Barb, I've never had a hoagie in north Jersey, but in the places I've been in since leaving Philly they're definitely not as good. I agree with you, it is the bread that makes the sandwich! You just can't get that crusty chewy bread out of that region of the country.
I never heard of any of them until Pizza Hut opened in my area when I was a child and they offered submarines. Then, as an adult, a friend of mine made hoagies. Hers were made with kaiser rolls, 3 types of meats, 3 types of cheeses, mayo, a slice of tomato, a slice of onion, and seasonings. So, if they are cold, I call them subs/submarines and if they are hot, I call them hoagies.
I was born in Pennsylvania, spent some of my childhood there, and we always called them submarine sandwiches. When I lived in Texas for awhile they called them hoagies. My husband from MA calls them grinders. To me, a hoagie has mayo and is just like a sandwich on a sandwich roll. A submarine has Italian dressings like with thin onions and other veggies. Coming back from Europe that was one of the first things I would always want!
__________________ "Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn't have the power to say yes."
—Eleanor Roosevelt
In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God... Stephen Braveheart 
I was born in Pennsylvania, spent some of my childhood there, and we always called them submarine sandwiches. When I lived in Texas for awhile they called them hoagies. My husband from MA calls them grinders. To me, a hoagie has mayo and is just like a sandwich on a sandwich roll. A submarine has Italian dressings like with thin onions and other veggies. Coming back from Europe that was one of the first things I would always want!
