Heat Stroke & Sandwiches

It was 104 degrees on Saturday. I had a ticket to the Serious Eats All-Star Sandwich Festival, but I refused to leave the comfort of my air-conditioner.

Then I got the call: Could I bring $200 worth of $10 dollar bills and four cans of bug spray out to Governors Island for the SE crew and volunteers?

I couldn't fail them. So, I put on a sundress, sunscreen, made a makeshift fan out of the cover of an old Edible Brooklyn and headed out the door.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks: a wave of sizzling, muggy, roasting heat. The wave didn't stop. It kept coming at me.

I battled through, hauled ass to the bank and drugstore, and then hightailed it to the Governors Island ferry.

Landing, I chose to ignore the relentless sun and walked onto the Fest.

Once there, I was confronted by a line of anxious foodies, waiting for the gates to open and the gluttony to begin. Frankly, I was pretty sure a good number were going to head for the ice cold beer, before turning their attentions to the sandwiches. (Not a bad plan!)

I walked past and delivered my goods, just as the gates opened.

Having fulfilled my mission, I decided to try a few of the event's bread-encased delights.

Sandwich gorging, beer drinking and snapshot taking followed.

Enjoy the obligatory sandwich porn...

I'm hoping they make this an annual event -- but that the 2012 Serious Eats All-Star Sandwich Festival takes place on a day when heat stroke isn't a real concern.

Better yet, maybe I can convince them to hold it in front of my air-conditioner.