Go with your Gutty

Last week’s sandwich adventure was kind of a double whammy- not only was I going out with a cute guy, but he wanted to take me to a sandwich shop. Swoon.

Mudgie’s in Detroit was next on my “to eat” list, so to downtown we traveled. The restaurant is in a cheery brick building in Corktown and is a charming little local spot. The interior is inviting with warm yellow and orange walls, and although the space is somewhat small, seating was easy to come by on a Monday night.

To be honest, I was a little distracted by my adorable dinner date, and was way more engrossed in our conversation than I was in my surroundings.

I did have enough sense to scope out the menu prior to arrival, and I knew the Gutty would be ordered. Who doesn’t love a sandwich that boasts five different meats? It had me at “salami”. We decided to split our sandwiches, so we also ordered the restaurant’s namesake sandwich, the Mudgie.

I love a good beer with sammies, and Mudgie’s has Bell’s TwoHearted available - my favorite! Everything was falling into place to be both the best date AND dinner experience ever, and the food hadn’t event arrived.

It wasn’t too long before our friendly server brought forth our massive meals. Did I mention we ordered the extra large Gutty? As if a meat stack five high wasn’t enough, we opted to go XL and get even more meats loaded on. 

The Gutty, especially the extra large version, is loaded high with Genoa salami, Sy Ginsberg Gold Label pastrami; Sy Ginsberg corned beef, bacon, and beef brisket, rounding out the meat of the meal. As an experienced sandwich eater, I feel comfortable recommending all sandwiches be made with Sy Ginsberg meat; this stuff is awesome. I couldn’t tell you which meat was my favorite, but I definitely loved the meat medley that melted in my mouth with each bite.

The Gutty also boasted sharp cheddar cheese, romaine lettuce (I’m guessing for a touch of color?), and an amazing homemade garlic mayo sauce that produced that awesome, messy, run-down-to-your-elbows extra bit of flavor. All this goodness was housed between a Kaiser roll, until I tried, unsuccessfully, to elegantly eat my sandwich (Thankfully, my date didn’t seem to care).

As I mentioned, we split our meals so I also got to indulge a bit in the Mudgie, which boasted a Michigan raised and grass-fed brisket that was juicy and perfectly seasoned. My sharing skills  must be a little out of practice, because my date didn’t get to experience the brisket and thought the sandwich’s only meat was the perfectly roasted turkey breast. Oops? 

I really loved the vegetable cream cheese on the Mudgie because it, along with the Brownwood Farm’s Kream Mustard, kind of brought the beef and the bird together in flavorful harmony.  There was only a touch of vegetables on this sandwich with a few leaves of romaine and some slices of red onion, and truthfully, I could have done without both.

While the Mudgie was a solid sandwich with a lot of great flavor, my date and I agreed the “Gutty” was where it was at.

I had an awesome time and a great meal at Mudgie’s, and I can’t wait to do it again.

Lasso the Mountains!

Recently in Boulder, CO my good friend Mark and his darling girlfriend, Sarah, took the weekend to show me their fantastic city. We spent time downtown, went for a hike, and even watched Star Wars (I realize that has nothing to do with Boulder, but I’d never seen Star Wars and that’s just embarrassing). While we sampled some of the local Boulder restaurants, I think we all agreed it was a no-brainer we go to a sandwich shop to satiate my sandwich cravings.

Obviously, Boulder boasts more than one place for mounds of meat between buttery bread, but The Sink was an obvious choice. Not only is The Sink a well-known eatery catering to the hungry mouths of Boulder, but Robert Redford was once a janitor there, AND Obama signed the wall. I guess I’m into celebrities, because their past presence at the place really sealed the deal. Also, I think my friends said, “Hey, let’s go here”, and I was hungry.

The Sink is a “Boulder Burger Institution”, but offers eaters a whole lot more than that. Inside the doors, the “Sink Angel” watches over you (at least as you walk through to the restaurant), and the crazy beatnick art on the walls keeps you entertained, and guessing as to what you’re looking at. I could be wrong, but I think we sat next to a rollercoaster that turned into intestines or some other body part. Take a look at the virtual restaurant tour online and you’ll understand my inability to describe what I saw. The restaurant was low ceilinged and dark, but the artwork was fun and silly and interesting, which made it feel comfy and warm. Nobody puts baby in the corner, but that’s where we sat, and enjoyed a great view of what I assume is the main dining room.

Having recently moved from Austin, TX, I was adament that I did not want any barbecue or Mexican (or Tex-Mex or any variation of “Mex”), so one would assume that upon careful perusal of the menu, I would choose something like the Mesa Chicken, or Avocado Melt. I should not have been ordering anything with the words “Texas” in the description, but I can’t help it, the Cowboy Rueben called to me! (The Turkey Apple Brie burger called as well, but burgers are not sandwiches, and thus not allowed if on a sandwich mission.)

The Cowboy Reuben was a Reuben only in that it was on rye bread and contained coleslaw, although Reuben purists may argue that sauerkraut is a necessary Reuben component. Because I sort of hate sauerkraut, coleslaw is cool with me; it’s still cabbage, after all.

Making this Reuben a “Cowboy”, the rye bread was stacked with smoked brisket in a Texas Chipotle BBQ sauce. I’ve never been a huge Texas BBQ fan as it’s incredibly dry compared to the delicious BBQ of Detroit I grew up on, but in a sandwich, and loaded with sauce, I’m not so picky. The chipotle sauce had a mild, yet tangy flavor that paired well with the toasted rye and cheddar cheese. 

