All right, kids! I have made a decision. In the fullness of time, and when we finally stop moving, I'm opening that sandwich shop I've been pondering for awhile. It's gonna be different, I guarantee it.

For starters, it will be open for only four hours a day, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. No weekends. We aren't getting any younger, and my former torture at the hands of restaurant owners is not something I'm going through again.

There will only be four sandwiches offered each day. That's it. No options, no lists of ingredients and breads, no one gets to make theirs up, and if there's no cheese in the menu I will not add it. I will leave out an ingredient on request, but there will be no substitutions. (Plus, I've always wanted to yell "No sandwich for you!" It's the only funny line I would bother to lift from Seinfeld.)

Each sandwich will be made only when it's ordered. The menu will change daily.

So, this is a two part question.

1. What's your favorite sandwich? (No hamburgers. The most complicated piece of equipment I plan on owning is a toaster. I might buy a big slicer.) In the last few days (for example), I've made:

- Peanut butter and banana on seven grain toast with a drizzle of honey.

- Tuna with capers, grainy mustard and home made mayonnaise with sorrel leaves on a baguette.

- Genoa salami with thinly sliced cucumber and hot Dijon mustard on Italian country bread.

- Prosciutto and brie with chopped spinach and onion jam on the same Italian country bread.

- Another favorite is turkey breast with cranberry jelly and Granny Smith apple and mayo on whole grain bread.

2. What would be a good name for the joint? I'm trying to avoid anything cute. Cute, we're not. Clever would be good, though.

1) Gee, I really couldn't say. I'd be one of the "leave this stuff off" types. I prefer mayo to mustard and can't stand ketchup. I like all kinds of cold cuts, but particularly lean roast beef, smoked turkey, or salami. I had PB every day through elementary school, so we had all kinds of variations, to what kind of sweetner (syrup, honey, molasses, etc.) was in our "stirry-up", as well as occasional toppings like cinnamon, various jellies, even potato chips (my brother's idea.) I usually get meatball that "that place", but that would require cooking. I also like different kinds of breads sometimes, like bagels for instance.

2) Too cute is annoying, but too bland is forgettable. What about something like "Slices" or "Sandwich de Jour"? I'm not that talented on naming things. I usually hear a phrase I like and think of what type of business it would be a good name for.

I'd go to a place like that, as long as I had a way of knowing what the choices would be on a given day. I used to frequent a potato bar which charged by the ounce. They set out all the ingredients. You told them which plain potato you wanted, and you dressed it up; then they weighed it. The only accessory besides fixings was soda.

..but I often stop in somewhere for lunch and every freakin' thing is drowning in cheese. It usually isn't even very good cheese. That's why I'd offer the "leave something off" option.

I like "Slices". Or, "It's a Slice!"

Hmmmm.

That's pie.

I like your idea about only four kinds and the ability to leave something off... good for people with allergies (I can't eat carrots, apples, peaches ect.... I know, I know it sounds made up)

I like chicken, cutlets or sliced.

No shredded lettuce please, it is so messy.

For the name how about Which? Since there are only a limited number of choices and they are sandWHICHes? I don't think it is that cutesie but it has potential.

and you show some cleavage, you could call it "Stacked." :)

I'd eat there!

My favorite sandwich? Something with a crusty bread and cured ham.

The Boy liked the name. He has visions of a daily Dagwood on the menu.

How would you like a little pile of tiny sandwiches made from slices of baguette filled with Serrano ham, some shaved Asiago and a little bit of something green or some sweet Vidalia onion with some really coarse mustard?

More to the point, what would you pay for it?

It sounds to me like any sandwich you make will be my favorite.

I had no idea how much sammich imagination I lack....

noyzboyz:

It sounds to me like any sandwich you make will be my favorite.

I had no idea how much sammich imagination I lack....

sammich imagination

no capitals

Blondie you're right...I never would have seen it!

Thanks!

Now, what's your favorite sandwich?

The Boy confessed to a weakness for peanut butter and bacon...

peanut butter & banana, try it with sprinkles of chocolate chips

all below on multi grain, mayo, lettuce, tomato & avocado.

tuna salad

chicken salad

BLT's

club

will you have sides like potato salad & stuff?

Are they going to have headcheese sandwiches down at Messy's?

How about braunschweiger sandwiches?

Dearest Messy -

For the first Question - what to serve -

the Bibo Sez: And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. (1st Kings 17:6-7)

So, any combo of meat and bread seems to comply with what the Bibo Sez.

As for the 2nd Question, the Naming of the Shop -

"Cast Thy Bread" - from Ecclesiastes 11:1

"Ashes Like Bread" - from Psalms 102:8

"Rebekah's" or

"Jacob's" Place - after Genesis 27:17 - And she gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.

"Lamentations" - from Lamentations 1:11 - All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.

"Grumblings" - after Exodus 16:12 - I have heard the grumblings of the sons of Israel; speak to them, saying, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'

"Toasted" - after Leviticus 8:3 - And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.

"Dainty Meats" - from Proverbs 23:6 - Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats.

I could go on and on, but I pray this will inspire you towards naming and running a business that is Righteous unto the Lord.

Bless you!

I think there is already a "Slices" restaurant that serves pizza by the slice.

What I eat most often is cured ham and either cheddar or swiss cheese, with one or more of tomato slices, lettuce, seeded mustard (a coarse mustard with whole mustard seeds). Any kind of soft bread or roll, I don't care for the hard crusty stuff.

It all depends where we end up opening. I can see both of those sandwiches here in Chicago.

I also make a mean meat loaf, and I haven't seen a decent meat loaf sandwich anywhere for years....