What is the Jimmy John’s Frenchie?
Jimmy John’s vaguely problematically-named “Frenchie” sandwich contains salami, capicola, provolone, and salted butter on a thinner version of its standard French bread. They’re premade in limited quantities each day, so plan on an early lunch if you want to be sure to get one.
How is it?
As the name suggests, the Frenchie is Jimmy John’s take the popular French jamon-beurre sandwich. I went to a fancy culinary school, and speak culinary French, and so can tell you that jamon-beurre means ham-butter. (That’s not true. The only language skills I picked up during my time working in restaurants was to answer to “Oi! Pinche pendejo!”). As the name suggests, it’s a straightforward sandwich of ham and butter on a baguette, which requires all three elements to be of top quality for it to work.
I’m a fan of Jimmy John’s, but its ingredients aren’t up to the task. The bread is soft with a nice bite to its crust, but it doesn’t have the chew and crackling crust of a great French baguette. The cold cuts and cheese are better than Subway’s, but you could find the same in your grocer’s deli. I’m not looking for the Frenchie to transport me to a café in Paris, but without really top-quality ingredients this is a fairly plain sandwich.
Jimmy John’s tries to overcome this shortcoming by replacing the traditional ham with salami and capicola, but neither stands out, neither adding nor subtracting from the sandwich, making me think they should’ve simply stuck with ham.
Is there anything else you need to know?
The only ingredient Jimmy John’s added to their menu for this sandwich is the salted butter. For some, this may not seem enough to justify a whole new sandwich, but as a Wisconsin native, I must disagree. The home of the Butter Burger knows that butter can improve any recipe. I had a friend in grade school who had peanut butter and butter sandwiches for lunch every day. We like butter so much that we once outlawed margarine. Though I was generally disappointed in the Frenchie, the butter adds a salted richness that serves to meld the flavors is a pleasing way.
Conclusion:
The Frenchie is a good option if someone is looking for a few simple ingredients combined in a satisfying arrangement. Fans of the franchise’s “Plain Slim” options with only meat and cheese may find something to like. Others will be better served by ordering something else, unless they really like butter. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for the annual butter sculpture eating contest.
Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: N/A
Purchased at: Jimmy John’s
Rating: 6 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 760 calories, 34 grams of fat, 17 grams of saturated fat, 115 milligrams of cholesterol, 2130 milligrams of sodium, 75 grams of carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 37 grams of protein.
I wanted to love these. I think they’d be amazing if they re-tooled what meats they use. The only thing I really did enjoy was the butter- really played off the savory meat/cheese/bread combo.
I can’t do Jimmy John’s, my conscious won’t let me. The owner is a big game trophy hunter who kills elephants, lions, and other endangered animals for fun. It’s cruel and unnecessary and I won’t give him money.
Lynn, here’s the thing a lot of people don’t understand about big game hunting. The rich folk who do this pay a TON of money to do so, and thus gives financial incentive to maintain habitat for said big game which would otherwise be destroyed.
Also a quick bit of research shows lions are vulnerable, not endangered.
I hate to get into a political diatribe on a fast food blog, but I don’t care to see people get smeared with half truths.
I understand the argument. It doesn’t justify the unjustifiable. These rich folks could just donate money to preserve habits — it doesn’t require killing animals. You can keep supporting this type of cruelty if you want to, and I’ll continue to boycott Jimmy John’s.
What do you think vulnerable status means? How do you think this trash practice really helps that status? How on earth do you rationalize killing in the name of preserving? What do you think happens to these lands or these animals the second the money stops flowing? You say so yourself- it would otherwise be destroyed. So the choices for these animals are death or death? How are you possibly positing that as a positive thing for the animals or the lands? Answer: you’re being intellectually dishonest to stick up for people who wouldn’t bother to throw dirt on you if you were on fire.
I don’t care to see regular people trying to validate amoral wealthy people just because they have been mislead their whole life into believing if they just believe all the lies they are told about wealth in this country, maybe they too can get a piece of the pie. You won’t and you look like an ignorant, sniveling little slime ball here. Defending rich creeps killing vulnerable animal populations in rigged hunts cannot possibly be the hill you want to die on.
Tell us Mike, what exactly is “vaguely problematic” about the name of this sandwich?
Marvo is hiring SJW’s now?
Love this blog, would hate to see it lose subscribers because of generation snowflake. They tend to destroy everything they touch … cause feelings.
Seems like the only snowflake here getting is the one getting so upset about the big ol’ mean “SJWS” (AKA people who just care about other people) that they needed to post about it. Not to mention the incredibly insecure name you posted under- yes, we all both needed to know and care very deeply that you’re a straight, white guy. (How could we have ever guessed!?) *laughs forever*
You’re not helping by calling people names.
DO NOT SUPPORT THIS CHAIN! Google online how Jimmy John kills majestic elephants for fun! You just have to view the pictures and if you are half human you will NEVER eat at another Jimmy Johns again!
I had one today. It is small and spendy, but the taste is spot on to the sandwiches I had in Europe. Reduce the price or increase the size and I’d be “all in” with this taste.
My Frenchie was pre-made. Meat and cheese portions were skimpy, and I couldn’t detect salted butter. The bread was soft and horrible- it should be illegal to call it a baguette.