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HBlogos: I ♥ Monte Cristos

May 15, 2009 2:39 p.m. • 10 comments

I recall Monte Cristos being everywhere when I was young in the ‘70’s and early 80’s. In fact, I remember specifically my grandparents frequently taking me to eat at TJ’s Pantry, located in the North Shore Hotel, now the Coeur d’Alene Resort. That place was dark and cavernous, done in browns and oranges and closer in spirit to a greasy spoon than the comparatively fancy offerings of Dockside. Anyway, I remember always ordering the Monte Cristo with a big pile of fries, then sneaking off to play Space Invaders in the arcade area next to the indoor pool while my grandparents drank pot after pot of coffee and chainsmoked/OrangeTV, Get Out! North Idaho. More here.

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Question: Did you even know what a Monte Cristo was before you read OTV’s comment above?

10 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Dogwalkmusings on May 15 at 3:05 p.m.
I did. Maybe it dates me. It used to be my favorite after theater “snack” when I frequented the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Though they are hardly a “snack”!
toadman on May 15 at 3:06 p.m.
Yes…I’ve had a Monte Cristo before….I can still feel it’s effects in the nice warm fat surrounding my heart….mmmmmmm fat.

The Monte Cristo is probably the most irresponsible sammich in the world.
Liz on May 15 at 3:07 p.m.
OMG…I didn’t realize they went out of style. I just thought it was a regional thing, since I’ve moved around so much.
I “heart” Monte Cristos.
But I’m with Toad…they sure ain’t health food.
JeanC on May 15 at 3:15 p.m.
Yup, hubby LOVES them, so it is a challenge to find places that make them and make them well.
mike_s on May 15 at 3:22 p.m.
Last Monte Cristo I ate was awful. I was driving south on I-5 late at night after working a state basketball tournament in Tacoma when I stopped at a mini mart to grab a snack. I hadn’t eaten for hours and need something. In the case among all the packaged sandwiches were egg salad, chicken salad, ham and cheese, meatball, turkey and swiss and several other types including a cold Monte Cristo sandwich. I grabbed the Monte Cristo because the name was interesting. Along with a chocolate milk, some Doritos and a muffin I had a pretty good meal for the rest of the drive or so I thought. Not sure if I was supposed to microwave the sandwich or what but it was the absolute worst thing I had ever tasted and I’ve never really been all that selective about food. These days, due to my health, I would never even consider such a meal.
Fork on May 15 at 3:25 p.m.
The Beacon downtown has a very respectable Monte Cristo.
No powdered sugar tho. :(
Frum Helen Back on May 15 at 4:37 p.m.
I remember the “Count of Monte Cristo” from radio days.
florined on May 15 at 10:31 p.m.
Had my first one when I first arrived in Idaho, back in 1965. And it was at the North Shore!
lewis8457 on May 15 at 11:09 p.m.
That was the best part of going to the Cresent downtown when i was a kid. they had a lunch counter and their Monte Cristo was heavenly, haven’t found one half as good since.
Arch_Druid on May 16 at 11:43 p.m.
First make French toast, slap jelly on one side and make a turkey melt with the other. Then scatter powdered sugar on both sides and serve warm.

I have a recipe for it somewhere.

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.