Today is Eat a Hoagie Day. So what is the difference between a sub and a hoagie? A hoagie is a bread roll sandwich piled high with deli meats, cheese, fixings and dressing, and is usually at least six inches long. The term ‘hoagie’ is most commonly used in Philadelphia and South Jersey, and has several possible origin stories.
One explanation for the name is its popularity with the Italian immigrants who worked at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, also known as ‘Hog Island’. The workers and their favorite sandwich were known as ‘hoggies,’ which changed over the years to ‘hoagies’. An alternative explanation also has the name starting out as ‘hoggies,’ but this time because you had to be a hog to eat such a big sandwich.
Hoagies are usually served cold, and because of their association with Italian American culture, they tend to be made using Italian ingredients. Italian bread rolls, salami and provolone cheese are all popular.
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