Grilled Cheese to Write Home About

I have been super excited to try the grilled cheese bar at Ripple in the Cleveland Park neighborhood of DC.  This chic restaurant somehow feels both comfortable and a little fancy at the same time, and its fare emphasizes locally-sourced ingredients.  The hours of the badass grilled cheese bar at Ripple are, IMHO, a little strange- 5-6:30pm and 10:30pm-midnight, Sunday-Thursday.  However, I'm glad I finally made the effort to get there during the sandwich hours, because WHAT a great find this is!

You can choose from their list of unique- and decadent- grilled cheese options, with creatively descriptive names like Swiss Bank Account, Lotsa Mozza, and Krusty Krab, or you can design your own grilled cheese from the selections of breads (brioche, ciabatta, or multigrain), cheeses (including sheep, cow, blue, washed rind, and goat options), house-made spreads such as jam, hummus, and garlic aioli, and extra toppings like jumbo lump crab, sun-dried tomatoes, calabrese, radish, and organic greens.

WB and I decided to try two on the menu- the Stinky Pete and the 'Shroom 'Shroom.  The Stinky Pete, with fotene cheese (think: limburger), zucchini, and anchovy, was an Adventurous choice, and I thought it was really good (and memorable!), while WB found the stinky cheese a little too strong for her taste.  However, we both absolutely devoured the 'Shroom 'Shroom, with its wild mushroom duxelle and gooey tallegio cheese, and we totally could have eaten more of that sandwich.  Both were served on perfectly crispy multigrain bread, complete with grill marks.

I am really excited to go back to Ripple and create my own grilled cheese! Also, you should know that Ripple owns a small storefront called Sugar Magnolia where you can grab homemade treats including the most amazing ice cream sandwiches I have ever eaten.

Shorts at Christmas!

One of my favorite traditions is making breakfast for my brother, Shorts, when we are home for holidays.  We have been eating these open-faced breakfast sandwiches we call "eggs in a nest" since we were kids.  It's simple, delicious, and a much more exciting twist on your standard egg-and-toast breakfast.

The first step is to toast the bread slightly, to give it a head start before it hits the pan.  Then, cut circles out.  I always use the same glass that reminds me of my Granny.

Place the bread and circles in a well buttered and medium-heated pan.  I like to ensure there is a little melted butter on both sides of the bread.  Crack an egg into each opening, and cook the eggs to your preference.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

I love my yolks a little runny; it makes a yummy sauce on your plate for the bread circles, which, in my opinion, are the BEST part about this breakfast.

A B-L-T, but not.

Today, the end of the world, WB and I were able to actually go out to eat, sit down and enjoy a relaxed lunch…on a workday! I was so excited when I got to the Wine Kitchen, a new-to-me restaurant in Frederick, MD.  The Wine Kitchen feels cozy yet classy, and the menu features sections entitled “From the Farm,” “Blue Waters,” and “Pastures and Sky.”  For my lunch, I selected the Spicy BLT Sandwich from the “Pastures and Sky” section of the menu.  I have eaten a lot of BLTs in my day, and they have generally been delicious in my experience (what’s not to like??), but this sandwich is EXTRAORDINARY.  I mean, this is not your typical bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich.  The slightly buttered, toasted sourdough bread surrounds super crispy, salty house-made bacon, fresh and spicy arugula, and subtly sweet, tangy, and just-sour-enough green tomatoes.  The Siracha aioli was creamy and zippy, allowing the Spicy BLT to live up to its name.  I really loved this unique twist on a classic sandwich, and I have been savoring the memory of this lunch all day.  The tater tots with caraway seeds were a nice touch on the side, with the crispy outside surrounding a soft, mashed potato-esque center. I will definitely be back to the Wine Kitchen- next time I want to go there for wine and a sandwich, two of my favorite things.

When sandwiches procreate.

There's a place called Frisco's near my office, and I have been eating their AWESOME sandwiches for years.  WB and I love going there, especially on Fridays, when their extensive wine selection is all case price (even just for one bottle).  I take advantage of the opportunity to stock up on favorite wines and to try out new ones.  I love picking a new bottle to try based on a cool name or creative, artistic label (like Flip Flop or Wrongo Dongo or Purple Cowboy).  But I digress- this blog is called sandwichpants, not winepants.