Speaking of cheddar, the toasted and buttery rye bread would have been nothing without the cheese! Remember the game “The Farmer in the Dell” where the cheese stands alone? It always made me sad to picture some poor wedge of cheddar just hanging out on a farm by its lonesome. As I’ve grown to believe a good cheese can steal the show, or sandwich, I guess the game makes sense. Cheese makes most bites better, and that was certainly the case with the Cowboy Rueben.

All melty and gooey, the cheese kept the saucy brisket in line and urged the coleslaw to join the group. Each mouthful pulled all the pieces together, but the lingering flavor was of cheddar and chipotle. I hope that was the intention because I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I believe my friends got burgers and beers, and while I’d certainly be up for that the next time I visit The Sink, I was glad I lassoed myself a little taste of Texas in the middle of the mountains.

Little Deli, Big Sandwich

I realize it's been over a year since I've written about a sandwich, but fear not, that doesn't mean sandwiches haven't been consumed!
Sandwiches are near and dear to my heart, but sometimes writing about them isn't. Especially when they're the super messy sandwiches and your tip, tap, typing fingers just can't seem to feel computer clean.

Now that summer is in full heat-stroke swing in Austin, I thought there would be nothing better than to sit outside and eat lunch at a picnic table. Thankfully, school's out for summer so my teacher boyfriend was able to join me and knew of a great deli in town.

Don't let the name fool you, Little Deli may be a small place, but they make up for it with big portions and big taste.

In my opinion, the Italian sub is a great go-to at a deli. Most have 'em and most are delicious. Little Deli offers their submarines in two sizes, the 6" or the 12". While I totally wanted to chow down on a warship-sized submarine, I chose the 6". Plus, I was eating in front of my boyfriend and wanted to maintain the illusion of my being a dainty girl. (I'm not sure anyone believes that, however)

It's kind of hard to pretend to be dainty when you order a sandwich loaded with meat. Nonetheless, I only ate 3" inches of deliciousness and not so easily saved the rest for later.

My Italian was everything I want an Italian to be. Spicy capicola ham sliced paper-thin and loaded high then topped with Genoa salami to keep things in place before another round of ham and pepperoni rocked the boat. Next up is the provolone that is so wondrously mild it doesn't take away from the mountain of meat, but acts more like a cherry atop a sundae.

I really loved that all the items on the sandwich were sliced thinly, especially the onions and tomatoes. I love me some veggies, but I'm really there for the cold cuts. The onions were little whispers of flavor while the tomatoes gave the sandwich some depth. Lettuce was there for looks and to help hold in the oil and Italian spices.

Every few bites required a napkin, but it was totally worth it. My hands had a lovely sheen afterward, which didn't allow for typing, but was totally ok. You know, they do say olive oil is good for the skin... just sayin'.

My guy ordered the Roast beef sub, but a carnivore to the core, he requested his without veggies. I guess he has a "don't mess with the meat" kind of attitude. I managed to snag the best bite (literally the one he was saving- the part at the bottom where all the beef was hiding out under the provolone) and it was a tasty sandwich.

 I love the bread at Little Deli; it's got a great outside crunch and an inner softness. My teeth were like a hot knife in butter biting through. The thought is making me salivate all over again.

Without a doubt I will be visiting Little Deli again, only next time I'll go it alone to pig out and eat the whole sandwich in one sitting. And lick my fingers afterward, of course.

A house of corned beef!

In Toronto a week or so again, I ventured out for a delicious sandwich to silence my increasingly loud growling stomach

Luckily, I was downtown, and even more lucky, I was within walking distance to a boatload of sandwich places

I planned on going to...some specific sandwich joint... but I forgot where it was located and stopped in the first sandwich place I saw

The Corned Beef House was the first I saw, and I thought to myself, "Sweet! A house dedicated to corned beef!"

I swung the doors open and practically ran up the stairs (I admit, I didn't expect them to be there, and apparently my first reaction to surprise is to run)
The restaurant was pretty small with the bar taking center stage and booth seating and little tables around the perimeter of the room.
I was a loner for this meal, so I saddled up to the bar and was quickly greeted by the bartender (this was not peak lunch hours, mind you)
Apparently, their turkey sandwich and, surprise surprise, their corned beef sandwich are the most ordered

I would be a fool not to order a corned beef sandwich in the House of Corned Beef, or rather, The Corned Beef House

I placed the order of corned beef on rye with spicy mustard, and I'm pretty sure the kitchen heard me- it's a small place
After what seemed like two seconds, I had to stop people watch out the windows and chow down
When I brought my eyes from the windows to the sandwich, I was a bit shocked

Isn't corned beef supposed to be a darker pink/red? All the corned beef I've come across in my life has had a deep, rosey red color; this corned beef was pink
Like, pretty pink nail polish pink

Hmmmm
I hate when I get a sandwich and before first bite, I'm questioning it

The meat was generously thrown on the rye, and you could see a bit of the mustard dripping down the layers
Aside from the meat color, this sandwich looked pretty appetizing

The first bite gave me a zesty mouthful of spicy mustard and rye, but why didn't I taste the meat?
There was a subtle spice to it, but could that be blamed on the mustard?
A few bites in a I was tasting the beef; maybe my buds were off that day

Eating a sandwich of this size and difficulty was not easy to do alone
Every second bite a lump of meat fell of the rye and onto the plate- bye the 10th bite I was fork and knifing it
Good call, Liz

I was a little bit disappointed in the The Corned Beef House
I mean, if you're going to put an item in your name, you better do that item well
They didn't do it bad, but it wasn't up to my standards

The meat was juicy, moist, and tender, but the flavor was severely lacking
Thank god I opted for spicy mustard, because that's what kept me biting

The redeeming quality of this sandwich is the second half, which was much to much for me to embarrassingly eat alone (bits of meat and mustard flying is NOT attractive and extremely hard to play off when solo dining) made a very tasty cold afternoon snack

Perhaps the corned beef sandwich at The Corned Beef House should be served chilled- the beef seemed to have reveled in its brine and was ten times more flavorful, which is really saying a lot

Who you callin' Phat?!

