Cheba Hut is a popular sandwich chain known for its chill vibe and extensive menu of toasted subs. With locations across the United States, Cheba Hut has developed a cult following among sandwich enthusiasts. But behind the laidback exterior lies a meticulous operation, especially when it comes to sourcing ingredients. So what kind of bread does Cheba Hut use for its signature subs?
The History of Cheba Hut
Cheba Hut was founded in Tempe, Arizona in 1998 by Scott Jennings and a group of his college friends. According to legend, the original restaurant was started with only $40 in capital. The founders wanted to create a hangout spot that matched their relaxed lifestyles, so they came up with a sub sandwich shop concept focused on food, fun, and marijuana innuendos. The first Cheba Hut opened near the Arizona State University campus and quickly developed a devoted local following.
The founders prioritized quality ingredients from the beginning. Despite the small startup budget, they insisted on fresh veggies, meats, and especially bread. The bread was considered crucial for constructing the perfect toasted sub. Cheba Hut reached an agreement with a local bakery to supply freshly baked white and wheat bread every morning. This set the precedent for Cheba Hut’s approach to ingredients that continues today.
Thanks to positive word-of-mouth, Cheba Hut expanded steadily throughout the early 2000s, first across Arizona and then into other states. But the brand really took off after being featured on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in 2010. Since being spotlighted by Guy Fieri, Cheba Hut has grown to over 130 locations across more than 20 states. It has maintained its commitment to quality and locally-sourced ingredients even with this rapid growth.
Quality Bread Remains Essential
From day one, Cheba Hut recognized that great subs require great bread. Each location goes through a rigorous process to identify the best local bakery that can meet their volume demands while delivering on taste and texture.
The top priority is finding bakeries that use time-honored techniques and simple, high-quality ingredients. Preservatives, dough conditioners, and other artificial ingredients are avoided. The bread is made with flour, water, yeast, salt, and sometimes small amounts of sugar or oil. This classic bread recipe results in a soft interior with a delicately crisp crust after toasting.
Many local bakeries supply Cheba Hut locations across the country. However, Cheba Hut has expanded so much that it can be challenging for small suppliers to keep up with demand. This has led some regions to switch to larger commercial bakeries like Turano Baking Company out of Illinois. But regardless of size, all Cheba Hut bread suppliers are held to the same standards of quality and taste.
The Best Bread for Toasted Subs
Cheba Hut pays close attention to how each bread option performs for toasted subs. Breads that emerge from the oven too dense or dry will not toast well and can become hard or cracker-like. The best subs come from bread with a soft, spongy crumb that crisps up nicely when heated.
As a result, Cheba Hut prefers white over wheat bread options. Although wheat bread has great nutritional benefits, the heartier texture and bran flakes can lead to uneven toasting. White bread provides an ideal base for hot subs because of its airy structure and mild flavor.
Another key factor is size. The bread loaves must be shaped to maximize the use of space within Cheba Hut’s customized ovens. Uniform sizing between loaves is also crucial for consistency during prep. Cheba Hut bread generally comes in pan loaves that are about 4 inches high.
The Cheba Hut Bread Lineup
While white bread is the foundation, Cheba Hut offers additional varieties to satisfy diverse preferences:
Wheat
For customers that prefer wheat, Cheba Hut locations with access to high-quality wheat bakeries will offer it as an alternative to white. The wheat loaves are denser and impart a nutty, earthy taste.
Jalapeño Cheddar
This unique option adds spicy diced jalapeños and shredded cheddar cheese into white bread dough before baking. The result is a flavorful and mildly spicy loaf punctuated with gooey cheese pockets.
Rosemary Parmesan
In this specialty bread, chopped rosemary and parmesan cheese get incorporated into the dough. Out of the oven, it has prominent notes of rosemary and umami richness from the parmesan.
Sourdough
Certain locations offer authentic sourdough baked with wild yeast starter instead of commercial yeast. It has a characteristic tangy flavor and chewy texture.
Focaccia
This flatbread style gets flavored with olive oil and italian herbs before baking. It makes a crispy, oil-brushed canvas for Cheba Hut’s sandwich creations.
Gluten-Free
For gluten-sensitive customers, many Cheba Hut locations can substitute sandwiches on gluten-free bread. Brands like Udi’s are common options.
