Did you know that 5 May is National Hoagie Day? To celebrate, we take a closer look at America’s favourite fully-loaded bread roll and ask that age-old question - do you call it a hoagie, a sub, a grinder or a hero?

Photo: iStock
What’s the Difference Between a Hoagie, a Sub and a Grinder?
The hero is a New York version of the bread roll sandwich. The origins of the term are unknown, although it is sometimes attributed to 1930s New York Herald Tribune food writer Clementine Paddleford, who is supposed to have remarked that only a hero could eat a full one. The hero is another sandwich closely associated with Italian culture, with many New York pizzerias offering eggplant or chicken parmigiana, or meatball marinara heros (the plural is usually spelled without an ‘e’).
Recipes
Whatever you like to call your favourite sandwich, we’ve got the perfect recipe for you.
If you’re hungry for hoagies, make these Balsamic Beef Hoagies from Taste of Home part of your National Hoagie Day celebrations.
If you stan the sub, treat yourself to a Spicy Turkey Meatball Parm Sub from Smells Like Home.
If you’re gaga for grinders, check out these Italian Grinders with Garlic Aioli from Food and Wine.
If you’re holding out for a hero, let this Italian Hero Sandwich from Eazy Peazy Mealz come to your rescue.
The Map
In the end, there is a lot of overlap between these different sandwiches, and the names are often used interchangeably. What you call your favourite sandwich probably depends more on where you were raised than anything else. To find out more, take a look at this map showing the different sandwich names used across the U.S.A.