All of the sandwiches at Frisco's have San Francisco- themed names, like Nob Hill, Embarcadero, South of Market, Union Square, and Haight Ashbury.  At this point, I should probably share the fact that San Francisco is my favorite city, so reading through the menu always makes me nostalgic for all of the time I have spent there in the past.  For years, my favorite sandwich at Frisco's has been the Golden Gate, a vegetarian sandwich consisting of alfalfa sprouts, Monterey Jack cheese, caesar dressing, and- the highlight for me- delicious green avocado at the perfect stage of ripeness.  This sandwich, which comes on a thick-sliced whole grain bread, is so satisfying in its simplicity.

Recently, I discovered my love for another sandwich at Frisco's- the Alcatraz.  This turkey sandwich includes sprouts, tomato, avocado, and honey mustard sauce with a kick that you will notice. It's all piled on a fresh sourdough bread that reminds me of SF.

Today I was faced with a dilemma.  WB and I decided it was a Frisco's Friday, and as we called ahead to place our order, I struggled with the decision: Golden Gate or Alcatraz?  Although similar, there are a few key differences, and I really craved both today.  I said to WB: "if a Golden Gate and an Alcatraz made a baby together, that would be the perfect sandwich right now."  She encouraged me to say that when I placed my order, so I did just that.

The result:



This sandwich was seriously so incredible.  The whole grain bread was piled with turkey, Monterey Jack cheese, avocado, sprouts, and tomatoes, and drizzled in the honey mustard sauce.  I ate it so fast and I cannot WAIT to order this again.

Oh yeah! I was pretty excited when I saw what they wrote on the foil:

~Sandwichpants

Ultimate Turkey: a Taste of Home

One characteristic of sandwiches that WB and I find so appealing is tradition.

I traveled to my hometown, Tallahassee, FL recently, and I could not wait to get my hands on an Ultimate Turkey from Hopkins Eatery.  This is a sandwich I have been eating for many, many years, and it's quite unique (and very addictive).  Whenever I go home to Tally, I make a point of going to Hopkins and ordering this sandwich.  It's comfort food in the place I was born and raised- what could be better? I shared this most recent experience while catching up with my friend since 8th grade, MoJo.

I'll admit that I'm usually not excited by the idea of a turkey sandwich.  It just sounds boring. The Ultimate Turkey isn't like other turkey sandwiches though.  It's served hot on pumpernickel-rye bread with turkey breast, cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, mushrooms, tomato, onions, lettuce, mayonnaise, and parmesan dressing.

It's a little messy to eat, but it tastes so good that you're eating it fast anyway before it really has time to fall apart.  Every turkey sandwich I eat will always be compared to this.

Mouthwatering, Melt-in-your-mouth "Burgers"

When a new BGR location opened in DC's Dupont circle a year or two ago, I was ecstatic.  A few years ago, I went to the Bethesda location and got hooked on the Greek, which is basically a gyro in the form of a lamb burger with onions, feta, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, and tzatziki sauce, all on a delicious BGR sesame brioche bun.

I returned to this place over the weekend with my good friend HG, a prolific food blogger.  (see her review of BGR here).

We shared the Greek, which just so happens to be the winner from an episode of the Food Network's Throwdown with Bobby Flay.  Try it, and you won't be surprised that it won.  We ordered it medium rare, which was definitely the way to go.  The side of grilled asparagus, perfectly crispy and seasoned with parmesan and pepper, will not disappoint.  My mouth is seriously watering right now as I wonder when I will next experience this sandwich.

HG and I also shared the Turkey Burger.  Let me tell you, this turkey burger absolutely blew me away.  Usually, when I order a turkey burger, I feel like I'm settling for a less tasty-albeit healthier- version of a "real" burger.  It usually feels like somewhat of a sacrifice.  However, THIS turkey burger is not like the rest.  It's laced with portabella mushrooms and Gorgonzola cheese, and it's so juicy, flavorful, and tender, that it actually melts in your mouth.  It's served on the same sesame brioche bun, and we ordered it with lettuce, tomato, pickles, grilled onions, and "mojo sauce." In a word: amazingpants.

If I were a beef burger right now, I'd be stressin'.

Life is short: eat dessert (sandwiches) first!

Every meal- even snacks and tea time- can involve a sandwich.  (Did I just imply that snacks are a meal? Did I? Aren't they?)

Take dessert, for example.  You have ice cream sandwiches (coming in a future post!), and you have this, my creation:

On a recent late summer day, some foodie friends and I cooked up a delicious lunch (including grilled salmon YUM) to celebrate our anniversaries of moving to DC.  I picked up from Whole Foods an "all butter pound cake," and I had some strawberries and Cool Whip on hand.  I layered the three to make a strawberry shortcake sandwich- what's not to love!?  Summer desserts almost require fresh fruit and cream (or cream-esque), if you ask me.

