Chow Mein Sandwich (1952)

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>From Brooke Dojny's THE NEW ENGLAND CLAM SHACK COOKBOOK: FAVORITE RECIPES
FROM CLAM SHACKS, LOBSTER POUNDS & CHOWDER HOUSES (2003):
   Pp. 164-165:  RHODE ISLAND'S QUIRKY CUISINE
Stuffies...Clam cakes...Rhode Island red chowder...Doughboys...Chow Mein
sandwiches...Rhode Island lunch...Coffee milk...Jonnycakes...Del's
Lemonade...Snail salad...Shakers of vinegar on the table.
   Pg. 165:  _Chow Mein sandwiches._  For the non-Rhode Islander, a truly
weird concoction made by piling Chinese chow mein in a thick brown gravy on a
hamburger bun and topping it with crisp chow mein noodles.  SInce the bun
instantly starts to dissolve, knife and fork are usually a necessity.

   I've gotta help out this overworked "sandwich lady."
   A post to the "Road Food" web site insists this is from Massachusetts, not
Rhode Island.  Several Google posts state that it was served at the original
Nathan's at Coney Island.
   It's not mentioned in John Mariani's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN FOOD AND
DRINK (1999).  IMHO, some things just don't work well on a bun, and chow mein is
one of those things.



   28 March 1952, BERKSHIRE EVENING EAGLE (Pittsfield, Mass.), pg. 8, col. 1:
CHINA CLIPPER RESTAURANT
   342 North St., Pittsfield
For a Treat After the Theatre or Afternoon Snack
      Try Our
Hot Chow Mein or Chop Suey Sandwich...35c