Sandwich Of The Week: Jimmy John's J.J. Gargantuan

In 1983, 19-year-old Jimmy John Liautaud decided to make some sandwiches. After teaching himself to bake bread, perfecting the bread-to-filling ratio, and testing his sandwiches out on family members, he knew he had a winner on his hands.  So he took to the streets with armfuls of cheap sandwiches, gathered a huge following, and finally opened up shop in an Illinois garage: Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches. Now, 30 years later, Jimmy John's company has grown to more than 1500 locations in 41 states, and the sandwiches are as delicious as ever.

Business has been booming, but Jimmy John's takes most of its pride in its freshly baked bread, freshly sliced meats and veggies (with no additives or fillers), large sizes, and low prices. The menu consists of 6 different 8" sandwiches, 11 different "giant "club sandwiches, a low carb lettuce wrap (the J.J. Unwich), and this week's sandwich of the week, the massive J.J. Gargantuan.

Although Jimmy John was the brains behind the operation, it was Jimmy John's brother, Huey, who came up with the idea for the J.J. Gargantuan. This sandwich is "huge enough to feed the hungriest of all humans" (so their menu states) with Genoa salami, sliced smoked ham, capicola, roast beef, turkey, and provolone cheese piled onto a homemade French bun and smothered with onions, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and Jimmy John's homemade Italian dressing.

If you can even fit the sandwich into your mouth, you'll find that the meats and cheese join together into a salty, cheesy, smoky, sweet, and hearty flavor bomb. It's an Italian sandwich fit for a king, or at least one very hungry person.