We all know The Bobbie. But these 20 other Delaware spots also have Thanksgiving-on-a-roll

Ryan Cormier, Delaware News Journal
·8 min read

It's been nearly 50 years since Capriotti's Sandwich Shop first opened its flagship Union Street location in Wilmington, introducing its famed Bobbie sandwich to Delaware.

The Thanksgiving-on-a-roll sub, which piles hand-picked slow roasted turkey meat, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise on a fresh roll, quickly became a unique hit.

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Not only did The Bobbie fuel the company's move into nationwide franchising 30 years ago ― now with shops in 27 states from Delaware to Hawaii ― it has also spawned an army of imitators in The First State.

Sandwiches that mimic The Bobbie's mix of fresh turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce can now be found at nearly 20 other sandwich shops, dining rooms and food trucks across the state.

The Bobbie from Capriotti's on Union Street in Wilmington, where the sandwich was first introduced in 1976.
The Bobbie from Capriotti's on Union Street in Wilmington, where the sandwich was first introduced in 1976.

It even goes even beyond sandwiches.

This month you'll be able to get everything from a fried turkey and stuffing-topped waffle with cranberry sauce at Matt's Fish Camp in Lewes to Thanksgiving empanadas from the Plum Pit Food Truck made with house-smoked turkey breast, stuffing and dried cranberries with a cranberry reduction.

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Even Taco Reho with its Mexican fare now found in Rehoboth Beach and Middletown is getting into the act this year with Bobby's Burrito, which is made with roast turkey breast, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and cranberry-jalapeño salsa wrapped in a flour tortilla.

If you think the team behind Capriotti's might be miffed, you'd be wrong. They welcome it all.

The Matt's Fish Camp location in Lewes will offer a fried turkey and stuffing waffle special during Thanksgiving week. It's made with buttermilk fried turkey, stuffing, house gravy and cranberry jam on a waffle.
The Matt's Fish Camp location in Lewes will offer a fried turkey and stuffing waffle special during Thanksgiving week. It's made with buttermilk fried turkey, stuffing, house gravy and cranberry jam on a waffle.

"Our opinion has always been imitation is the most sincere form of flattery," says Las Vegas-based Capriotti's CEO Ashley Morris, who hopes to expand to 750 locations by 2032. "It's really cool that our brand put something out there to the world that not only have consumers have taken notice of, but also the other sandwich players.

"I've even seen it on a Starbucks menu at one point, which was really odd to me."

Wawa, Casapulla's & more get into the act

Even the other best-known Delaware-based sandwich shop chain, Casapulla's Subs, got into the act years ago, adding its own Turkey Stuffer Sub.

Sure, it's a bit different with sliced oven roasted turkey breast instead of the pulled white and dark meat at Capriotti's. It also uses whole berry cranberry sauce instead of jellied. But even so, it's still a major tip of the hat to a major competitor.

The Turkey Stuffer Sub from Casapulla's Subs in Rehoboth Beach made with sliced oven roasted turkey breast with mayonnaise, stuffing and whole berry cranberry sauce.
The Turkey Stuffer Sub from Casapulla's Subs in Rehoboth Beach made with sliced oven roasted turkey breast with mayonnaise, stuffing and whole berry cranberry sauce.

Paula LaPenta, who has owned the Casapulla's Subs location in Rehoboth Beach with her husband Mike since 1984, said the decision to start making its own version of The Bobbie about 20 years ago was an easy one.

"We had people requesting it. And since we already roast our own turkey anyway, adding stuffing and cranberry wasn't a big deal," she says.

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It's the third bestseller at the shop behind their Italian subs and cheesesteaks, just like The Bobbie at Capriotti's, although she jokingly admits she doesn't know why the belly buster is so popular.

"I'll be honest, if you eat that, you're not doing too much that afternoon," she says.

Wawa's Hot Turkey Gobbler differs from the Capriotti's Bobbie by using hot turkey and gravy instead of cold turkey and mayonnaise.
Wawa's Hot Turkey Gobbler differs from the Capriotti's Bobbie by using hot turkey and gravy instead of cold turkey and mayonnaise.

Local shops aren't the only ones who took notice of The Bobbie's popularity, which stretched beyond Delaware's borders to the entire nation when the chain's corporate ownership accelerated its growth, now boasting 159 shops.

