Anachostic

I like tuna fish salad and that is what this post is about.  I have tried a lot of different tuna at different places and here is a quick roundup of the different majorly-available versions.

When I moved here in 2004, there was a local sports bar called Touchdown Eddies.  They had incredible tuna salad.  I would eat there kind of regularly and was never disappointed.  Sometime around 2007, they closed down and I have missed them ever since.  In fact, my very first Facebook post (I was a really late adopter) was a lament on the demise of Touchdown Eddies.  And since their closure, I have been trying especially hard to find tuna salad that is as good as theirs.

My quest for the best took many years, but you should know, I have found it.  Obviously, my preference may not be the same as anyone else’s, so I’ll run through my experiences and indicate what’s different about each recipe that makes it unique.

• Subway – This is the barebones version of tuna salad.  Just mayo and tuna.  Inoffensive and probably a decent choice just because it’s so simple.  There’s nothing odd to turn anyone off or strike up any allergies.
• Firehouse Subs – This recipe has relish in it, which is not to my liking.  If you like your tuna salad with a bit of sweet in it, this might the one you’d like.
• Jason’s Deli – This recipe has hard-boiled egg in it.  It’s ok, but not exactly what I’m looking for.
• Panera Bread – This recipe has mustard in it.  I ate it for quite some time wondering what the weird flavor was in it.  It tasted a little like lemon to me.  One day, it was much stronger than usual and I was concerned that something was spoiled.  They also season it with pepper, which is nice.
• Toojays Deli – Another bland version like Subway. 
• Jersey Mikes – This recipe has celery in it, to give it some crunch and also a tiny bit of bitterness or tang (as celery has).  They also use pepper mixed in.

And the winner for me is Jersey Mikes.  It ended my search as it has the same special ingredient that Touchdown Eddies had.  I originally went to Jersey Mikes and I got my usual test for new sub places – turkey.  It passed, so I ate turkey subs there infrequently.  One day, I asked for a sample of their tuna and was sold.  I only eat tuna there now and I visit multiple times a week instead of once every couple months.

I had told myself numerous times that if I found a place that had tuna salad as good as Touchdown Eddies, I would be eating there all the time.  I have found that place and am making good on my promise.