with calories. This misguided attempt at an “Italian” sub is just a perfect example. Quality over quantity in this case should have been the watchword.

 

ITALIAN HOAGIE

PRICE CHECK

Jersey Mike’s Original $10.75.

Primo Hoagies $14.83

Subway   $11.59

Wegman’s $14.99

Sabatelli’s $8.49

Grotto     $11.95

Vino’s      $14.00

Bobby O’s       $17.00

My horrible sub:  $14.95       

 

CHEESE AS

A GRAB & GO

You’ll see some super markets have “Grab and Go” sections where you can pick up cold cuts or cheese instead of standing in a deli line. They are quick, convenient and in some cases marked down. But some grocers will not layer their cheese like you get in the deli line. They pile the cheese one upon the other so that when you try to peel off a piece, the slice might fall apart or stick.  You can use a butter knife to make a clean cut but that takes time. “G & G’s” are good but but hard to handle for some folks in a hurry. However, I am told that Wegmans layers their grab and go cheeses. 

 

PUMPKIN SPICE COFFEE OFFERINGS

Dunkin' and Starbucks released their pumpkin spice menus in 2025, with Dunkin' launching its fall menu on August 20 and Starbucks' menu on August 26. The menus will feature a variety of pumpkin spice items, including the popular Pumpkin Spice Latte, Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai, and Pecan Crunch Oatmilk Latte. Dunkin' will also introduce a Halloween-themed menu on October 15, 2025. Starbucks will continue to offer a range of pumpkin spice flavors and items, making it a must-visit for those who love the seasonal treat. Wonder if they can make a Pumpkin tea? Nah!

 

CRACKER BARREL

CAVES

Last week, in a move that drew ire from both sides of the political sphere, Cracker Barrel unveiled a new, simplified logo. Now the restaurant chain says it’s reverting course after losing roughly $100 million in market value.

The “new logo is going away,” Cracker Barrel confirmed to USA TODAY in an Aug. 26 statement, indicating that it would go back to its “Old Timer,” which depicts a man called “Uncle Herschel” sitting in a chair with his arm resting on a barrel.

News of the reversal prompted Cracker Barrel’s stocks to rebound, rising about 7% on Wednesday and a congratulatory statement from President Donald Trump.  Wow! It’s amazing that the caved so soon but equally astounding that in this country f problems and issues that dominate the news, this moves a President, a company and a nation to distraction.

And fellas…..the food isn’t that great.