peckish :: seattle

Super 46.

2012-02-18T22:27:00.000-08:00

Not sure how we missed this a few weeks ago, but my hometown of Indianapolis created their own list of best sandwiches for the Super Bowl. Thankfully, my mom alerted me to the list. Guess we have something to work on next time we are home!

Another sandwich bites the dust.

2012-01-31T16:54:00.000-08:00

As of today, there is one less sandwich on the list. Spring Hill is changing its name and concept, so the elusive Monday night-only spaghetti & meatball sub won't be eaten by us. We were looking forward to that one, too!

#39 of 48: Wild Boar Sloppy Joe at Quinn's.

2012-01-22T08:57:00.000-08:00

You can only imagine how excited I was to see my favorite Seattle spot on the 48 Best Sandwiches list. Quinn's is close to perfection to me. I dig the atmosphere, the beer list is outstanding, and the ever-changing menu is full of surprises and reinvented classics.

Quinn's Wild Boar Sloppy Joe is a good example of one of their reinvented classics. If my mama had made sloppy joes like this in the 80s, I might have been a little more interested in them. This sandwich has a kick and a crunch (fried onions! crispy sage leaves!) that leaves me wanting more. It may not be huge and it doesn't come with sides, but I adore it. It might just be my very favorite of all the sandwiches.

#38 of 48: Roast Beef on Kimmelweck at Buffalo Deli.

2012-01-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

I'll admit, before eating this sandwich, I had no idea what Kimmelweck is. Turns out... it's a pretty tasty, perfectly salty roll. Nobody said this experiment wouldn't be a bit of a learning lesson, right?

The Buffalo Deli makes a killer roast beef on kimmelweck. The meat is tender and complimented by a slathering of horseradish mayonnaise (which I wanted more of). Overall, the Buffalo Deli is an unassuming place with some seating (including outdoors). It's an easy place for those with small appetites, too, since they offer half portions. Their hours are challenging (Monday - Friday 10-4), but if you work downtown and can make it over to Belltown, it's certainly worth seeking out.

#37 of 48: Spice Rubbed Pulled Pork at Pig Iron.

2012-01-20T19:54:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness, there is delicious BBQ in Seattle! Pig Iron's spice rubbed pulled pork sandwiches practically explode with super tender meat. The baked potato rolls are soft and pillowy. Each order includes a slew of sides to choose from. Add humble surroundings, friendly servers and outdoor seating... and you have a pretty fantastic eatery. Did I mention each table has three bottled sauces to choose from? I particularly enjoyed the chipotle flavor. Score!

Giving up on this one.

2012-01-19T08:34:00.000-08:00

Like Rizzo's and Roy's, we have had to give up on one more sandwich: the Pulled Pork at Elliott Bay Cafe. Seattle Magazine warned us that it might be hard to come by. We've tried twice and don't even see a hint of it at either location on their website. So, we're going to cross it off the list. Fortunately, we can say with certainty that their Grilled Cheese is fab.

#36 of 48: Pork Belly Bahn Mi at Matt's in the Market.

2012-01-18T19:59:00.001-08:00

Did I seriously last update this blog at the end of May? That's embarrassing. Oh, well, I digress... There have been sandwiches eaten. There have been more restaurant closures, so sandwich eating opportunities have also been lost. Fortunately, Matt's in the Market is well loved in Seattle. Providing a quiet place to eat lunch just above the always crowded Pike Place Market, it's a gem of a restaurant.

Meet Matt's Pork Belly Bánh Mì. It's pricey at $16, but is packed with a generous portion of fairly lean and tender pork belly. The tangy sauce creates quite a mess, so this is at least a two napkin kind of sandwich. I unfortunately had to remove the fresno chilies because they made the sandwich too spicey for me. We both agreed that this particular Bánh Mì's taste is worthy of an A, but the hefty price tag doesn't make it a particularly good value.

Also worthy of ordering at Matt's in the Market: the not-so-coffee-flavored, but somewhat spicy Stumptown BBQ Pulled Pork.

#35 of 48: Tuna Salad at Louisa's.

2011-05-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

Tuna salad sandwiches don't excite us much. That being said, Louisa’s Café & Bakery makes a pretty darn good tuna salad sandwich. Served on super soft bread, their tuna mixture is crunchy and complimented with pickles and chips. So, yeah, it sounds a bit standard, but it's really better than that. Not served on Sunday, free wifi available.

#33 + #34 of 48: Bánh Mì.

