Cultural Connections
Pie Iron cooking is part of a unique cultural legacy that spans the
globe. In many countries you can find hinged cooking devices similar
to a pie iron being used to create stuffed, grilled, pressed or
toasted food. Unlike in North America though, most of these devices
are used by street vendors, take-away stands or in cafes, where the
demand for easily portable, finger foods and snacks are high.
Some of the international pie iron relatives include:
Jaffle Iron - This Australian design was developed around the same
time as pie irons in the United States. Originally a brand name, the jaffle iron is now the common name for hinged cavity cooking in
Australia, South Africa, and Indonesia. In these countires, any
pressed or grilled sandwich may be referred to as a "jaffle."
Panini Grill - Although Panini literally means sandwich in Italian,
what it generally refers to is a sandwich that is placed between a
two-part grill and pressed to make a tight, flavor packed sandwich
about ¾" to 1" thick. Popular in Italian bars and cafes for ages,
grilled panini sandwiches are now common street food throughout
Europe.
Toasties - The name for pie iron style sandwiches in the U.K.
Sandwich Cubano - Grilled and pressed flat, the sandwich cubano is
popular not only in Cuba but throughout Florida as well. Although
there are many sandwich variations, the classic consists of swiss
cheese, ham, roast pork, salami, sweet pickles & mustard.
North American Variations - Here at Rome we generally refer
to all of our irons as Pie Irons, however it seems like
everyone has another name for them. The most common ones being Pudgie Pies, Mountain Pies, Hobo Pies, Sandwich Cookers, and Pie
Shams. In the end, it makes no difference what you call them, as
it's the final result that counts - a smile on the face and a full
stomach.
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