Making the obligatory weight loss resolution, I was happy to make my last meal a sandwich (truthfully, I'm happy to make ANY meal a sandwich)

Phat Sammich in Birmingham was next on my "To Eat" list, so with my dining partner, I made the trip

While I was slightly bummed that joint got hip with it's spelling, the fact that the building looks like a converted ice cream shop cheered me up
The inside could use a paint job, and I'm not crazy about the hippie theme and peace signs, but I was there to critique the food, not the decor

A huge sign of all their sandwich offerings is posted next to the register
This overwhelmingly long offerings always causes me a minute of panic
Do I rate their Rueben or mow down on their signature sammich?
These decisions are never easy.

Luckily for me, I had just recently had an unbelievably awesome eating experience with blue cheese, so the Buffalo Chicken Sammich called to me
The sammich isn't crazy with ingredients, but it has blue cheese! I was excited!

Upon order, I pretty much began envisioning blue cheese crumbling from the sky onto delicious buffalo chicken, all hot and spicy. It was a glorious thought, I assure you

Also taking a southwest approach, my pal ordered the Mexican Chicken. Personal opinion: this sammich is special because it includes Doritos. I love any place that includes Doritos on a sandwich because I clearly remember my grade school sandwiches often boasted the same such ingredient.

Orders in, we sat at the counter and munched on our massive order of tater tots. I'm not really a tots girl, but I must say, these were the best tots I've ever had. The tots were piping hot with a delicious outer crunch but inner softness. Expertly salted, these tots had it all. These were NOT my grade school tots. I almost had a "Forget the sandwich, I'll just eat tots!" moment, but then my sandwich arrived.

Whoa. What a sandwich.

Standing about 6 inches tall, thick seasoned pieces of buffalo chicken anchored the sandwich and was layered with a hearty slice of tomato and lettuce
Like a little hat, the sesame seed bun rested delicately on top
But wait! Where was the blue cheese?!
Apparently blue cheese meant blue cheese DRESSING. I should have known...

The sandwich was even a bit too big for my big mouth, so a careful bite strategy was employed
I tried my best to get a mouthful of each ingredient in every bite, and with a little bit of effort, that was possible
Mouthfuls tasted like game day tailgates with wings and the only thing missing was the celery stick
The chicken was breaded and fried and had just the right wings taste for my liking, although the sandwich could have used more blue cheese

I like the flavors, but I did not like that the strips of chicken fell out of the sandwich
Every bite required me to push the strips back into the bun; it was like playing food Jenga

The sandwich was pretty good, but next time I'm trying something else, and I'm bringing a fork

*The Mexican Chicken Sammich

Granny Sammies

One thing I love about coming home home is upon stepping out of my car, I usually hear "Hi Liz! How are you? Do you want a sandwich?" called out to me
Who does this calling, you ask?
Why, it's my Grandma! Shouting from the window!
(The first time this happened, I looked around like an idiot trying to locate the body for her voice)

Now, she could be asking if I want a sandwich because she knows I love them, but I really believe she asks if I want a sandwich because don't ALL Grandmas ask that question?

There's something so familiar and comforting about a Grandma sandwich
My Grandma's sandwiches go something like this:
Plain white store bought bread with real mayonnaise spread on both slices. She does the mayonnaise very thin; I think it might be a carryover from the Great Depression?
Next up is turkey from the local deli, but only two slices; no need to go crazy.
Flopped on top of the turkey comes American cheese, (American cheesefood would be more accurate) and a single leaf of lettuce.

She'll then sandwich it up and cut in half. Down the middle. No fancy-schmancy diagonal cuts for my G-ma.

In my extensive sandwich eating, I realize this is a very simple, and perhaps boring, sandwich.
The fact that my Grandma makes it for me, and shares the other half with me, puts this sandwich at the top of my list.

King of Steaks

Last week I was in Philadelphia, so of course I was on a quest for a REAL Philly Cheese Steak.There was some debate on whether I should visit Geno's Steaks or Pat's King of Steaks (located across the street from each other) for the cheese steak of my dreams.

I liked the idea of trying a cheesesteak from both establishments and holding my very own steak off in the middle of the street

As it turns out, I didn't really think my plan through- chesesteaks are massive!
Pat's got more nominations, so my buddy Megh and I stood in line.
















I wish one of us had been native to Philly because the instructional ordering sign was a bit daunting... and unfriendly.

Things to know before shouting your order at the window:
1- What kind of cheese steak you want (yea, I know. I thought there was only one kind, too).
2- Type of cheese. Choices were Provolone, American, and Cheez-whiz. I chose Provolone, not because I was advised against the whiz, although I was, but because steak and Provolone just strikes me as a delicious combo.
3- Onions? Of course! Onions and steak are like BFFs and you'd be crazy not to ask for onions!

Order shouted at window one, WAIT for your food before going to window two for your drink and fries, otherwise, the guy behind you (thankfully it was Megh in my case) will get your sandwich for free.

Wrapped sandwich in hand, I suggest you take a seat at one of the holey metal picnic tables around the building.

One little nit-pick: If you're selling me sloppy, messy, runny, drippy sandwiches, could you please offer tables without holes? My pants would appreciate it.












The cheesesteak looked amazing.
It was the perfect temperature for an unwrap-and-bite, and it smelled divine.

I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but my first bite wasn't it .
Don't get me wrong, the sandwich was delicious, and I most definitely ate the whole thing (forgetting about the steak-off I had planned on holding).
I just thought it would taste, well, different somehow.

