NAPLES – A Naples restaurant, already known for its many variations on the quintessential Maine lobster roll, is one of 30 eateries in the country vying for the title of “Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America.”

Television viewers may know Richman as the man who brought competitive food eating to national audiences with his popular “Man vs. Food” and “Man vs. Food Nation” series that aired from 2007 to 2011 and is still seen in reruns. Starting Wednesday, June 6, Richman launches a new show where he will travel the country, pitting 30 sandwich makers in a March Madness-type format that will air weekly at 9 p.m. on the Travel Channel.

Matt Sullivan, owner of The Galley Restaurant on Route 302 along with his wife Meghann, has been featured by Richman in the past, when the TV show host visited Maine for a wedding in 2009 and stopped into The Galley, then located across from Portland Glass on Route 302 in Raymond. Sullivan, who moved the restaurant last May to Naples, said Richman listed The Galley’s zesty lemon lobster roll as the best lobster roll in the country in his book, “America the Edible.”

While the lobster roll title came several years ago, Richman apparently remembered Sullivan’s creation, one of 16 different lobster rolls the restaurant offers, and called earlier this year saying he’d like to feature the sandwich in the “Best Sandwich” show. Sullivan was ecstatic to get the call.

In May (note: the original version of this article stated the filming occurred in April), Richman came to Naples to film with a Travel Channel film crew. And beyond admitting he had a great time when Richman came to town, Sullivan is limited in what he can say. The public won’t know how the entire competition shakes out until the finale airs on Aug. 15.

According to the show’s publicist, Caryn Davidson, the 11-episode show features 30 restaurants in 27 different towns and cities in America. Naples is by far the smallest town to be featured, competing with the likes of Chicago, Austin and San Francisco. The first 10 episodes feature three restaurants from 10 regions of the country, each bringing to the table their best sandwich creation. Davidson said the show is completely Richman’s creation and idea.

“The show is Adam’s one-man quest to find the best sandwich in America,” Davidson said. “It just finished shooting this week, they spent four to five months shooting, and there was a lot of research before that.”

Davidson said Richman and his celebrity friends teamed up to find the initial 30 restaurants, but that he makes the final cut each episode and in the finale. He grades according to a “BITE scale,” short for Bread, Interior, Taste and Eating Experience.

“It’s [restaurants chosen by] Adam, and Adam gets recommendations from his more well-known friends as well. So it really is people who have been around the country. They’ve eaten something totally delicious and now he’s sharing it with everybody else, and bringing out a little boost to all these little businesses,” Davidson said.

Richman whittles the 30 contestants to 10, which are featured once again during the show’s finale Aug. 15. Davidson said while the series starts next week, the episode featuring The Galley and other New England region restaurants doesn’t air until Aug. 8 at 9 p.m.

“It’s the week before the finale, so you’re going to have to sweat it out the entire season,” she said.

In that first round of competition, The Galley’s zesty lemon lobster roll will go up against a turkey sandwich from the Book Trader Cafe? in New Haven, Conn., as well as a crab grilled cheese sandwich from Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Cafe? in Portsmouth, N.H.

Even if he doesn’t win the national competition, Sullivan is happy to get his restaurant some more national and local mention. He is even planning a party with specials the night his episode airs.

“When we opened, I know a lot of people in the area thought we’d be one of those restaurants that came in and then went out, but we’re here to stay. We’re going to be on this show and we have one of the best sandwiches in America,” Sullivan said.

Davidson said the point of the show, in addition to promoting restaurants, is to highlight different cuisines around the country for viewers to learn about different sandwiches and conduct some taste-testing travels of their own.

“This is Adam’s show. This is Adam’s perspective, and we love it because it really makes the local hero the sandwich. It brings all of the local pride, and the town and the people behind it. It really represents a part of who they are in that region,” Davidson said. “It’s also a really fun road trip where you can do your region and taste-test some of the best sandwiches.”

Matt Sullivan prepares a lobster roll in the kitchen of The Galley Restaurant in Naples. One of the secrets to the sandwich’s success, he said, is the lemon-pepper garnish. The sandwich will be featured in “Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America” show airing this summer on The Travel Channel.   
Matt and Meghann Sullivan, owners of the Galley Restaurant in Naples, with their signature lobster roll sandwich. While The Galley’s creation won’t be featured on “Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America” until Aug. 8, the series starts June 6 on The Travel Channel.   

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