We Created a Secret Sandwich at Dartmouth’s Tailgate Sports Bar You Have to Taste to Believe
I’m about to tell you about an off-menu item you can order at one of Dartmouth’s newest restaurants that will absolutely change your life.
You’ve probably tried Buffalo chicken sandwiches, teriyaki chicken sandwiches, and really, chicken sandwiches with any kind of imaginable sauce. Yet you’ve never had a chicken sandwich as savory and sweet as this one.
The restaurant in question is Tailgate Sports Bar & Grill on State Road. It opened back in early March, after its former occupant/concept, Riko’s Pizza, closed after Super Bowl Sunday for a reimagining.
Tailgate's Flavorful New Twist on Chicken Wings and Boneless Tenders
My friend and coworker Kristen visited Tailgate when it first opened under its new name and concept and immediately texted me to tell me just four simple words:
Salted. Caramel. Chicken. Wings.
She said they were absolutely amazing, and that I had to try them for myself. Fast forward a few weeks later, and one Saturday afternoon I finally got a chance to see why she has been raving about them ever since.
A Chicken Sandwich Born of Ingenuity
However, she also came at me one day with an idea that was equal parts gastro genius and deliciously dangerous.
“What about that salted caramel sauce on a fried chicken breast, and then put that chicken breast on a pretzel bun?” she said.
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Now that sounded like a sandwich I could get behind. All we needed was a day where we both had a little free time to get over to Tailgate and see if they’d be willing to help us create our crispy caramel chicken concoction.
Today was that day, as she came rolling into the office like an absolute mealtime menace.
We arrived at Tailgate in the early afternoon and sat at the bar. We looped in the bartender, Holly, on this crazy idea that we had: we would order the Buffalo chicken sandwich, which comes on the pretzel bun, but substitute the salted caramel sauce instead. She assured us that the chef would accommodate our special request, and Kristen and I looked at each other and smiled, knowing the sandwich of our dreams was about to become a reality.
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And when the sandwich arrived, it was as beautiful as we’d imagined. The chicken glistened with the caramel sauce, and the chef had placed it on the plate next to the bun, and placed the accompanying bacon, arugula and tomato in a bowl on the side.
Before piecing the sandwich together, Kristen noticed it didn’t have the salt on it like the chicken wings had; she requested some on the side and we added it to the sandwich. Now we're talking.
Chicken Dreams Can Come True
We both dove in, and agreed that the sandwich was excellent and had lived up to our expectations. However, a brief conversation with Chef Rui got his wheels turning on how to make the sandwich even better. He then sent out an upgraded version in which he grilled and buttered the bun and added the salt himself. With the arugula, tomato and crispy bacon now on the sandwich as well, it was taken to a whole other level.
Our sweet and salty sandwich dream came true, and we couldn’t be happier. We briefly thought of keeping this secret menu item to ourselves, but how could you not share something this amazing?
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So What Should We Name This Secret Sandwich?
We’re still not sure what to name this sandwich, so maybe you can help us come up with something catchy. Let us know under this story on our Facebook page or send us a message on our app. You can also send us photos and videos of when you go out and try the sandwich for yourself.
The SouthCoast Hot Wing Project
Gallery Credit: Tim Weisberg
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Gallery Credit: Kari Jakobsen
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