From a LRC post in 2006:
Re: Reuben deviationists
Posted by Stephan Kinsella on September 12, 2006 10:18 PM
Okay guys, I have to weigh in here: Sure corned beef sammiches are good (Corned Beef Academy is good, it). But if you are ever in the Philadelphia area (specifically, West Chester, in the western suburbs), the best philly cheesesteak I’ve ever had is at The Pepper Mill. (Also: Murphy’s Deli makes a mean muffaletta.)
But let me tell you, bruthuh: the world’s best ham sandwich can be had at Lea’s Lunchroom in Lecompte, Louisiana. Das good ya cher! (Just found out tonight, googling, Mr. Lea was on the Johnny Carson show one time–this video is priceless!)
Lecompte is pronounced like “luh count” by the way.
I’d had these sandwhiches as a kid and teen on the way past Lecompte on various camping trips, and always missed them. My mom and dad went there recently scouting out some campgrounds outside of Alexandria (“Ellic”), and told me about it. I mentioned I’d like one so my dad made a few calls, to see if they could ship them. He found out that they used to ship them but the FDA made them stop. So he called them back and they gave him the recipe. It is basically this, and I plan to try it soon. I haven’t tried it yet but my dad has and said it’s close to the original and very good.
Lea’s Ham Sandwich Recipe
- use some kind of white bread hamburger buns (they used a particular brand but I forget)
- go get you some ham, you, like maybe honeybaked
- keep some in slices, and grind a bunch, like with a grinder, or onion chopper
- also chop up/finely shred some lettuce
- put miracle whip on the buns (not mayo)
- put the chopped ham on the bottom bun
- put sliced ham on the top bun
- put the shredded lettuce, dill pickle slices, and a slice of tomato in between
- Then you want to compress/toast/smash the whole thing, sort of in a panini grill thing or george foreman type device, till the outside is toasty and it’s kinda smashed and hot
For another great recipe I picked a while back, check out this old LRC post:
Re: Hey, this stuff is great!
Posted by Stephan Kinsella on December 18, 2005 11:44 PM
Jeff, can’t go wrong with jambalaya (my hometown is allegedly the “jambalaya capital of the world”), but this recipe is one of my all-time favorites and unlike anything you’ve tasted: fairly easy, and utterly delicious: Chicken Big Mamou Pasta. Strangely enough, I found it at the Magnolia Cafe in Philly when I lived there. Trust me on this one.
Chicken Big Mamou was one of the all time great dishes. I still to this day mourn the closing of Magnolia Cafe. One of my all time favorite Philly spots. Good food, great bar. RIP.
I feel nostalgic thinking about Lea’s. We used to also stop there after camping out in Alexandria. Brings me back.