Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Sep 09/02) - Many in Iqaluit may have heard of and tasted a Taxi Driver's Sandwich, but its origins are not as clear as its great taste.

Walter Moynan takes a bite out of a Taxi Driver's Sandwich at the Navigator Restaurant. He has never tried it before, but says "it's not bad." - Tara Kearsey/NNSL photo

The search for who created the sandwich started at the Navigator Inn, the birthplace of the Taxi Driver's Sandwich.

Waitress Jenny Chen said she doesn't know the story first-hand, but heard the sandwich -- comprised of eggs, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato slapped between two slices of bread -- was invented by a local taxi driver.

"He would come in here every day and ask for a sandwich with eggs and cheese and everything. So that's why they named it the Taxi Driver's Sandwich," she said.

Chen said the sandwich is a very popular menu item and is quite delicious.

Current hotel manager Diane Webb has a different story. She said it was invented by her brother, former manager Al Woodhouse.

"What he used to do was if there was a snowstorm or on New Year's Eve he would hand out free sandwiches that were basically a meal on bread for all the guys that kept their taxi's on the road."

Webb said the sandwich has become somewhat of a legacy and another local restaurant began serving the sandwich as well.

"It's still one of our really popular sandwiches because it's got pretty well everything in it you need," said Webb.

Lynn Woodhouse, wife of former manager Al Woodhouse, said her husband invented the sandwich in the early 1990s. But she has a slightly different story as well.

"Basically the taxi drivers were always in a hurry and so they wanted a bacon and egg sandwich and then they wanted more like a BLT with egg and cheese, so it just became a Taxi Driver's Sandwich," she said.

When told about the other versions of the story behind the name, Woodhouse said all three are possibilities.

"I guess it's just your interpretation and what stories you have heard or elaborated on over the years.

"That would be a good controversy. Which one is the true story or what are the other stories people have heard. It's very interesting," she said.

Whatever the real scoop, one thing is for certain -- the sandwich tastes great. Check it out!