Barbeque Pork Hoagie. Jeffrey W. / flickr / 2012 / CC BY 2.0
The 14th of September is Eat a Hoagie Day.
Not many people outside of Philadelphia are actually sure what a hoagie is.
Many authorities including dictionaries say that a hoagie is the exact same as a submarine sandwich, but locals disagree. For starters, they say, with a hoagie the roll is not cut all the way through:
“With a sub, the bread is a softer roll cut all the way through and the top is separated from the bottom of the roll. With a hoagie, a harder roll is preferred and the roll is split and the contents (generally the same) are stuffed into the roll and folded closed at the completion.” — Malloy, Dennis. Is there REALLY a difference between a sub and a hoagie? New Jersey 101.5 Radio. 20 January 2017. Accessed August 2021 at https://nj1015.com/is-there-really-a-difference-between-a-sub-and-a-hoagie/
In Philadelphia, rolls from Amoroso bakery are particularly popular.
What cold cuts do you like on your hoagies, and what condiments?
Have you ever had a vegetarian version?
Do you like your hoagie made with a white bread roll, or a whole wheat or full-grain one?
What sauce do you like on yours? Just a simple oil and vinegar sauce, with herbs, or a creamy sauce?
#EataHoagieDay #NationalEatAHoagieDay #Hoagies
See also: Submarine Sandwiches, Philadelphia Cheese Steak
History
The earliest print mention that CooksInfo is aware of for a “Eat a Hoagie Day” in September dates from 2012 in Pennsylvania:
“Tomorrow [Ed: 14th September]: Grinder, sub, hero – semantics. Just eat a big sandwich and shut up about it on Eat a Hoagie Day. The term hoagie originated in Philadelphia in 1953, but you need not hit the pike to score a good one in these parts, of course.” — Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: The Times Leader. Thursday, 13 September 2012. Page C1, col. 3.
Sources
Alburger, Carolyn. 1058 Hoagie Opens On ‘Eat A Hoagie’ Day. Eater San Francisco. 14 September 2012. Accessed August 2021 at https://sf.eater.com/2012/9/14/6545453/1058-hoagie-opens-on-eat-a-hoagie-day
At Lunch Time Celebrate ‘Eat a Hoagie Day’. South Florida Reporter. 14 September 2016. Accessed August 2021 at https://southfloridareporter.com/lunch-time-celebrate-eat-hoagie-day/
Eat a Hoagie Day . University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Accessed March 2019 at https://food.unl.edu/september-food-calendar#hoagie
Casey, Nell. Five Places To Celebrate National “Eat A Hoagie Day!”. New York Public Radio. The Gothamist. 14 September 2012. Accessed August 2021 at http://gothamist.com/2012/09/14/today_is_eat_a_hoagie_day_here_are.php
Iapoce, Connor. No matter what you call it, enjoy National Eat a Hoagie Day the Jersey way. Jersey’s Best Magazine. 14 September 2019. Accessed August 2021 at https://www.jerseysbest.com/community/no-matter-what-you-call-it-enjoy-national-eat-a-hoagie-day-the-jersey-way/
National Eat a Hoagie Day. KXNET. 14 September 2020. Accessed August 2021 at https://www.kxnet.com/national-day-calendar/national-day-calendar-national-eat-a-hoagie-day/
National Eat a Hoagie Day. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: WPHL-TV. 14 September 2020. Accessed August 2021 at https://phl17.com/phl17-news/national-eat-a-hoagie-day/
National Eat a Hoagie Day. Charlotte, North Carolina: WBTV. 6 August 2021. Accessed August 2021 at
https://www.wbtv.com/clip/12729854/national-eat-a-hoagie-day/