He’s hailed as a hero in his hometown.
Jaren Branson, the Knicks All-Star Point Guard and standout during the playoffs, has crafted a sandwich that bears his name.
Three local eateries were invited to design game-winning sandwiches as part of a contest organized by the Knicks and DoorDash.
Branson sampled them all and went with his instincts—he chose a turkey confit, sweet potato, and broccoli sandwich on focaccia from a grocery store on Court Street, describing it as a “smooth crossover” and a “buzzer beater.”
Interestingly, Ted Rosen, the Deli Culinary Director who received the Clutch Player of the Year title, doesn’t eat cheese, bacon, or beef.
“They gave us some guidelines about Jalen’s preferences, and we worked from there,” said Rosen, ahead of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The turkey is slow-cooked in duck fat for several hours, then shredded and served on a pâté—it’s quite a luxurious option.
Rosen added a spicy twist with Mamaril’s pickled peppers, along with a drizzle that combines red onions, red chili mayonnaise, crystal hot sauce, and honey.
While researching recipes, he stumbled upon the favorite sandwich of Wawa’s Villanova alumni.
Branson shared that his usual Wawa order is a whole wheat hoagie loaded with turkey, lettuce, tomato, banana peppers, chipotle mayonnaise, honey mustard, and the classic seasonings. “I used to go for a BLT, but since I don’t eat pork now, I switched bacon for turkey,” he mentioned in an interview.
In February, Rosen, along with other competitors, crafted a Branson sandwich in Madison Square Garden’s corporate kitchen.
Rosen got the good news in late March when the Knicks released a video on their YouTube channel showcasing Branson’s taste test.
“It was a fortunate coincidence that it happened right after the regular season and heading into the playoffs,” he remarked.
The $20 sandwich is now on the menu at all three Court Street grocery stores located in Carroll Gardens, Williamsburg, and Greenwich Village.
Food influencer Danny Mondello, known as “Cugine,” was invited by the Knicks and DoorDash to have a taste of Branson’s creation.
“It was really solid. It had a nice kick to it,” Mondello said, while promoting his account that boasts 1.5 million followers. He held an event outside the deli in Carroll Gardens, a neighborhood with a strong Italian heritage.
He noted the local community’s initial skepticism about turkey, but once they tried it, it resonated much like a three-pointer in the game.