A nice crusty half baguette (I'm told it's Amoroso's bread? I can't be sure about that) split to hold the contents, created the foundation.
The steak was piled on, one thin slice on top of the other, which was truly a sight for hungry eyes.
Tucked to the sides of the steak were multiple slices of Provolone; the more the better.
Topping it off was the grilled onions for a slight tangy flavor that does nothing but compliment the succulent meat.
I really enjoyed this sandwich, but I felt there was a bit of flavor missing.

As I wasn't totally sure how to order to begin with, I was feeling much too timid to ask the loudmouths behind the counter for tips on dressing up my sandwich.
I know, I know, it isn't like me to let fear get in the way of the perfect sandwich, but what can I say?
Who knows, maybe you're not supposed to dress up the sandwich?
I feel like that would be like asking for A1 sauce for a filet mignon...

Even still, I think the cheesesteak could have done with a bit of hot sauce or something... maybe some crushed red pepper?

If I find myself in Philadelphia again, I'll have another cheesesteak.
Maybe I'll save all the glory for Geno's Steaks next time, or maybe I'll find room in my stomach for a steak-off.

Whatever happens, after some proper schooling in cheesesteak creation, I'll be back for another.

Steve's Deli

Thank goodness for my friend Joe, who knows this area a thousand times better than I do, and who is more than happy to join me on my quest to fill my belly with sandwiches

He suggested Steve's Deli in Bloomfield Hills as last night's sandwich eatery
Having visited a time before, he said he remembered it as quite delicious
Joe has a good memory

Typically, I'm a bit skeptical of food joints found within a plaza, but that could be due to the fact that most of those food joints are Subway, Jimmy Johns, or name another chain for me to make my point

Steve's Deli is within a plaza
Being that it's in Bloomfield Hills, however, it was a kind of nice, upscale plaza... if that's possible.

In any event, the plaza was packed so we parked around back
We walked in through the "MALL" entrance, which turned out to be a good thing as it gave me a chance to scope out the restaurant

The restaurant has my favorite flooring, black and white checkerboard, and is all silver chrome with red butt seats
There's a counter with bagels, pastries, and miscellaneous delights as this eatery offers a lot more than sandwiches

Last night was one of Michigan's few "perfect weather" days this summer, so we ate at a little metal table outside the building
Perfectly tucked between fellow sandwich eaters

The menu, although able to cater to other mealtimes and desires, offered a breadth of sandwich options
Bypassing the "Lite Sandwich" section (I'm sure those sammies are good, but I like to go all out on my eats) my eyes were drawn to the "Overstuffed" section

My, my, my. The overstuffed sandwiches listed simply whichever kind of meat you chose to drool over. Choices included corned beef, pastrami, turkey, etc, etc, etc. Delicious.

I was feeling pretty serious about the Hot Roast Beef Brisket until I asked our server what their most popular sandwich was.
She directed my attention to the "Combination Sandwiches" section and said the #4 was the most popular; the Hot Corned Beef sandwich, loaded with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on crispy rye.

My belief: If you've never been to a place and you're told something's the top seller, I suggest you try it. There's usually a reason why it's number 1, and you can always order something else when you come back.

Number 4 it was for me.
Joe ordered the Number 2, and thank god he did, because I wanted some bites of that too!

My sandwich came as promised, stuffed with deliciously seasoned corned beef (not even my favorite of meat choices, but this was darn good) a slice of Swiss at the top AND bottom of the sandwich (this is important for biting purposes), and what I imagined was literally a hand grab of coleslaw precariously perched on top. Russian dressing moistened both the top and bottom pieces of lightly buttered and toasted bread, not only acting as a traditional part of the sandwich, but also as a little kick to the taste buds.












I loved that regardless of your bite size, and sadly I feel mine is lacking, each chomp into the meal gave you plenty to be happy about. I recommend biting coleslaw down, allowing your mouth to crunch through the crispy bread, into the Russian and Swiss, through the coleslaw, and ending with plenty of corned beef to round it out.
Save the bottom up bite for last if you're a meat lover as you'll end up with mostly corned beef and little slaw. It's totally delicious, and all about preference, and that's the way Iroll.

I saved half my sammie for later, claiming I'd eat it for my next day's lunch, but hoping I'd be able to scarf it later that night. The half I did eat filled me up right and I actually did save the other half for later.

Leftover style, I pulled it straight from the fridge and bit in.

The dressing had soaked into the bread by that point, and due to the frigid fridge, the meat and cheese were a little tough to bite through; if you're a cold sandwich leftover lover like me, grab a knife and fork and dig in!

And I'm the Queen of England

I was in Costa Mesa, CA a few weeks ago when I broke for lunch at Jerry’s Famous Deli with my coworker
I know my sandwich eating there was quite a while ago, but don’t worry; I still remember my disappointment vividly

First of all, I’d like to know what this Jerry is famous for
The menu offers pizza, breakfast foods, espresso, pastas, Mexican, and pizza
Oh, yea, and sandwiches too
What the heck, Jerry?
Did you or did you not become a famous deli for your sandwiches?

I think this is a case of the deli who cried “famous”…

Fame aside, I was at the deli, I was hungry, and they had sandwiches (and a variety of pickles they bring to the table as an appetizer)
The turkey sandwich on an onion roll (add .65!) sounded pretty good thanks to the promise of avocado slices
I asked for capers as well because let’s be honest, I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with them
Lettuce, tomato, and provolone cheese were added and my order was in

Waiting for our food, my coworker and I essentially cased the joint
The restaurant is very kitschy with maybe a diner theme going on
There were colorful lights hanging from the ceiling, almost like stage lights, and there were numerous movie and stage posters on the wall
I imagine the theme means something to someone, but it was kind of lost on us

Our food provided a good distraction from the room we were in, and I was curious about my meal
I’ll admit, I was feeling very skeptical of the sandwich quality from the get-go, but discovered upon first bite that my skepticism was warranted

The sandwich was… meh
It looked awesome, but the contents didn’t work together
Cons:
-There was an ample amount of turkey, but I couldn’t taste it
-The avocado was safely tucked in, however, it was also flavorless
-While I didn’t taste them, I know the capers were there
-I’m pretty sure I ordered cheese; where is it?

