Toby Keith’s Favorite Fried Bologna Sandwich

Toby Keith's Favorite Fried Bologna Sandwich

❤️🤍💙 Toby Keith’s ❤️🤍💙
Favorite Fried Bologna Sandwich

Little did we know on December 14, 2023 at the Dolby Live theater at Park MGM in Las Vegas, that we were witnessing the final show of his lifetime.

Our beloved country music icon, unapologetic patriot and huge supporter of our troops, kind-hearted philanthropist, and authentic troubadour Toby Keith, passed away less than two months later.

Here I honor his memory with a recipe and stories about his favorite sandwich.

Set List
Dolby Live at Park MGM, December 14, 2023

“Big Dog Daddy”
“Made In America”
“God Love Her”
“I Wanna Talk About Me”
“Whiskey Girl”
“Who’s That Man”
“Wish I Didn’t Know Now”
“Beer For My Horses”
“Somewhere Else”
“I Won’t Let You Down”
“You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This”
“Don’t Let The Old Man In”
“Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes”
“Who’s Your Daddy?!”
“Dream Walkin’”
“Red Solo Cup”
“As Good As I Once Was”
“I Love This Bar”
“Should’ve Been A Cowboy”
“How Do You Like Me Now”
“A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action”

Encore
“American Soldier”
“Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (Angry American)”

Toby Keith in Las Vegas Dec. 14, 2023
Toby Keith, Las Vegas, December 14, 2023

It was a special moment when Toby played his last big hit “Don’t Let the Old Man In.”

In 2017, during Clint Eastwood’s golf tournament in California, he shared with Toby Keith that he was about to leave for a three-month shoot for “The Mule.”

Toby, impressed by Eastwood’s ability to handle such a busy schedule at an older age, asked, “How do you do it, man?” Eastwood replied, “I just don’t let the old man in.” This sparked Toby’s creative process and inspired him to write the song.

💔 💔 💔

Toby then followed that song with a tribute to his late friend, Jimmy Buffett with “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.”

Here are a couple snippets from his last performance on December 14, 2023:

Don’t Let The Old Man In and Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

And my tribute to Jimmy Buffett with a recipe for a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” here. 🍔❤️🍔

Toby Keith's Favorite Fried Bologna Sandwich

I Love This Bar & Grill opened at Harrah’s Las Vegas in 2005. It had a long run but never reopened again after closing due to the pandemic in 2020.

In this video, the singer tells the story of the executive chef at Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (Harrah’s parent company) who was thoroughly displeased upon discovering a fried bologna sandwich featured on the new restaurant’s menu.

Despite the chef’s initial decision to remove it, Toby stood firm on keeping it. Eventually, the chef acknowledged that the sandwich was responsible for the restaurant’s remarkable success, boasting an opening volume three times greater than their other establishments.

I also read that Toby had a horse named Fried Bologna. I hope that’s true. 🐎

How to Make
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Toby Keith’s Favorite Sandwich 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

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Smoked Salmon Grilled Cheese

Smoked Salmon Grilled Cheese

🧀 Smoked Salmon Grilled Cheese Sandwich 🧀
Inspired By Eric Ripert

The Chef is a genius at pairing seafood with minimal ingredients to create a dish where the diner is astonished that those simple components could be combined in such a way to result in something so spectacular.

Here a plain old grilled cheese sandwich is perfect in its four-star simplicity with just four items: smoked salmon, Swiss cheese, bread, and butter. After I came across this Instagram post by Eric Ripert, and being a lover of salmon in all its preparations, Smoked Salmon Grilled Cheese just had to be on my menu.

At Le Bernardin Chef Ripert is world-renowned for his exquisite, clean, seafood-centered cuisine. With this sandwich he proves that every dish does not have to be fancy to be sublime.

Smoked Salmon Grilled Cheese Recipe

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Old Bay Shrimp Cake Sliders

Old Bay Shrimp Cake Sliders

Old Bay Shrimp Cake Sliders

Old Bay takes the place of ordinary salt & pepper in these juicy, flavorful shrimp cakes. It is a classic seafood seasoning made of celery salt (salt, celery seed), spices (including red pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves), and paprika. Originally created in Baltimore, Maryland over 75 years ago it is a classic for a good reason…it truly enhances the flavor of most shellfish, in this instance – shrimp cakes. Fans of Old Bay can read the interesting history here.

A toasty slider bun from the bakery is smeared with creamy mayonnaise then layered with a succulent shrimp cake, crunchy cucumber, tangy pickled red onion, sub-style oil & vinegar slaw, and just a sprinkle more of Old Bay.

We loved this sandwich for its petite size, the balance of textures and flavors and colors, and especially the absolutely delicious shrimp cake recipe. Thinking of using this shrimp cake in an Eggs Benedict dish soon….

Old Bay Shrimp Cake Sliders Recipe

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Tartine de Thon

Tartine de Thon

Tartine de Thon

Bistro Style Open-Faced Tuna Sandwich
WITH Fire Roasted Hatch Chiles

The second post in my “Bistro Collection” inspired by Bouchon and Chef Thomas Keller is a Tartine de Thon. This is simply a French bistro style open-faced tuna sandwich with a side of pommes frites… But it is très magnifique and muy magnífico with a French-New Mexico fusion twist!

My tuna salad recipe includes Roasted Hatch Chiles from New Mexico, plus lime juice & cilantro to complement the smoky green chiles. Served on a toasted thick slice of artisan seeded boule, it is un déjeuner parfait.

Bouchon Bistro

Tartine de Thon Recipe

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The Vegan Gutbuster

creative cooking crew, vegan sausage recipe, hearty vegan sandwich, gutbuster

The Vegan Gutbuster Sandwich
In Honor of My Alma Mater, The University of Illinois

Homemade Vegan Italian Sausage on a Toasted French Baguette
Green Bell Pepper, Onion, Mushroom, Tomato
Spicy Tomato Sauce, Vegan Mozzarella, Basil Chiffonade

Last summer my Alpha Phi sorority sisters met in Champaign, Illinois for a PHI-abulous reunion. Over 80 members who graduated between 1976 and 1982 took a trip down memory lane for the weekend, we visited some of our old haunts, and had a blast reconnecting and rekindling old friendships. We slept and ate in the sorority house, so fun ~ and our contributions for staying there helped to raise funds for the chapter. Thank you for the hospitality, ladies!

alpha phi university of illinois

One of the fond memories from our college years was pizza. Garcia’s Pizza. And the Gutbuster was their famous 3/4-pound slice with sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers and onions. Something we all remembered with affection…It had been many years since I even thought about the Gutbuster, but since our reunion weekend, I have been pondering a makeover of our beloved pie.

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