[2] While most people make a meatball hero or sub with round meatballs, using slices of a meatloaf makes the sandwich easier to bite (photo © Urban Accents).

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Here’s a suggestion from From Eat Wisconsin Cheese.com: Switch the popular meatball submarine sandwich for a meatball hero, sub, or hero whatever you call it in your neck of the woods (see the note below).

It’s an easy way to feed a crowd during events like the Academy Awards. If you serve half a hero to everyone, along with other nibbles, this recipe feeds 12.

> August is National Sandwich Month.

> October 9th is Submarine Hoagie Hero Grinder Day.

> October 18th is Meatloaf Appreciation Day.

> November 3 is National Sandwich Day.

> The history of the hoagie/hero/submarine sandwich.

> The history of the sandwich.

> The different types of sandwiches: a glossary.
 
 
RECIPE: MEATLOAF HERO SANDWICH

Ingredients For 6 Sandwiches

 
Plus

1. MAKE the meatloaf; Preheat oven to 375°F (conventional; if using a convection oven, preheat to 325°F).

2. COMBINE the meats, Asiago, egg, breadcrumbs, parsley, Dijon mustard, pepper, and salt in a bowl. Mix well and pack into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Bake the loaf until cooked through and browned, 55 to 60 minutes.

3. REMOVE the meatloaf from the oven and drain the fat. Cool completely before slicing into 12 slices.

4. BLEND the mayonnaise and mustard. Split the rolls and top each bottom bun with 1 tablespoon of the spread plus lettuce, 2 tomato slices, 2 meatloaf slices, and 2 provolone slices. Top with the roll tops, and serve the sandwiches with potato salad or French fries.
 
 
ONE SANDWICH, SO MANY NAMES

Hero is the New York term for the sandwich also called the grinder, hoagie, po’ boy, torpedo, submarine, zeppelin, and other names, depending on region.

The term “hero” originated in the late 19th century when the sandwich was created to serve Italian laborers, who wanted the convenient lunch they had enjoyed in Italy. The name is credited to New York Herald Tribune food writer Clementine Paddleford, who wrote that “you needed to be a hero to finish the gigantic Italian sandwich.”

The original hero sandwich, on an oblong roll, piled on Italian cold cuts, cheese, seasonings, oil, and vinegar. Varieties evolved to include the meatball hero, eggplant parmigiana, and chicken parmigiana heroes.

These days, basically, anything served on a large, oblong roll is a hero.

The other sandwiches—grinders, hoagies, etc.—developed with regional ingredients and preferences but also evolved to include anything served on a large, oblong roll.

FOOD TRIVIA: The sandwich is the #1 homemade dish.