Pros:
-It looked nice
-The bread tasted like bread
-I was smart enough to order French Fries

The French Fries came with a pesto/mayo dipping sauce that had a really unique, delicious flavor
I slathered that sauce on my sandwich so it would taste like I was eating more than just bread

I didn’t know this at the time, but Jerry’s Famous Deli is part of a chain of delis
Learning that, the sandwich makes sense
I’m thinking old Jerry got a little too big for his britches and branched out too quickly

Perhaps if Jerry left off the “famous” I wouldn’t be so bummed about my sandwich, or if
Jerry was true to the “Deli” in his name, maybe I wouldn’t feel so disappointed

Go back to the basics, Jerry’s Famous Deli, and maybe then I’ll be back




*No sandwich photo. It wasn't worth posting.

I'd like my sandwich, Pronto!

Pronto! in Royal Oak was the location of this entry’s sandwich
Thanks to the prodding of my dear friend Joe, I finally got out of my “Mexican and Sushi” routine (well, for one day, anyway) and went for something I truly love: Sandwiches

Pronto! is a cute little place in Downtown Royal Oak with a bakery, bar, and restaurant
Had this place not been in Michigan, we might have been able to enjoy some April weather by dining outside; I guess I’ll have to save that for June

Dinnertime on a Thursday night meant that Pronto! was lively with all sorts of patrons
We were sat in the middle of the restaurant near a couple (who looked like they’d rather be holding hands than eating sandwiches), a young family, and a group of girlfriends
The walls are painted cranberry red, mustard yellow, and celery green, which I think incorporate in a rather interesting sandwich in my future…

Menus out, I was debating between the number 12 and the 26
12 was turkey of sorts with pesto and other accompaniments

26, on the other hand, promised a sandwich that Grandma might make, and since my Grandma seems to always offer me a sandwich (is that a grandma thing?), I thought it might be a nice pick

The 26 is Grandma’s chicken salad sandwich with green apples and capers
Truth be told, it had me at “with capers”
These days I’m incredibly interested in involving the little green goodies in everything I eat

When my meal appeared, it offered a lot of promise
The multi grain bread with speckled grain flakes on the side were definitely “Grandma Caliber”
Between the slices, large chunks of chicken were clearly visible in the salad
I remember thinking, “Oh, this is going to be good”



And it was…
…Good…
…but not great

Biting in, I could feel the crunch of the green apples between my teeth, but where was the flavor, I wondered
The capers should have offered a slightly olive bite in the salad, but alas, I couldn’t taste them either
I think too much mayo was to blame

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind mayo, but in moderation
I realize mayo is the glue that keeps the salad together, be it chicken, tuna, or egg salad, but there is such a thing as too much mayo
The flavor totally overwhelmed what should have been a delightful mix of chicken, slightly sour granny smith, and bitey capers

Instead, the sandwich was boring, a monotonous blend of chicken and mayo

Although I was disappointed with my sandwich, I did eat it all
Grandma would be proud that I’m in the “Clean Plate Club”, but next time I’m going for the number 12

I'd like to speak to Mr. Pita

It's been far too long since my last sandwich
Truly, it's a wonder I'm still alive, because I have no idea what I've eaten in the past month
I can tell you for sure that it has not been sandwich

I had to get off the tragic path I was headed down and had to consume a sandwich
My life practically depended on it

I now work on a different side of town, so part of my new challenge is finding good sandwich places
I passed by a Mr. Pita on my way in this morning, and thought, "rolled sandwiches count!"


The countdown to lunch had begun
In order to scarf sandwich at precisely noon, I got in to Mr. Pita quarter to, just in case they were slammed
They were not and my Italian pita was packed in seconds

The Italian pita claims to have Salami, Ham, Swiss, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pepper rings, and Italian dressing
Either the economy has had a serious impact on meat and cheeses, or I got an abbreviated Italian because I only caught a bite or two of salami and Swiss, and I don't even remember having tomato on mine!

What I do remember is trying to bite big enough in order to get both meat and veggies in my mouth
A bite of meat alone was OK, but to get veggies alone was a little too much for the pallet.
I enjoyed the onion, red, by the way, and the peppers, but the flavored needed to be calmed down by the ham and occasional bite salami.

I have a suggestion for Mr. Pita: put the meat down first and then the veggies on top so when you wrap the thing up, there'll be meat and veggies in every bite, and you won't have customers like me trying to stuff the whole mess in their mouth.

Plus, that might help keep the Italian dressing contained, because I'll tell you what, that constant back-and-forth biting made it especially difficult to be tidy.

I'll probably be eating at Mr. Pita again, but only because I haven't found a better sandwich shop in my new area.

Julius mmmmmMeinl

Julius Meinl in Chicago is supposedly a great breakfast place. My brother and I got there around noon on a Sunday, which may very well be the brunching prime time. We waited a short bit in the front of the restaurant, swinging our (my) feet from the high top booth. Had we been prepared, we might have brought a newspaper along to look the part of a hardcore bruncher. This restaurant was full of bustle, which I like, and everything about that early afternoon moment screamed, “let’s have brunch!”

