BWW Preview: DURAN Austrian Open-Faced Sandwiches Now in the Flatiron

Lunchtime in New York City might include a trip to the deli with bulky sandwiches laden with heavy ingredients, but foodies can now enjoy the delicately delicious taste of Europe with the beautiful designs of one of Austria's signature deli traditions, open-faced sandwiches, by newly opened Duran Sandwich Shop in the Flatiron District.

Duran was born out of a family tradition operating bakeries and restaurants in Austria and Hungary for more than 100 years. Continuing the family tradition, brothers Tomas and Vladimir Duran debuted the first Duran open-faced sandwich shop in Vienna, Austria in 1969. Since that opening, they have expanded to seven locations in Vienna, as well as additional stores in Budapest, the Czech Republic, Istanbul, and as of October 19, 2015, the first U.S. franchise in the Flatiron district of New York City.

The Duran journey to the U.S. began after Hungarian TV producer Tamás Szebeni sought an alternative to the heavy, double-breaded sandwiches catered on film sets. He walked through the streets of Budapest and came upon a Duran sandwich shop, and was instantly hooked. He loved the Duran sandwiches so much, he made a documentary about the company and, upon moving to New York, partnered with longtime New Yorker and real estate broker Stephen Grill to bring the first location to New York City, with future expansion to be rolled out across the city and U.S.

Szebeni's experience documenting the company has offered an in-depth knowledge of the Duran history and the ability to continue the tradition while leading the recipe-making and creation of each sandwich as it is freshly prepared and hand-crafted each morning.

Duran sandwiches are a selection of quality meat, mixed salad, seafood, vegetarian and vegan options. The sandwiches start with freshly baked bread, custom-made and sized specifically for Duran by Tubito's Brick Oven Bakery, located just outside of New York City. The varieties of bread include sesame seed-crusted pumpernickel, whole wheat with oat, white, and pre-ordered gluten-free options.

Most sandwiches are layered with a signature Duran spread, such as the Duran Cream, made with farmer's cheese, a touch of mustard and European butter, or the Duran French Cream, which is a ground mixture of mayo and vegetables. No artificial preservatives are added in any of the sandwich selections. Instead, lemon and pickles are used throughout the sandwich creations as natural preservatives. Each sandwich is layered with premium-quality toppings and elegantly styled with the hallmark Duran panache, garnishes such as a bit of sliced egg, carrot and cucumber, or a piped floret of the Duran creams.

Meat selections include options such as the Spicy Hungarian Salami, with Hungarian-importEd Salami by Pick, a variety more flavorful than Italian pepperoni, with its smoked quality and seasoning with red and black pepper, onion and garlic. Other offerings include the Mixed Meat Salad, typical of Russian cuisine, which is blended with pork, celery root, carrots, green peas, and the signature Duran all-natural preservative, pickles.

The seafood selections include the finest smoked Salmon, which is served without the conventional combo of capers and cream cheese and instead incorporates the creamy texture and slight tang of farmer's cheese, with lettuce, egg, cucumber, and a unique smear of celery root puree. The popular Lobster Salad includes a blend of wild-caught lobster tails, distributed by Chamanchaca Inc. in Miami, and whitefish, celery root and carrots, white pepper, and a touch of mayo, all tastefully complemented by a lemon topping.

The menu boasts a variety of vegetarian options, such as the Hot Pepper Egg Salad, which is crafted in a specific order of ingredient mixology, with a blend of sweet white and red tomato peppers, jalapeño, celery root and topped with a sliver of jalapeño. Duran's creamy cheeses are showcased in vegetarian options such as the Sheep Cheese and Goat Cheese sandwiches, each layered with signature Duran cream, cucumber, tomato and a sliver of green olive. A standout vegetarian option is presented with the Mushroom Salad, a blend of champignon mushrooms from Holland, eggs, and parsley, which lends a hint of herbaceous freshness.

The menu also includes vegan options like the Sundried Tomato, a blend of sundried and fresh tomato, updated with the Eastern influence of dates, which impart an earthy sweetness. An Avocado toast variety, with guacamole-like additions of red onion, fresh tomato, and lime, and a Vegetable Chutney, with celery root and ground carrots, creatively thickened with pumpkin seeds and tahini, are also available.

Duran doesn't stop with just sandwiches but also offers dessert bites, available for pre-order and catering, with four existing flavors and two in the works, including Rum, Orange Marmalade, Dark Chocolate with a cherry center, and Orange with ground walnuts. Each bite is crafted without sugar and instead with a base of Turkish graham crackers, apricot preserves, and cocoa powder.

The Duran location commits fully to its European influence with the premium Italian selections of Illy Coffee and Espresso, as well as Fonté Tea. The fruit cocktail lemonade, made with the juice of oranges, lemons and limes, mint, honey, and sparkling water, is a refreshing companion to these delectable delights as part of Duran's catering service.

Duran Sandwiches has become a favorite go-to choice for catering, and all sandwiches are available in bite-sized portions, ideal for office parties and large social gatherings.

Duran Sandwiches is located at 62 Madison Avenue and 27th Street, New York, NY. Phone: 212-576-1000. Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.­-7 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m.­-3 p.m. Closed Sundays. Catering and delivery are available. For more information visit www.DuranSandwiches.com.

Photo Credit: Tama?s Szebeni