Take It To The House

Living in the town where you went to college, you often lose the ‘nostalgia factor’ of the foods you loved as a student. When I moved back to Charlottesville a year after graduating, I was so excited to be able to eat all of my ‘food favorites’ any time I wanted…but over time, I grew so accustomed to having them, that the excitement for them wore off. Returning last weekend, I was looking forward to seeking college-days comfort in some of the foods that helped define my undergrad experience…and the strongest craving was for a secret sauce that comes from a little shop on “The Corner” known as Take It Away.
Interestingly enough, I never proclaimed Take It Away as my favorite sandwich shop while a student or a Charlottesville “townie,” but for many people (including my mother when she would visit) it is the be-all and end-all of lunch spots at UVa. I was surprised, then, when I returned to town and all I wanted was Take It Away.*
*Even more than gooey brownie from Arch’s y’all…and that’s telling you something.
Owned by the people who own The Cheese Shop in Williamsburg (which means nothing to you if you aren’t from there or didn’t go to William & Mary), Take-It-Away was known (stereotypically) for its popularity among the Greek student population*…
*Was there a day of Recruitment Workshops that didn’t feature a TIA sandwich platter for lunch?

…for always being busy and never open on Sunday evening (I think this has since changed)……for being too small for the number of people who wanted sandwiches—

—thereby usually forcing you to eat on your front porch…

[Yes, this was my actual front porch for three years.]

…for not having tomatoes as a sandwich topper*….
*This is no longer the case, as you will soon see, but I swear, the first time I went to Take It Away, I stood, mouth gaping open, shocked that when I asked for tomatoes on my sandwich they just looked at me and said (as thought it were a foregone and obvious conclusion, and tomatoes were simply not something anyone would ever want on a sandwich), “We don’t have tomatoes.”
…for Barq’s Root Beer “on tap” in the soda machine and the window seat of chips. [OK, maybe this is only something that I particularly remember as crucial to the Take It Away experience.]
But above all else, Take It Away was really known for one very important thing:

House Dressing.

Oh yes, the divine concoction of “secret” composition that was an addictive substance for sorority girls (and non-sorority girls) alike. Athletes, brainiacs, students, professors—and people who fit into all of those categories at once—no one could resist it. All we needed was a tub much larger than that one* and a bag of 50-cent bread ends to be be happy.

*still available for purchase
I cannot tell you how many tragically unbalanced meals were composed of just bread and House Dressing. [And I would not hesitate to do it again.]
Most commonly, however, I ordered my House Dressing on the side.Mostly because I have a small child’s inclinations towards playing with my food, and tearing off the crust a little at a time for dipping (and then eventually breaking apart the entire sandwich) is my preferred method of TIA sandwich consumption.I should probably cut in for a moment and talk about the actual sandwiches…which, according to my eyes, have grown to three times the size they used to be. [Not that I'm complaining.]I ordered my usual–Virginia ham (the saltiest, most delicious you’ll find in a C-ville sandwich shop…and the reason most people–my mother included–love Take It Away so much) and turkey on rye, topped with cucumbers, sprouts, and Havarti…House Dressing on the side. But, wait a minute, what’s this? TOMATOES? It seems that in the past couple of years, TIA has started serving roasted tomatoes on their sandwiches…and my, what a delicious addition they are.But let’s not forget the House Dressing. Because that’s what really inspires the cravings. [Although that salty ham might just have something to do with it as well...]And yes, before you think that we were all blissfully unaware of reality…we all knew very well that we were basically eating straight mayonnaise.
This is where many of you will stop reading. You will think, “Mayo? Ewwww. Hello, fat, welcome to my thighs!” and quake in fear* at the thought of what I’m about to do next. But how about instead you say, “Mayo? HELLO, FAT! Welcome to my stomach, and thank you for tasting so yummy when combined with delicious flavors.” Because, yes, y’all—thanks to the investigations of my friend Elizabeth and a little experimentation–I’ve come as close as possible to recreating the famous Take It Away House Dressing. *Have you read Eden’s post about “fear foods”? Check it out.
You need mayo, Worcestershire sauce, and Grey Poupon. I’ve been told they use “stoneground” Grey Poupon, but I found coarse ground Country Dijon here in Texas…and it worked just fine.I messed around with the ratio a wee bit (and yes, essentially ate mayonnaise for lunch—what’s it to ya?), and was pretty much there.But something was missing. [Cue Annie & Daddy Warbucks] By chance—and the fact that I was recreating another Charlottesville delicacy we’ll get to shortly–I had this on the table.

And then…mayo magic.

To be truly sure, it had to pass the bread-dipping test. And oh my goll, y’all…it did.[And yes, I may or may not have used some HEB Marathon Bread--amazing, by the way--that I smuggled out from the store in my purse. I'm just saying, if you're going to put huge pieces in the free tasting bags, with plastic sheets right next to 'em, you are asking for me to take the equivalent of a whole slice.]It also passed the cucumber test with flying colors. [Had I had any salty Virginia ham or alfafa sprouts on hand, I would have tried those, too. Heck, I might have even made a sandwich.]

Take-It-Away

2 1/2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. Grey Poupon coarse or stoneground mustard
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon honey

Mix everything together. Eat with bread. In a sandwich if you like. Or not. It’s up to you.

*You will want more. But I recommend you not make more. Unless you have really strong willpower.