Julius Meinl offers a great Ethiopian French press coffee, but that’s as breakfast/brunchy as I ventured. The banana French toast sounded divine, as did the vegetable crepe, or any crepe offered, for that matter, but my stomach was intent on adding some kind of sandwich to its contents, which I believe at that moment consisted solely of water and medicine. Not the healthiest combo, I know.

In any event, as delicious as breakfast sounded, the smoked salmon sandwich sounded even more delectable. Besides, people eat smoked salmon for breakfast all the time, and I’m one of those people.

The smoked salmon sandwich may sound a bit like a bagel with lox, but I assure you, this sandwich had a bit more pizzazz. The sandwich came as two open-faced slices, which is exactly how I like my smoke salmon. I like to feel like there’s more to be eaten, even if it’s all in my head.

Although I could be wrong, I think I detected a touch of butter to the lightly toasted rye bread, which created the stage for this interesting breakfast choice. The scene was first set with a slice of fresh tomato, which I can say for sure that that tomato tasted of the ripest, freshest variety. As for the main event, the salmon, it was tender and lightly flavored while maintaining an exceptional salmon taste. It’s the kind of flavor you feel OK about waking up at 9am for. (Hey, it’s the weekend- I like to sleep in!)

Quick tip: When preparing delectables with salmon, it’s important to layer a large enough slice of smoked salmon so that you must fold the fish to give the appearance, texture, and height of two slices of salmon. Why do two slices when with creative folding, you can capitalize on one?

Atop the smoked salmon were shards of red onion that provided ample flavor without overwhelming the palette. Generously dalloped above the onion, as if to secure its place, was a magnificently fresh dill sauce. Topping off the gourmet goodie was a speckling of capers, providing color, interest, and flavor to each bite.



The overall effect of the sandwich was a light, airy, summerlike indulgence. My mouth was offered a hint of each ingredient, and rather than feeling as though the different layers were competing for attention, my taste buds felt as though the sandwich were working as a team to provide the most amazing bite possible. Perhaps my favorite breakfast food would be a bagel with lox, and this was certainly an acceptable, delectable upgrade.

I would love to get the receipt for the dill sauce; the sauce and peppering of capers really brought the bite together. To be honest, what really sold me on this sandwich was the use of capers, which I’ve only recently become addicted to their usage in various foods. Of course I was looking forward to the smoked salmon, which is the star of my favorite breakfast food, a bagel with lox, but truly, the capers drew me in.

Julius Meinl is a great place for lunching ladies to ask for this delicacy while sipping mimosas while brunching outside in the summer months, or just a brother and sister to enjoy a fabulous winter meal.

Rate the Reuben - The French Laundry

The first installment of “Rate the Reuben” comes from The French Laundry

I’ve been itching to go back to The French Laundry for a while because they serve the kind of overstuffed sandwiches I love, however, for the first time in my French Laundry visiting history, I planned on ordering something different

With my loving parents driving the car, and their crazy sandwich loving daughter in the backseat, we drove off to find sanwichy goodness

The French Laundry boasts an expansive menu, however, I had already called ahead to be sure they offered the Reuben… thus my being there
While my parents perused the choices, I took in the scenery

When you walk into The French Laundry, you’re greeted by fresh baked goods like you’ve just into a French patisserie, which I’m sure is the point as they are, after all, called "The French Laundry"

The mismatched tables and chairs set atop the black and white checkerboard tile make you feel like shedding your winter wear and settling in with a warm slice of coffee cake and a steaming cup of coffee poured from the cool copper coffee contraption (I’m sure it has a scientific name, but I don’t know it)

I had to push my winter wishes aside as I was there for the sandwich
Seated in the larger dining area at an enamel topped table, not unlike the one in my own kitchen, I had the privilege of viewing the extensive beer and wine selection displayed behind the mahogany bar
There’s a great light in the Laundry that streams in from the colorful stained glass sky light

This restaurant was cozy, my food was on its way, and I was hungry

My parents opted for soup and quiche, and perhaps at a later date I may try that too, as they both looked delicious
My Reuben looked delicious too



A Reuben is comprised of boiled corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing on rye bread.
I felt almost giddy when I saw the sliced corned beef peeking out from underneath the crusty, buttered and fried rye bread. That thought alone should get your Pavlov going.

Not in sandwich form, I don’t care for corned beef and sauerkraut. I have unpleasant childhood memories of the two cooking together and giving the whole house a “stinky feet” smell.

However, in sandwich form, I love corned beef and sauerkraut, and The French Laundry's Reuben was quite wonderful
The corned beef was slightly seasoned and expertly sliced. You have to appreciate perfectly sliced meat. Placed on top of the generous mound of meat was the sauerkraut; it was an ample amount, but not so much that you were overwhelmed by the sour flavor. Underneath was the melted Switzerland Swiss cheese, and above it all was a drizzle of Russian dressing.

I liked that the Swiss cheese was placed at the bottom, as with each bite your tongue tasted the cheese before the corned beef, before the sauerkraut, before the Russian dressing.
If fact, I believe “cheese, beef, kraut, dressing” should be considered the official order for Reuben tasting.



This sandwich was good but I have two complaints.

The first was the sauerkraut flavor; it was a little bland. At first I thought I might prefer a less flavorful kraut, but the truth is, if you’re ordering a Reuben, you’re expecting the sauerkraut flavor. On any other sandwich I think I may like the light sauerkraut flavor, but I have high expectations for my Reubens.

The second complaint was the drizzle of Russian dressing. While I agree there is such a thing as too much dressing, I still like to have enough that my meal requires extra napkins.
What can I say? I enjoy messy meals!

