Sandwich Station Takes Pressure Off Crowded Cafe

The four-dollar foot-longs made to order at the Smash Hits Deli station at Integris Health in Oklahoma City are a…well, a smash hit.

Located near the dining area and away from the rest of the servery to alleviate crowding, Smash Hits offers an array of personalized sandwiches, wraps and burritos made to order. The station sells some 400 sandwiches, as well as wraps and burritos, in a typical day.

However, the four-dollar foot longs seem to be the star of the show for the health center's 3,500 employees and staff, says Executive Chef Marcelo Miranda.

“We wanted to offer something that would be attractive in these difficult times,” says Miranda.

“The regular price for a footlong sandwich would be around $6, but employees get a 33 percent discount, so that is $4.”

Though there are a number of popular choices, the Chef's Special seems to be the favorite. Formulated by Miranda, the toasted sandwich features sliced turkey breast and pepperjack cheese on a honey wheat roll. This is topped with fresh baby spinach, sliced Roma tomatoes, sliced pickles, sliced banana peppers, olive oil, red wine vinegar, mayonnaise and salt/pepper.

Integris is a 550-bed hospital with some 3,500 employees and staff onsite. The cafeteria features four hot entrees and four soup selections daily, plus a rotating hot food bar (nachos, potato, pasta, etc.). There's also a grill, deli station and salad bar, plus plenty of grab and go. Visitors to the hospital typically constitute 15-20 percent of the customers.