And I will always love ... this sandwich.
A really good sandwich can be life-changing. Just ask Tina Fey, who crafted an entire episode of 30 Rock called “Sandwich Day” about a cherished yearly tradition where Teamsters buy the writing staff sandwiches from a secret Italian sub shop. The sandwiches are supposedly so good that the Teamsters gatekeep the name of the restaurant for fear of overcrowding and price hikes.
In theory, I understood the concept of “Sandwich Day,” but I had never eaten a sandwich so good that I would want to keep it a secret. But I had also never been to Dollywood, let alone their Flower and Food Festival, so I had no idea that I was missing out on a life-changing sandwich.
What is the Dollywood Flower and Food Festival?
Every spring, Dollywood hosts an annual Flower and Food Festival. The aptly named celebration focuses on all the beautiful flowers and delicious food around the park. Dollywood has some of the best amusement park food around, so it makes sense that they would make a point of celebrating it!
This year, I had the chance to visit the festival and try out their Tasting Pass. This is a physical pass on a lanyard that you can wear around the park to receive five different tasting portions at various food stalls and restaurants.
If you’re a first-time park visitor like I was, then the Tasting Pass is a great way to make the overwhelming abundance of food options feel a little less intimidating. There were large signs outside of every restaurant indicating which options were included in the pass, which made it easy to scan and see what looked good.
And when I saw the photo of this sandwich, I knew I was in for a treat. I just didn’t anticipate that I was about to eat the best sandwich of my life.
What is the Dollywood sandwich?
This magical, life-changing sandwich is officially called the Hot Honey BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich. It’s made with pulled pork, caramelized onions, roasted garlic aioli, dill pickles and a brioche bun.
It’s a combination of very simple ingredients, but they come together in the most satisfying way imaginable. When I ordered the sandwich they asked me if I was okay with waiting about 10 minutes so they could get more pickles. I considered saying that it was fine without pickles, but I’m glad I waited. Every aspect of this sandwich is crucial to its success.
I grabbed a knife and fork because the entire thing looked delicious but very messy. But much to my surprise, I was able to easily eat it as a sandwich! It somehow maintained its structural integrity despite the amount of toppings. The pork was incredibly tender and flavorful and not at all chewy, stringy or soggy. The ratio of pork to other ingredients was also perfect, and it had exactly the right amount of barbecue sauce. Every bite was a satisfying combination of tangy sauce, sweet onions and crunchy pickles. It somehow managed to navigate that exact balance of spicy and sweet that hot honey promises.
How can I get this Dollywood sandwich?
Unfortunately (or fortunately), procuring this sandwich requires a trip to Dollywood. And from my research, it looks like it was a seasonal item for this year’s Flower and Food Festival. This sandwich was so good that I’m making this my official plea to the good people at Dollywood to make it a year-round item in the park. Dolly, if you’re listening, I will always love you—and this sandwich!
While I wait to see if it comes back for next year’s festival, I’ve been attempting to recreate it at home by making pulled pork sandwiches, adding a drizzle of hot honey and topping it all off with a layer of caramelized onions and a schmear of aioli. Oh, and don’t forget the pickles!
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