Toasting Process
The secret to Cheba Hut’s perfectly toasted subs lies in their customized ovens. Each location has an oven specially designed to fit the company’s bread dimensions and efficiently toast the full sandwiches.
The sub rolls get split open and placed face down on the conveyor belt that pulls them through the intense heat. Employees have to work fast to keep up with the speed of the conveyor toasts. This technology allows the sandwiches to heat through without over-drying the bread.
The toasting only takes 60-90 seconds per sub. When they emerge, the bread has a crispy exterior with a soft, steamy interior. The fillings warm up, while the veggies and meats stay cool and fresh. This balance of textures and temperatures makes for the quintessential hot sandwich experience.
Taste Testing Potential Bakeries
Every time Cheba Hut plans to open a new location, they embark on an extensive search to find the right local bread supplier. The process involves thoroughly vetting each bakery to ensure they can maintain Cheba Hut’s standards.
Here are the steps:
- The purchasing team researches all bakeries in the area and narrows down the options based on production capabilities and reputation.
- Initial inquiries are made with the top prospects to assess their interest and qualifications.
- If interest and qualifications check out, samples are requested from each bakery.
- The samples are put through extensive taste testing. Cheba Hut managers and employees rate them on criteria like:
- Outer crust
- Inner crumb
- Toasting performance
- Mouthfeel and chew
- Freshness
- The highest rated breads undergo further inspection of the facilities and baking processes.
- Pricing and logistics discussions happen with the finalists.
- A winner is selected that becomes the exclusive bread supplier for that Cheba Hut location.
This rigorous vetting process ensures that each Cheba Hut sub gets crafted on bread that lives up to the brand’s standards. No shortcuts are taken when it comes to quality ingredients.
Consistency Across All Locations
Even though the bread comes from local bakeries, Cheba Hut implements controls to ensure consistency. All suppliers must adhere to set specifications for:
- Ingredients
- Loaf sizing
- Baking technique
- Packaging
Regular quality assurance checks are also conducted. Breads that arrive to Cheba Hut undercooked, overbaked, or divergent from standards get rejected.
Cheba Hut’s purchasing team stays in close communication with each bakery to provide feedback and guidance. This enables the bakeries to deliver bread tailored to Cheba Hut’s needs while maintaining autonomy over their recipes and baking methods.
Through this symbiotic supplier relationship, Cheba Hut achieves its mission of serving high caliber local ingredients in a consistent way across all its restaurants.
Nutrition Information
Here is the nutritional profile for a standard 1-ounce slice of white bread from Cheba Hut:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 75 |
| Fat | 1g |
| Carbs | 14g |
| Protein | 2g |
| Fiber | 0.5g |
| Sugar | 2g |
| Sodium | 115mg |
As you can see, Cheba Hut white bread is relatively low in calories, fat, and sodium compared to other sandwich chains. It delivers substantial carbohydrates to fuel your activities.
Keep in mind nutrition varies slightly between Cheba Hut locations based on the exact local bakery used. But the commitment to simple, quality ingredients ensures the bread is nutritionally sound across the board.
Special Requests Accommodated
Despite having a set bread lineup, Cheba Hut staff strives to accommodate special requests and dietary needs. Some examples include:
- Gluten-free bread
- Dairy-free bread
- Vegan bread
- Sliced extra thick
- Pressed into panini
The ordering process on Cheba Hut’s website and app even includes special instruction fields for guests to leave notes about custom preferences.
While menu modifications are allowed, availability can vary depending on location, ingredients on hand, and staffing levels. But in general, Cheba Hut makes an effort to please all palates.
Perfect Bread Takes Time
In today’s fast-paced world, perfection often gets sacrificed for efficiency. But Cheba Hut refuses to compromise on its committment to quality ingredients, especially when it comes to bread. The company spends time vetting suppliers, taste testing samples, and inspecting each loaf.
This meticulousness pays off in superior sandwiches. Customers can instantly taste the difference fresh, locally baked bread makes at Cheba Hut. When you take care to start with the right foundation, excellence will follow.
Conclusion
Cheba Hut’s signature toasted subs depend on excellent bread. Each location procures loaves locally to maximize freshness and uses high standards to ensure every loaf achieves the ideal texture, crunch, and taste. Through a symbiotic supplier relationship, Cheba Hut provides customers with an unparalleled sandwich experience built on quality from the first bite.