Overall, the sandwich truly was a good one, and it was darn tasty toasted the next day.
I give the Reuben at The French Laundry three out of five pickles.

mmmmmmm...Mati's Deli

My newest favorite coworker had the brilliant idea to take this sandwich eater to Mati’s Deli

He supplied me with a menu and I began studying… like two weeks ago
Pavlov’s dog over here, I saw photos of sandwiches to come at www.matisdeli.com and instantly started drooling

Here’s what I was debating:
The Reuben (A classic. Maybe I could do some kind of Reuben eat-off someday?)
Carol’s Temptation (If it tempts Carol, it’ll tempt me.)
Brian’s Wish (I would wish for that too, Brian)
Brittany’s Ticket (to heaven, I’m sure)

When the time came to go to lunch, I still had no idea what to do. I seriously considered ordering all four and pulling something similar to the party sub escapade…

A time comes in everyone’s life when they must order, and the best thing to decide among choices is to close your eyes and point your finger, or, do like I did, and ask what’s the most popular sandwich.
It’s popular for a reason; plus, I like to be part of the “in” crowd.

And the winner is……..
Carol’s Temptation

The service at Mati’s Deli is great, but it still felt like forever as I sat at my retro dinette table and tried to hide my anxious foot taping and slight mouth drooling

The interior of Mati’s Deli is pretty cool with its black and white tiled floor and teal chair coverings at the tables and the lunch counter. I had plenty to look at out the big front window and I wished every order that was called was mine.

When my number came up, I was more than ready. Carol’s Temptation is mounds turkey breast piled high with crisp cole slaw and Russian dressing.
Next up after the slaw is the Swiss cheese that was melted beautifully and safely tucked into the sandwich.

What really brought the bite together were the gloriously grilled slices of rye bread. There’s something so delicious about the crispy crunch of lightly buttered bread that makes for one of those closed eyes “mmmmmmmmm” moments.



As you can imagine, this was one messy meal and with each big bite, I had juice from the cole slaw running down my fingers, making its way to my elbows.

I love magnificently messy sandwiches.

Bite after bite, I was in sandwich heaven. Had I not been in the company of my coworker (as not to be rude), I absolutely would have scooped up every last bit of fallen slaw with bread crust spoons.

Carol’s Temptation was the perfect sized sandwich for lunch as I left with a sort of Three Bears “just right” kind of feeling.

With my trusty GPS in hand, I will definitely find my way back to Mati’s Deli again. I mean, I owe it to myself to eat all four of my choices.

The Great Debate

Many have asked if a hamburger/cheeseburger qualifies as a sandwich.
While I enjoy grabbing a bun just like the next guy, my first and only instinct is to say “No”.

Let’s start with the obvious, shall we?
A hamburger is called a hamburger and a sandwich a sandwich.
Really, that should suffice as my argument, but to be nitpicky, a Reuben isn’t called a sandwich and that’s one of the best sandwiches there are.

Both foods may be described in the same fashion, so I think that’s where the confusion comes from.
Both are usually comprised of bread, meat, a vegetable of some sort, cheese, and toppings.
This simplified ingredient list could easily be for a sandwich or a hamburger/cheeseburger but the main difference is the choice of meat.

When you order a hamburger, you are expecting to receive some kind of ground beef like ground chuck, sirloin, or if you’re really lucky, you’ll get Piedmontese beef. You’re expecting your burger to be slightly greasy, piping hot, and topped with tomato, lettuce, ketchup, and maybe a special sauce. Maybe even accompanied by a side of fries.

If you order a sandwich, you’re only expecting a few of the same things.

Right off the gate you are not expecting grilled hamburger meat of any kind. You might be expecting shaved turkey, ham, corned beef, hard salami, and the list goes on and on, but you are not expecting hamburger meat.

A hamburger comes on some sort of hamburger bun, be it sesame seed, wheat, or whatever, the type of bread is us usually followed by “bun”. How many sandwiches do you order on a “bun”? Sandwiches are more versatile here (and other places which make sandwiches superior; one woman’s opinion) as they may be ordered on a variety of bread options ranging from regular bread slices to fancy rolls.

You may or may not expect your sandwich to be greasy, but I’d like to know what kind of sandwich you’re ordering.

You may order your sandwich hot, but you may also order it cold. Your hamburger can’t (and shouldn’t) do that.

You may top your sandwich with lettuce, cheese, tomato, and a special sauce, but unless you know something I don’t, you probably won’t be topping it with ketchup. Mustard, however, is acceptable.

Both sandwiches and hamburgers are delicious hand foods, and I agree they are rather similar. I say we settle the great debate by claiming them cousins; from the same family, but definitely different.

After Thanksgiving Special

Just because I didn’t write about it immediately does not mean I didn’t eat a sandwich after thanksgiving

Oh goodness, heavens no!
I had myself an amazing after thanksgiving day sandwich!

While the world was going crazy and fighting over DVDs and TVs, I was fighting my own little battle at home
Was it wrong of me to hide my intended sandwich ingredients in the back of the fridge?
Perhaps, but it made my sandwich oh-so-much better!

This year’s after Thanksgiving spread was much more sparse than previous years, so I’m left wondering if we ate more on T-day or if we made less food
If the fit of my jeans are any sort of indication, we ate more

Regardless of the shortage, I still had my favorite ingredients for my sandwich
I like to start with toasted, buttered homemade white bread

This year, my dad tried to pull a fast one and used frozen loaves of breads
While looks may be deceiving, upon first bite I knew I was chewing an imposter
We baked fresh, homemade bread later that evening, and what a difference that made in my late night sandwich snack

After you’ve got your slices slathered, I lay the slices side by side and build each side of the sandwich separately
It doesn’t make a difference in the sandwich flavor, but it does set you up for open-faced sandwiches should you build too high

In one corner we’ve got garlic mashed redskin potatoes and in the other we’ve got sausage stuffing

The stuffing is absolutely key to the sandwich
Not only does the mushy goodness provide a food glue to bind everything together, but the stuffing itself is full of flavors like celery, onions, sausage, and a hint of pumpernickel bread. I believe the sausage and pumpernickel are imperative to a good stuffing, but I’m certainly not knockin’ yo’ momma’s

Load your turkey on top and if you’re lucky, which I was not, drizzle gravy over the mess



Pop it in the stove for some warming, or the microwave if you’re impatient like me, slice, and devour



I wish I had enough leftovers for more than one sandwich, but alas, that was not meant to be
“Leftover” sandwiches are great, but nothing compares to the after Thanksgiving special

What are you thankful for?

