You guys have seen the movie Spanglish, right? Came out a few years ago, about a maid who sort of falls in love with her married boss, who coincidentally happens to be the “best” chef in America. The movie isn’t terrible; Tea Leoni is kinda funny in it. And the relationship between Adam Sandler and Paz Vega is interesting, but the most unforgettable part of the movie is this sandwich.
One evening after a late night at the restaurant, Adam Sandler’s character comes home and makes a sandwich. Not just any sandwich. But the best sandwich ever created.
The sandwich is actually pretty simple and relies heavily on good quality ingredients. It’s on a white, rustic bread. One slice has melted cheese (monterey jack, to be specific), the other slice has a swipe of mayonnaise, butter lettuce, fresh tomato slices and bacon. Oh and a fried egg over easy, which makes it a tad bit messy, but really just results in it being totally awesome.
You may be wondering how I learned how to make this thing. Well, one night when I was bored out of my mind I decided to watch the special features on the DVD and there it was: a two minute video featuring Thomas Keller making the sandwich in the movie, alongside Adam Sandler.
I think it might’ve been that night when I ran to the store to get all of the ingredients and made it for the first time. Soon after, it was my go-to meal I made when people came over. It was the first meal I ever mastered and could make in my sleep. I served it to all my friends and they all loved it.
Did you have a go-to, sure fire meal that you know will please anyone it comes in contact with? Doesn’t it feel awesome to know a dish will work out?
Spanglish Sandwich
Recipe by Thomas Keller
Yields 1 sandwich
3 slices of bacon
2 slices of country white bread (or of your choice)
2 slices of monterey jack cheese
1/2 tsp of mayonnaise
2 pieces of butter lettuce
2 slices of tomato
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste
In a medium-sized pan over medium heat, fry up your bacon. When it’s done, remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel. Place your monterey jack cheese on one slice of bread and place it under the broiler until melted (I did it in a conventional oven). Take the other slice of bread and spread the 1/2 tsp of mayonnaise (you can obviously add more if you like).
If you have a non-stick pan, melt butter over medium heat and fry your egg.
If you’re using a skillet like I have pictured above, drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil in the pan. When it’s hot, crack your egg and fry until done.
Assemble the sandwich, placing the bacon on the slice with the cheese and the lettuce, tomato and fried egg on the other. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper and bring the two slices together. Cut in half and enjoy.
20
Aug
Spanglish Sandwich
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This is pretty close to my idea of heaven. I wish I had more than just ketchup and juice in my fridge so I could go make this right now.
This is amazing! Every time I watch Spanglish (which is rather-often… I really like it) I end up desperately wanting to eat the sandwich. I didn’t realize that they had an extra about how to make it! Awesome.
I watch it when I’m curling my hair. It’s a good “in the background” movie and I always want that dang sandwich.
Ok, I saw this movie once a looong time ago, but I barely remember this part. I’m not sure I can call myself a food lover after not remembering this all-important detail of the movie
Spanglish makes me think of talking to my husband’s grandma and she told me that this movie had a “sexual situation” in it that she did not care for. My husband and I really had to think about which part she was talking about and we eventually remembered that one small scene, ha. I like your memory of Spanglish better 
Ha! I saw the movie last night and have no idea what sexual situation she’s referring to. That’s hilarious! For anyone that wants to watch, here is a link for the special feature with Thomas Keller:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXAJAyLdUXU
I used to make it in college. my favorite sandwich, and one of my favorite movies of all time…
I remember this sandwich from the movie!! I want one x 10,000!
I actually hated the movie, because I thought it seemed to have a subtext of women being less annoying when they couldn’t actually communicate (the maid cannot speak English at first, whereas the shrew of a wife is always talking 90 miles a minute). But I tend to get huffy about that sort of thing. I’m sure it wasn’t intended. Ahem.
Yum, there’s nothing better than an egg sandwich. I just discovered your blog and all of your recipes have been making my mouth water. I’m not following you!
http://fromdenimtodessert.blogspot.com/
I’ve never seen the movie (I’m not much of a movie watcher) but the sandwich sounds delicious!
This arcltie went ahead and made my day.
Looks divine and scrumptious! Where is that bowl from holding the eggs from? gorgeous!
