USA vs Japan vs Italy: Who Makes The Best Sandwiches?

TL;DR

Japan and USA tied with 13 points each across three rounds comparing iconic, regional, and wild-card sandwiches from all three nations.

Key Points

• 1.- Round 1 (Iconic): Italy's panino con Mortadella with stracciatella and broccoli antipasti on focaccia won both judges, scoring 6/6 points
• 2.- Japan's tamago sando uses a two-whole-egg-plus-yolk ratio with Kewpie mayonnaise and sugar on shokupan milk bread, often sold at 7-Eleven
• 3.- USA's grilled cheese uses mozzarella, Monterey Jack, Red Leicester, and Applewood smoked cheese, brushed with mayo and fried in butter
• 4.- Round 2 (Local Legend): The Reuben — salt beef, rye bread, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing — swept both judges with 3 points each, giving USA the round lead
• 5.- Italy's wild card was lampredotto: slow-braised fourth cow stomach (abomasum) served in a soft roll with salsa verde, a historic Florentine street food
• 6.- Japan's wild card fruit sando — whipped sweetened cream with kiwi, orange, and strawberry in milk bread — won both judges' wild card votes (3 points each)
• 7.- USA's jibarito, created by Chicago's Puerto Rican community using fried plantain instead of bread with flank steak, scored low due to structural and chewability issues; final scores: Italy 10, USA 13, Japan 13