2011-05-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

Bánh Mì sandwiches are kind of new to us Midwesterners. Fortunately for us, four of them appear on the list, so we've been able to discover what makes them oh-so-tasty. The Saigon and Seattle Delis in the International District both offer unbelievably cheap sandwiches and a myriad of other goodies.

Slightly intimidating and a little loud, Saigon Deli offers carry out only. Their Bánh Mì Thit Nuong tasted like beef jerky and coleslaw combined in a good way . With better atmosphere than Saigon Deli, Seattle Deli is clean, well stocked and has a great staff. Although Shawn found their Bánh Mì Chy to be on the bland side, I thought its slight spiciness offered just enough kick.

This day of sandwich eating was definitely our least expensive yet. We spent around $10 total for two sandwiches, egg rolls, a pork bun and a drink. That alone is worth a good grade.

Oh, and my apologies, but we experienced a total camera fail at the time of eating these sandwiches. So, this post is without photos and the next one has phone photos. Fortunately, this problem has since been remedied!

#31 + #32 of 48: Pear Delicatessen.

2011-05-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Well, believe it or not, our quest to eat Seattle's best sandwiches continues! We popped into Pear Delicatessen at Pike Place Market a couple of months ago where 2 (!) sandwiches made the list. Imagine how excited we were when both were good enough to rank with an "A".

We honestly weren't expecting to like the first sandwich, the Downtown Duck. Served on a buttery croissant instead of the usual brioche, we were amazed at how much we enjoyed it. It really hit the spot with its spicy, creamy sauce, light vegetables and not-too-fatty duck.

The Salumi Palermo, while just as good, had a completely different flavor profile. Tangy, salty and full of delicious Mama Lil's peppers, the sandwich was a gooey, hearty delight. Served on grilled olive bread, the Salumi Palermo is a good value because of its easily shared size.

Overall, we were really excited to discover this deli. They sell a vast array of gourmet goodies including Vosges chocolates, nice cheeses, beer and sodas. What a great place to revisit the next time we're at the market...

Give it to me animal style.

2011-03-08T11:15:00.000-08:00

We popped down to Arizona last weekend and, while there, indulged in In-N-Out Burger "animal" style. Check out this article and begin to drool...

#30 of 48: Cheese Steak at Tat's.

2011-02-18T09:40:00.000-08:00

The cheese steak at Tat's made me so sad. Not that it wasn't good... it was. It just wasn't the A+ I had been hoping it would be. I think where I went wrong was choosing a chicken cheese steak as opposed to the traditional version. We both loved the toppings (American cheese, onions, mushrooms and sweet peppers), but the chicken had a sausage-like texture that did not appeal to me. Overall, the sandwich was comforting and hearty. Note that the 12" version is huge... plenty to go around.

No Rizzo's or Roy's.

2011-01-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

I know we slowed down on our sandwich eating around the holidays, but we still intend to complete the challenge... as much as we can. Fortunately, we finished the french dip, but it looks like the oyster poboy at Roy's won't be in our future. Much like Ballard's Rizzo's French Dip, Roy's BBQ is also now closed.

#29 of 48: Chicken Gyro at Mr. Gyros

2010-11-28T13:43:00.000-08:00

Mr. Gyros' chicken gyro is one of a staple in our neighborhood. Light and fresh, this gyro makes us feel like we're eating something good for our bodies. And the guys that run Mr. Gyros? They know what good customer service is, and excel at making everyone feel welcome in their little space.

#28 of 48: Thanksgiving Turkey at Bakeman's

2010-11-26T16:45:00.001-08:00

Seems appropriate that we visited Bakeman's for their Thanksgiving Turkey sandwich about now, eh? Sadly, it kind of bored us. The sandwich wasn't necessarily bad and it's certainly a great value considering how hard it is to find a cheap lunch these days. The turkey was hearty, but the toppings and bread just weren't anything special. We ordered a side of cornbread that was pretty phenomenal, though, so I think there's hope for this place. The atmosphere is interesting, too. Bakeman's is basically a cafeteria run by soup nazis. It's hard to argue with that.

A Sannie DIY: Chicken & Avocado Panini.

2010-11-11T08:28:00.000-08:00

We recently purchased a Breville panini press and have been going nuts making our own sandwiches at home, too. Our latest oh-my-we-made-this? moment was a chicken & avocado panini that was sloppy, gooey and all-around amazing. Mmm.

TMJ.

2010-11-10T18:24:00.000-08:00

So, I've come down with TMJ. Dare I blame the excessive sandwich eating?