I got it from Anthropolgie a bit ago, but I actually found it on their website. I seriously use these bowls daily–they’re great. Here’s a link!
http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=&id=78710&catId=HOME-TABLETOP-DINNERWARE&pushId=HOME-TABLETOP-DINNERWARE&popId=HOME-TABLETOP&sortProperties=&navCount=100&navAction=middle&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=blu&colorName=BLUE&isSubcategory=&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=E
Yuumyy great brunch item
My best friend and I have lived at least 5 hours from each other for a few years now, and this is the sandwich we reunite with every time we get together. It is delicious and messy. This post made me smile from ear to ear!
This sounds insanely delicious. I lived in Madrid for a while, and while there were some aspects of the cuisine I loathed, there are definitely also some aspects that I miss. Things like this sandwich would definitely top the “missed” list. Yum. I always lust over your recipes, but this might actually be the one I have enough kitchen prowess to make!
We call that a BELT, I eat these all the time, except I don’t use mayo and smear the bread with avocado, yummy!
This looks like Sunday sleep-in, wake-up-to-brunch food.
I find that the bowls I buy from Anthropologie I use on a daily basis, too. Man Shops Globe well. Very well.
I thought this looked familiar! I saw Spanglish for the first time last week – you’re right, not a bad movie (I feel like it could have been so much better…). This sandwich looks … and I bet tastes … terrific. <3
Wow this looks so good! All my favorite flavors in 1 sandwich…can’t beat that!
Bacon? Fried Egg? Bread? Oh, and let’s not forget the cheese. Yes. Yes, please.
found the link on food gawker… been craving this sandwich ever since i saw it. just made it– yum.
This like an ultimate, and it sounds delicious (minus the mayo). I think i may to make this with my own spint on it, thanks for sharing. and I never did get around to watching all of Spanglish, but now I’ll have to rent it just because
You got a really useful blog I have been here reading for about half an hour. I am a newbie and your post is valuable for me.
Have a great day! Thanks for sharing. :0
My mom used to make the best fried egg and fresh onion sandwiches. I think it may have been the use of fresh butter and homemade bread but it brings tears to my eyes and it’s not because of the onion. And oh, yes, I too loved this movie. <3
Try it with sourdough hearth bread….out of this world!
So unusual to me there is an actual forum on this sandwich, I was looking for the yoga move Tea Leoni does in spanglish to try it my self. Turns out its not just holding the position thats hard but getting into it was a little difficult its as well, I could only do it for a few seconds. Anyways I made this sandwich the next morning after seeing this movie. Its a regular meal now. However I use a piece of thin sliced roast beef or a favorite salami put directly on the melted cheese after taken out of the oven.
It is believed to be the very first rock video The trouble is, the best actor in the world can’t become someone else.
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Graceful title. I dunno how to thank you though.
Use Brie cheese instead – fantastic taste and texture.
The Spanglish sandwich is great. It’s only competition, sandwichwise, comes from the Crabmeat and Bacon triple decker, which I discovered in Lahaina, Hawaii. Lump crabmeat (you can go with canned, but then it’s just good, not World Class), mixed with a little (home made) mayo, some diced celery, green onions, a couple of drops of worcestershire sauce, and sliced pickled jalapenos to taste. Spread it on a slice of toasted home-made white bread, cover with another slice of toast. Fry some thick cut good bacon until crisp but still a little chewy, slice some vine-ripened tomatoes (a little on the thick side), and a couple of leaves of butter lettuce. Add a third slice of bread (spread with what’s left of the home-made mayo). Enjoy with a cold beer or lemony iced tea. It’s beyond good. Making mayo is easy. Making mayo is easy, there are tons of recipes. Find one with ingredients that sound good to you…lemon juice versus vinegar, some have garlic, some don’t…just be patient and slowly drizzle the olive oil into the egg yolks until they emulsify…you can even do it in a blender.
why are there comments from december and january on here? is this a really old post? oh well – loved the movie and love the sandwich just dont know how a BLT with egg is spanglish though….
This post is 2 years old. The sandwich isn’t “Spanglish.” It’s a recipe from the movie Spanglish. I explain that in the post.
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