The Combo That Could

win the Souperdouper Soup Kitchen Sandwich Special, that is! It was a sweltering hot Saturday like most of the scorchers this week, but we saved a hearty appetite for the twelve different sandwiches, soups or combos of both at this benefit cook-off. And soon, we hope even hungrier people from the neighborhood will get to enjoy the best of the bunch, too.

This one-off event was a collaboration between Noah Berland and myself, in conjunction with the Greenpoint Reformed Church’s soup kitchen efforts. For the past several months, Ann Kansfield and a dedicated team of volunteers have been running the Greenpoint Interfaith Food Program, serving about eighty people each week wholesome meals made in the church. It sounded to us like fun community service to get involved in; but with all the enthusiasm for homemade food competitions lately, it sounded even better to make the hungry — as well as the soup kitchen’s staff — something spectacular. Just like we do for all the attendees at these events. Hence, this cook-off was created, and at a later date to be announced, we’ll be serving a soup and sandwich menu devised by the winner there together. But until that day comes (and word will be spread to anyone willing to volunteer for that), there is an important order of business to attend to: the winner recap.

There was quite an impressive lot of entries from the chef-testants, and all of them deserve credit for enduring that ninety-degree sun all afternoon. Sadly, Dave Klopfenstein’s ricotta, arugula pesto and heirloom vegetable sandwiches (pictured above) didn’t make it to the finish line, though he lost the tip of his finger to a mandoline for the effort and still trooped through the entire day. Nor did several other tasty entries — let’s take a look at some.

Mike O’Neill’s classic cream of tomato soup with grilled cheese “croutons”

Jonathan Schnapp’s maple syrup-drizzled French toast and bacon sandwiches (dubbed “the Naughty Jew”

Kate and Will’s deconstructed pesto and Eagle Street Rooftop Farm tomato compote (“PB&J”) sandwiches on homemade bread

Nick Suarez prepares his bacon and Swiss sandwiches on Sullivan St. Bakery seven-grain with Piri Piri Sauce, mustard and cornichons

Jui Shih’s “Asian Porchetta” sandwich on a homemade bun (served with a chilled tomato and cucumber conomme)

Some contestants went for classic, while others tried for a signature of their own. All were rewarded fairly equally. Adam Pollock of Fifty Bucks a Week created a neo-traditional tortilla sandwich, using the common South American meaning of “tortilla” in creating a layered omelet with seasonal vegetables like green beans and peppers stuffed between hearty seeded bread. In the classic category, Lacey Tauber made a “Texas Gazpacho” perfectly seasoned with Worcester sauce and some kick. I enjoyed slurping up Emily Hanhan’s chilled strawberry soup with yogurt sauce along with her chocolatey, bacon and green apple sammies. And though it was way too hot to bother with heated trays, I found myself slurping up the last slivers of seaweed from Jarret Ditoro’s savory miso, shiitake and tofu soup (another injured hero of the event, suffering from a fractured arm).

Matt Greco, Ann Kansfield and David Perez, the judges

Our judges would determine whose entry was the best, though, and would be made with some adaptation for the soup kitchen. The elite panel included Ann Kansfield, director of the soup kitchen; David Perez, from The Brooklyn Kitchen and Feast; and Matt Greco, renowned chef of of the restaurant Char 4. The audience’s votes would determine one popular winner, too. Here’s how the winnings went:

Audience Award: Jui Shih, “Asian Porchetta Sandwich and Chilled Tomato Consomme”Judges’ Honorable Mention: Lacey Tauber, “Texas Gazpacho”
Judges’ Honorable Mention: Jonathan Schnapp, “The Naughty Jew”
Judges’ Honorable Mention: Jackie Guido, “Peanut Soup and Sandwiches”

Judges’ Third Place: Kate and Will, “Rooftop PB&J”
Judges’ Second Place: Nick Suarez, “Bacon, Swiss and Piri Piri Grilled Cheese”
Judges First Place: Jui Shih, “Asian Porchetta Sandwich and Chilled Tomato Consomme”

So clearly, Jui crushed both competitions with her soup and sandwich combo. I can only try to imagine the countless hours she must have spent in doing so. The freshly baked buns, which were mildly sweet and lacquered with eggwash, tasted just like empty char sui buns, and the pork belly had been home-braised, the cucumbers home-pickled, the sauces all made from scratch. Oh, and also the refreshing tomato soup. (And she makes all these cute signs to go with her stuff, too.) This is actually a signature of Jui’s; she explained to me later that she’d never consider entering anything that she didn’t make all the components of herself — and this stubbornness and skill is what produced the soymilk ice cream and sweetened soy bean toppings at the Tofu Takedown this past spring as well. DIY or die! (For the record, Jui is a teacher, and not of the culinary type.)

double-whammy winner Jui Shih

I think this cook-off proved once again why amateur food events are so fun: through blood, sweat and serious baking, everyone managed to serve up really great stuff in high spirits, to add. And the genuine creativity and charity of home cooks seems endless still. At least, that’s the tune I’ll be singing until the day I have to help make all those buns at the soup kitchen. But if you don’t have the patience and just want to cut straight to the filling, Jui’s provided some secrets to her souperdouper special, below.

Jui Shih’s Asian Porchetta Sandwiches with Pickled Cucumber and Tomato Consomme

for the roast pork belly:

one pork belly (about 15 lb.)
garlic, minced
shallots, chopped
olive oil
soy sauce
teriyaki sauce
hoisin sauce
chopped onion
chopped carrots
chopped celery
white wine
stock
salt and pepper to taste

Saute garlic and shallots with olive oil. Once softened, add soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and hoisin sauce to taste. Let cool.

Rub the garlic and shallot marinade on the meat and roll into a tight log with skin side out; secure with butcher twine. Rub outside with more olive oil and a few pinches of salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place pork on a tray and roast for 15 minutes (optional: add some bones to the tray to create a more flavorful au jus for later). Flip once and roast another 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and roast for 2 hours or until the internal temperature is about 165 degrees.

english cucumber
salt
sugar
garlic, chopped
fresh chilies, chopped
white vinegar

Chop one tomato into roughly 1/4-inch cubes and reserve the firmest pieces for garnish. Blend the rest of the tomatoes and all the remaining ingredients except for the cucumber. Line a strainer with cheesecloth and set atop a large bowl. Secure cheesecloth at the top to a hook of some sort to hang above the strainer and let drip for about 2 hours.

Cost Calculator, Health Factor and Green Factor ratings respectfully omitted for guest recipes