It was in 2008 when Wawa first jumped on the turkey-stuffing-cranberry train, first offering its seasonal Hot Turkey Gobbler and Hot Turkey Gobbler Bowls for the first time.

Their version, which they call a "handheld holiday feast," features hot turkey smothered in gravy and no mayonnaise unless requested. You can also order a version with just the hot turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes on a roll. A Hot Turkey Gobbler catering option was added for the first time this year.

The turkey used for the Capriotti's Bobbie sandwich comes from 25-pound frozen Butterball turkeys, which are cooked overnight at each location for 14 hours and hand-picked by employees the next morning.
The turkey used for the Capriotti's Bobbie sandwich comes from 25-pound frozen Butterball turkeys, which are cooked overnight at each location for 14 hours and hand-picked by employees the next morning.

The Bobbie's origin story

As Delaware Online/The News Journal veteran food writer Patricia Talorico reported in 2016, The Bobbie could have very easily been named "The Winona."

The Bobbie gets its name from a family member of Capriotti founders Lois and Alan Margolet.

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When the brother and sister opened their first store in Wilmington's Little Italy, they decided to offer a sandwich from their childhood made by their Aunt Bobbie.

The Capriotti's Bobbie sandwich, made with slow-roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, handmade stuffing and mayonnaise on a fresh roll, was introduced 47 years ago when the chain's first location opened in Wilmington.
The Capriotti's Bobbie sandwich, made with slow-roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, handmade stuffing and mayonnaise on a fresh roll, was introduced 47 years ago when the chain's first location opened in Wilmington.

Bobbie was married to the Margolets' uncle John Capriotti. "Her real name was Winona, but she hated that name," Alan Margolet told Delaware Online/The News Journal in 2005.

The day after Thanksgiving, the Margolets would visit their aunt and uncle at their home in Baltimore where Aunt Bobbie would use Thanksgiving leftovers to create her now-famous sandwiches.

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Funnily enough, the bestselling days for Bobbies at Capriotti's locations are the the day before and after Thanksgiving for some reason, store owners have said in the past. LaPenta reports that the day after Thanksgiving is also a huge day for Casapulla's own Turkey Stuffer Sub.

"It's crazy," she says.

The Bobbie from Capriotti's on Union Street in Wilmington, where the sandwich was first introduced in 1976.
The Bobbie from Capriotti's on Union Street in Wilmington, where the sandwich was first introduced in 1976.

At all Capriotti's locations, The Bobbies are actually born the night before they are sold. At around 6 p.m., anywhere from four to 10 25-pound frozen Butterball turkeys are hoisted into large pans and slid into a pizza oven. They are then slow-cooked overnight for 14 hours and discovered perfectly golden by employees the next morning for picking.

While the sandwich was originally sold only cold, a hot version is available these days. And for the first time, sides of mashed potatoes and gravy will be sold for $4.99 to add to The Bobbie experience, available in the month of November only.

"We've kept the process the same as it's ever been," says Morris, who personally took Vice President Joe Biden's order in 2013 when the current president visited the grand opening of the first Capriotti's Sandwich Shop in Washington, D.C. "We are the largest retail buyers of whole turkeys in America."

Where to get turkey, stuffing & cranberry sandwiches (and more) in Delaware

The Gobbler Turkey Sandwich from 322 BBQ in Brandywine Hundred mixes turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.
The Gobbler Turkey Sandwich from 322 BBQ in Brandywine Hundred mixes turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce.

322 BBQ, 1853 Marsh Road, Brandywine Hundred. Gobbler Turkey Sandwich. Turkey, stuffing and cranberry. $14.99.

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, multiple locations: The Bobbie. Cold or hot slow roasted turkey with cranberry, stuffing and mayonnaise. $7.99-$21.99.

Casapulla's Subs, multiple locations: The Turkey Stuffer Sub. Oven roasted turkey breast with mayonnaise, stuffing and whole berry cranberry sauce. $10.95-$15.75.

Goodfella's Steaks & Subs, Prices Corner: Turkey, Stuffing & Cranberry Sub. Oven roasted turkey sandwich with stuffing and cranberry sauce. $9.50-$21.99.

