‘Sandwich Showdown’ kicks off in the Mohawk Valley

COBLESKILL, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — The inaugural Taste NY “Sandwich Showdown” competition kicked off on Friday, March 1. This friendly competition challenged two Taste NY locations to design a sandwich that highlights New York agriculture.

“Sandwich Showdown” was designed in collaboration with SUNY Cobleskill students as part of their agricultural business “Retail Practicum” course. Students created a plan for marketing the sandwiches, choosing a winner, and creating buzz around these Mohawk Valley offerings.

The staff at the Taste NY Market at the Mohawk Valley Welcome Center and the Carriage House Café and General Store at SUNY Cobleskill were challenged to each develop a sandwich using more than 50% local New York State ingredients.

“Not only does this Sandwich Showdown spotlight all that’s great about our Taste NY program and the fresh, local products that are its hallmark; but the competition also highlights the fantastic agricultural education opportunities that we have here in New York, with SUNY Cobleskill students designing the program and helping to bring these delicious foods to more New Yorkers and visitors alike,” said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball.

Visitors can sample the sandwiches at the Taste NY Mohawk Valley Welcome Center in Fultonville on March 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at SUNY Cobleskill’s Carriage House Café on March 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The two competing sandwiches are named the “General Herkimer Veggie,” created by Taste NY at the Welcome Center, and “The Carriage House,” created by the Carriage House Café.

The General Herkimer Veggie ingredients

• Heidelberg (Frankfort, NY) Italian bread
• Lively Run Dairy (Interlaken, NY) chèvre
• Remembrance Farm (Trumansburg, NY) beets
• Romaine lettuce
• Beefsteak tomato
• Red onion
• Whole in the Wall (Binghamton, NY) basil pesto

The Carriage House ingredients

• Heidelberg (Frankfort, NY) French peasant bread
• Cabot New York extra sharp cheddar (Chateaugay, NY)
• SUNY Cobleskill (Cobleskill, NY) grown arugula using Hudson Valley Seed Company (Accord, NY) seeds
• SUNY Cobleskill (Cobleskill, NY) grown beefsteak tomato
• Yo Pitts! Foods (New York, NY) smoked maple mustard

Welcome Center staff and SUNY students will talk about their creations and promote the local products that were used at each event. The sandwich with the most votes will be added to the menu at both locations for a limited time.

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