In my world of budget meals with the occasional sandwich splurge, “real” food is something to look forward to, and if you’re really lucky, someone will send you home packing with leftovers

I enjoy Thanksgiving dinner just as much as the next overeater, but what I’m truly thankful for is the leftovers. All through my Thanksgiving meal, as I’m stuffing my face and expanding my waistband, I’m also surveying the land looking for possible Thanksgiving feast survivors

Although my family always makes at least three times as much food than is really necessary, I was left with only a few survivors this year.

So, while all of you crazies are out for the best after Thanksgiving Day sales, I’ll be constructing an after Thanksgiving Day sandwich to envy

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

For the last year and a half, I've been passing this beacon of delicious hope, yet never ventured in

Now, half a town away, I decided to try the Onion Roll Deli
How sad I am that I never sampled the sandwiches before, especially when it was a mere block away from my old abode.

My dinner date and tonight’s sandwich financier and I walked in to the snug shop with visions of deli meats in our heads, not knowing what to expect

There were at least five sandwiches on the menu I wanted to try, but the superbly quick service prompted me to choose the SUPER SANDWICH with turkey, melted Swiss, Russian dressing and coleslaw, accompanied by a half order of fries.

My company chose the deli sub containing ham, turkey, Swiss, and tomato.

Huge sandwiches on fresh onion rolls arrived shortly after our fry appetizer (you really should save room for the main event)

One bite of my stacked turkey with cheese and coleslaw had sauce running down my hands; it was magical.
I love when sandwiches are so full of meat and cheese you have to bite so big you wonder if your jaw can handle it, and I love it even more when the bites are messy
I tried my best to savor every second of my toasty warm sandwich, but I still feel like I was wolfing
Half was all I could handle in one sitting, but I think I’m going to midnight snack the other half


As for the other sandwich, well, it too was delicious, but I’m unable to tell much about it because I was only allowed one bite!
The ham and turkey nearly melted together with the cheese, and the sauce was almost reminiscent of pastrami, although I’m fairly certain that was missing from the mix
Equally messy, the Deli Sub was a thing of wonder that I’ll definitely have to get the next time I go back to the Onion Roll Deli


Although next time, I think I'm going to have to order one of each sandwich so I can bask in Onion Roll Deli glory

Grilled Cheese is the Bee's Knees!

Today I felt like an ooey-gooey grilled cheese for breakfast, but instead threw together the ingredients for a fabulous, age 2 and up *, sandwich

My lunch bag consisted of a loaf of freshly sliced pumpernickel bread, butter, and deli delicious Monterey jack and pepper jack cheese

I set this sandwich up like I always set up grilled cheeses:
Slathered the butter on each slice of bread with probably too much butter
Stacked one buttered slice on top of the other buttered slice
Stacked two pieces of Monterey jack and two pieces of pepper jack on the unbuttered top of the pile
Threw on another piece of Monterey jack for good measure

Now, the difference between a homemade grilled cheese and an office grilled cheese is the grilling
As it turn out, our office only has a toaster oven, so I guess what I really made was toasted cheese

I learned a few things about office grilled cheeses… here are my sandwich tips from today’s lunch:

1. If you’re using a toaster oven, do NOT butter the outside of the sandwich. While the flavor is still mighty fine, the bread will remain soggy and you’ll end up with probably too much butter on your fingers. Butter the inside of the slices to ensure the buttery flavor without the buttery mess.

2. Don’t overwhelm your sandwich with pepper jack cheese. While I did enjoy the sinus relieving effects of the pepper, I probably would have been good with only one slice to my overload of Monterey.

3. Don’t be afraid to mix cheeses. I’m wondering how the sandwich would have turned out had I also brought my mozzarella and asiago shredded cheese. Just think: Monterey jack, pepper jack, mozzarella, AND asiago on one sandwich! I believe I just decided what’s for dinner…

4. Unless you’re a better person than me and plan on sharing, do not bring a full loaf or full bags of cheeses to the office. They will not be there at the end of the day.

5. If using a toaster oven to make your sandwich, maybe still butter the outside of the slices because that sandwich was a lot of fun to eat.

Sadly, I ate my sandwich surrounded by a pile of papers and a busy email inbox at my desk, but I highly recommend you take some time out to really appreciate your grilled cheese sandwich.


*Correct me if children younger than 2 can handle grilled cheese

I call it the “Road kill Dog”

To celebrate Halloween I finally decided to test an idea I’ve had for a while

If bologna tastes like hot dogs as it is (I think it’s the paprika) then what would happen if I grilled a piece of bologna like I might grill a hot dog? On my Panini press, of course.

If you grill a piece of bologna, you get a road kill dog
The grill marks look like tire treads if you have an imagination
Load your dead dog with blood and guts, or ketchup, mustard and relish, and you’ve got one tasty open-faced hot-dog

I laid my corpse on a piece of white bread because that’s all my roommate had, but I think it’d be much tastier on a dry, crusty, onion roll

Unless you have the same childish eating habits I do, you may want to keep this culinary disaster tucked away until you’re either in the company of children or celebrating Halloween




*Photos not available... it wasn't pretty*