Home Grown Café in Newark offers a Grilled Turkey Dinner sandwich made with turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry compôte, herb aioli and Muenster cheese on multigrain bread with a side of gravy.
Home Grown Café in Newark offers a Grilled Turkey Dinner sandwich made with turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry compôte, herb aioli and Muenster cheese on multigrain bread with a side of gravy.

Greenhill Deli, Wilmington: Godfathers V: The Don's Sandwich. Hot turkey sandwich with cranberry, stuffing and mayonnaise. $13.

Harper's Sandwiches & Such, Middletown: Gobbler. Oven roasted turkey breast, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise. $8-$10.25.

Home Grown Café, Newark: Grilled Turkey Dinner Sandwich. Turkey with mashed potatoes, cranberry compôte, herb aioli and Muenster cheese on multigrain bread with a side of gravy. $16.

The Jim Bob at Malin's Market in Newark, named for two of its co-owner brothers, is made with fresh turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce on a fresh roll.
The Jim Bob at Malin's Market in Newark, named for two of its co-owner brothers, is made with fresh turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce on a fresh roll.

Ioannoni’s Specialty Sandwiches, near New Castle: Turkey-N-Stuff. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise. $10.35-$21.

Jack’s Country Maid Deli, Elsmere: Fresh Turkey Gobbler. Turkey, stuffing and fresh cranberry sauce. $8.75-$9.95.

Janssen's Market, Greenville: The Pilgrim. Sliced turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise. $8.95.

The Plum Pit Food Truck offers Thanksgiving empanadas made with house-smoked turkey breast, stuffing and dried cranberries, served with a cranberry reduction for dipping.
The Plum Pit Food Truck offers Thanksgiving empanadas made with house-smoked turkey breast, stuffing and dried cranberries, served with a cranberry reduction for dipping.

Little Creek Grill, Dover: Joe Bob. Fresh turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. $9.75-$14.75.

Malin's Deli, Newark: Jim Bob. Oven roasted turkey, house-made stuffing and cranberry sauce. $11.95-$22.95.

The Mayflower from Scalessa's Old School Italian Kitchen in Wilmington combines a fresh turkey cutlet with stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise on a roll.
The Mayflower from Scalessa's Old School Italian Kitchen in Wilmington combines a fresh turkey cutlet with stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise on a roll.

Matt's Fish Camp, Lewes: Buttermilk fried turkey, stuffing, house gravy and cranberry jam on a waffle. $24. Available Thanksgiving week.

Plum Pit Food Truck, various locations. Thanksgiving Empanadas. House-smoked turkey breast, stuffing and dried cranberries, served with a cranberry reduction for dipping. $6 each or three for $17.

Rosenfeld's Jewish Delicatessen, Rehoboth Beach and South Bethany Beach: Dana's Turkey, Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce Deli Sandwich. Turkey, stuffing & cranberry Sauce. $16.

Sabatina’s Sandwich Shop, Delaware City: The Del City Gobbler. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise. $9.75-$19.99.

Scalessa's Old School Italian Kitchen, Wilmington: The Mayflower. Fresh turkey cutlet with stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise on a roll. $16.

Wawa introduced its Hot Turkey Gobbler and Hot Turkey Gobbler Bowl was in the fall of 2008.
Wawa introduced its Hot Turkey Gobbler and Hot Turkey Gobbler Bowl was in the fall of 2008.

Skipjack Dining, near Newark. Roasted Turkey Sandwich. Roasted turkey, apple sage stuffing, smoked gouda cheese, mashed potatoes and cranberry madeira gravy on a whole grain ciabatta. $15.

Taco Reho, Rehoboth Beach and Middletown. Bobby's Burrito. Roast turkey breast, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and cranberry-jalapeño salsa wrapped in a flour tortilla. $10-$15. Available Nov. 6-30.

Wawa, multiple locations: Hot Wawa Gobbler and Classic Hot Turkey Gobbler Bowl. Hot turkey in gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce. Also available, a Hot Turkey Gobbler made with with hot turkey in gravy with mashed potatoes. $7.49-$8.99.

The Well Coffeehouse and Marketplace, Hockessin: The Gobbler. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise. $10-$13.50

Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce & mayo on a roll is a Delaware thing