Best Sandwiches in America 2015: Seafood Salad

Winner: Smoked Sea Scallop & Papaya Salad

Restaurant: Isle of Capri, Kansas City, MO

Sandwich Creator: Bryan Smith

Inspiration: “Most items on our menu are pretty heavy. This is something a little healthier, but filling.”

Key Ingredients: Lightly smoked sea scallops, papaya, asparagus, arugula, poblano peppers

Price: $8.95

Food Cost: $3.25

What the Judges Said: There are few things better on the planet than a lobster roll that allows the lobster to shine with minimal interference. We got plenty of these entries. But this is a sandwich contest and we were looking for something different and, of course, delicious. That’s exactly what we found with this sandwich. Smith smartly kissed the scallops with just a bit of light smoke that played off the sweetness of the papaya. The arugula offered a tinge of bitterness, while the poblanos provided yet another layer of flavor. In all, this was a surprisingly complex, well-balanced sandwich that any sophisticated palate would appreciate.

Honorable Mentions:
• Sandwich Chesapeake: Costas Inn, Baltimore
• Lobster Salad Roll: Urban Farmer, Portland
• Lobster Salad on Challah: Bin 707 Foodbar, Grand Junction, CO
• Lobster Roll: East Hampton Sandwich Co., Dallas

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