Finally the show began! Mario made fried pork cutlet sandwiches tucked in a crusty hoagie roll with a spicy pickled slaw. It was agony watching him fry up those sandwiches and watching the hosts eat them. It didn't help that I didn't have time to eat breakfast that morning. I felt completely sick with desire for that dang pork cutlet sandwich. Meanwhile, as we watched the show, the RC stood on the side of the audience and listened intently to help guide the audience to clap, laugh, and "ooh" and "ahh". If you listen closely in the video, you can hear him start the laugh track with a high-pitched "haha".
After the segment finished, Mario shook hands with audience members and he said to me, "Would you like to try a bite of the sandwich?" I probably screamed "Yes!" a little too eagerly. He waltzed back to the test kitchen in Mario fashion and reappeared dramatically holding a plate with a full sandwich over his head like a French waiter. He presented it in front of me along with his signature orange kitchen towel. I think my jaw landed on the floor. I wanted to take a picture of it and started rummaging around for my phone but Mario shook his finger at me and said, "No, no. It's best eaten when hot," so I abandoned my effort and ate the sandwich gleefully. Meanwhile a million envious eyes glared at me, including the cameramen, who came over and asked if they could have a bite.
The crunchy pork cutlet itself reminded me of tonkatsu, or Japanese breaded fried pork. It meshed perfectly with the tart mustard, spicy pickled relish, and crisp hoagie bun. I ate every last crumb.
