I Tried the Famous 'Ted Danson Sandwich' and It's a Fresh Twist on a Deli Favorite
If there's one television character I can relate to more than any other, it's Larry David from Curb Your Enthusiasm. Not only is the show by far my favorite sitcom, but Larry is also my favorite character. When he’s right, he’s right; and even when he’s wrong, he’s right — at least to me. But this piece is about another character from the hit series, Ted Danson, Larry’s “friend” who casually skirts the line of also being an enemy.
Now I’ve led with my bias for Larry, but in the “Larry David Sandwich” episode of the Season 5 opener, it was hard for even me to stand with Team Larry. Ted and Larry both had sandwiches featured at Larry’s favorite sandwich spot, Leo’s, but Larry wasn't thrilled with the ingredients included in his sandwich. Ted’s sandwich, on the flip side, actually sounded pretty good, so I understood his reluctance to switch sandwiches after Larry presented him with the request.
Everyone came into Leo’s asking for The Ted Danson, and it got my mind wondering. Could the Ted Danson Sandwich really be that good? There was only one way to find out.
Get the recipe: The Ted Danson Sandwich
Courtesy of Dante Parker
Ingredients for The Ted Danson Sandwich
To make this sandwich, you’ll need some rye bread, sliced turkey, coleslaw, mayonnaise, Russian dressing and Swiss cheese.
Related: I Tried The 'Liz Lemon' Reuben Sandwich from '30 Rock'
How to Make The Ted Danson Sandwich
Start by taking two slices of bread and spread one side of each slice with mayonnaise. In a skillet over medium heat, toast the bread, mayo side down, until the bread is golden brown. Transfer the bread to a plate, untoasted side up.
Reduce the heat to low, and add a mound of turkey to the skillet. Top the turkey with Swiss cheese, then cover the skillet and cook until the cheese melts.
Courtesy of Dante Parker
Transfer the mound of meat and cheese onto one slice of bread and top with coleslaw. Spread some Russian dressing on the other slice of bread, then close your sandwich. Cut the sandwich in half and dig in.
Related: I Tried Adam Sandler's Famous 'World's Greatest Sandwich Recipe
Courtesy of Dante Parker
What I Thought of The Ted Danson Sandwich
This is almost like a Reuben sandwich, but not quite. The coleslaw and Russian dressing complement each other very well, while the toasted mayonnaise gives the sandwich a nice crunch with each bite. Personally, I’m not a fan of the taste of Rye bread and would have just preferred a standard turkey and cheese, but this sandwich is not bad.
While it's nowhere near as bad as I’d imagine Larry’s sandwich would taste, it’s not good enough for Ted to hold onto it so dearly. C’mon Ted, you could have given this sandwich to Larry!
Tips for Making the Famous Ted Danson Sandwich
Take the shortcuts. The original recipe calls for making your own coleslaw and Russian dressing, but storebought versions are the way to go for a quick lunch. If you can’t find Russian dressing, Thousand Island dressing would also work.
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