#27 of 48: BLT at The Swinery

2010-11-09T15:49:00.000-08:00

The Swinery's BLT is like nothing we've ever tasted, and pretty much ruined us on all others of its kind. The self-proclaimed "temple of porcine love" offers house-made sausages, savory pies and even sweet treats (bacon chocolate chip cookies, anyone?). Around the back, they have a grill set up for dishing out lunch from Tuesday to Friday.

The BLT is presented on a fan-fricking-tastic roll that is "buttered" with bacon fat (seriously!) prior to grilling. The bun is also slathered in a rich chicken liver pâté. The bacon, though, is the star of the show. The entire sandwich is more reminiscent of a burger than a BLT—smokey, meaty and insanely fulfilling. We will never make a limp, iceberg-based BLT in our house again.

#26 of 48: Shank Lamb at Delicatus

2010-11-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

Earthy and spicy, Delicatus' Shank Lamb is yet subtle and sophisticated. It is a hearty sandwich, too—perfect for a cold weather day. Shawn would have loved the addition of a little tangy-ness, but I thought it was a near perfect creation.

In addition to the extensive selection of sandwiches, Delicatus serves alcohol, as well. Pony up!

#25 of 48: Tuna Melt at Grand Central Baking Company

2010-11-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

Meh.

#24 of 48: George's Sausage & Delicatessen

2010-10-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

George's Sausage & Delicatessen is yet another place I've driven/walked past dozens of times, but never noticed. Packed to the brim with fun foreign imports, George's also doubles as a deli... and a pretty darn good one at that. We ordered a chicken panino (packed with grilled chicken breast and loads of toppings) and a corned beef on sourdough with everything (lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, cheese and a mayo-mustard sauce). While the sandwiches aren't necessarily anything special, they are tasty, well-executed and priced reasonably (most are under $6). We also tried the potato salad which was an interesting mix of potatoes and egg. Take note, though, George's does not offer any seating, so sannies here are only to-go.

PS: We're halfway through the list!

#23 of 48: Rustic Ham & Cheese at Melt Cafe

2010-10-26T21:17:00.000-07:00

Eating this sandwich was very familiar. Not because we'd been to Melt Cafe before, but because we have a family recipe nearly identical to it. While our recipe incorporates swiss, the Melt Cafe's ham and cheese uses brie. This put a really great twist on the sandwich. Thick slices of ham are drenched in mustard and wrapped in a Macrina baguette. All in all, it's worth a drive to Magnolia for a taste of this hearty sandwich. Well, that and the possibility of also ordering a Nuts for Nutella sandwich for dessert.

Seattle's best macarons?

2010-10-23T09:32:00.000-07:00

So, as I mentioned, I've been on a quest to try all of Seattle's macarons. I haven't documented each stop here, but I'm pretty sure I've found the best. West Seattle's Bakery Nouveau makes fresh, creamy macarons in an array of fun flavors. The salted caramel is unreal. Be sure to see the dessert page on the Bakery Nouveau website for some major food porn.

#22 of 48: Egg Salad at Smarty Pants

2010-10-21T07:23:00.000-07:00

Georgetown is one of Seattle's neighborhoods that we just haven't gotten around to exploring. Shame on us! We wandered around a bit before stopping in for our egg salad at Smarty Pants, and felt like we were in a different city (maybe a dark corner of Brooklyn, perhaps?). Things are a bit grittier there... and we like that.

Smarty Pants is an interesting place. It's dark and covered in motorcycle paraphernalia with a menu that reads like Grandma's house. The egg salad, in particular, was good old comfort food. The large bun was soft and fresh and filled with a generous portion of egg salad. I found the sauce to overpower the egg a bit much, but Shawn liked that aspect of the sandwich. Next time you find yourself wondering what it might be like to eat Grandma's food in a punk rock setting, Smarty Pants might just be the answer.

#21 of 48: Pulled Pork at Peco's Pit

2010-10-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

Peco's Pit is one of those places I always drove past, but never really gave much of a second look. It turns out that the pulled pork is certainly worth a stop. Super messy and soaked in a punchy (but not overly sweet) sauce, the pork is melt-in-your-mouth tender and quite juicy. So much so that it's downfall is a resulting soggy roll that started off wonderfully soft.

The portion size is generous at $6.85, so the pulled pork is easily shared. Peco's Pit offers a fair amount of outdoor seating (which is a nice change), but be prepared. Peco's Pit is cash only.