This would work with any pound cake and lots of different fruits, if you want to adventure from the classic combo.  It's so easy to make, a beautiful presentation, and absolutely delicious!

Moms know stuff about sandwiches.

My brother and I grew up in Tallahassee, FL, a lovely place sandwiched in between the Georgia peaches and Gulf coast beaches.

He lives in NYC, I live in DC, and we both LOVE to escape to our childhood home and especially to the Gulf.

One very memorable trip, after two flights for brotherpants (and one for me, but still), we were starving when we landed at the beach.  I mean, STARVING.

Luckily, our mom, being the way she is (i.e. the BEST) and knowing the way WE are (i.e. always HUNGRY- what? like there is a lot of really good food where we live?) had packed us something to eat.  She was prepared for us, as evidenced when she opened the cooler to reveal 4 nice sized sub sandwiches- all smaller parts of a whole- wrapped in Saran wrap. 

Little did we know, under the Saran wrap was a legendary sandwich that we would never stop talking about; it would become a family tradition.

By now you are probably wondering what was so great about this sandwich. 

Here are the deets for Mom's Roast Beef Sub:

-French Bread Loaf split horizontally (fresh Publix bakery sub rolls are best. Florida peeps you KNOW what I am talking about!)

-Olive Oil, AppleCider Vinegar, S&P - slather generously on bread and on each ingredient layer

-1 lb thinly sliced deli roast beef

-8 oz sliced swiss cheese or cheese of  your choice

-tomato slices to cover one layer in sandwich

-Spinach leaves - as many as you can smash into sandwich

-Cut into sub sections and wrap each section tightly in plastic wrap.

Even better the next day! (according to Mom- brother and I never let them last that long!)

There is something about these sandwiches that is perfect for roadtrips and beach days.  They are simple and satisfying, cold and comforting, fresh and phenomenal.

Now every time we go home, we request "the sandwiches."  It's pretty awesome.

This one will Philly you up (with happiness)

Someone recently suggested I try Taylor Gourmet, and when I went, I couldn't believe I hadn't been there before. I never noticed it- maybe because the K street location is in between Busboys and Poets AND Kushi. Yep, that's absolutely why I never noticed it before. Kushi.....yummmm....

Anyway, this blog is about sandwiches, not overpriced (yet delicious) sushi. Right, C-Rock? I happened to be at a conference near Taylor this week, so I stopped in for a late lunch one day in between sessions.

When I stepped inside, I was a little overwhelmed by the extensive menu.  However, in rare form for me, I made my decision very quickly when I saw the JFK Boulevard sandwich (the names are all Philly-related and the sandwiches are all Italian hoagie style).

The JFK is one of many chicken cutlet sandwiches on the menu, each offering a choice between grilled and Italian breaded chicken.  I went for the breaded. On top of the chicken are portobella mushrooms and goat cheese.  I happen to be obsessed with goat cheese, which may be the main reason I selected this sandwich so quickly.  I think portobella and goat cheese are a delicious combination in almost anything, but added to a fresh, moist, lightly breaded, olive-oil drizzled chicken cutlet and wrapped in a fresh hoagie (I chose wheat), this combination forms an amazing sandwich.

Half of this substantial sandwich (substandwich?) became a delicious, reheated lunch on another day!

My stomach is actually growling right now as I write this.  Gotta go make a sandwich! (thinking peanut butter and honey- ever had one? be forewarned...they are ADDICTIVE).

WARNING: DO NOT WATCH WHILE HUNGRY

This video says it all...thanks to California sandwichpants friend K. Michele for the great find!!!

I'm thinking I may have to attempt this one myself and blog about it in a future post.

Who doesn't love a good Italian?*

In the name of all things sandwich,

Pants

*are we still talking about sandwiches? just checking.

Deli-cious

An interesting niche of wonderful sandwiches exists at grocery store deli counters. Although the readymade sandwiches at these counters can be great, there’s something sort of exciting about creating your own combination from all of the sandwich ingredient possibilities. As a Florida native, I have serious loyalty to the made-to-order Publix subs. I feel pretty guilty even trying to compare any deli counter sub to Publix. During my next trip to Florida, I’ll share more about Publix subs (and this phenomenal thing called an ‘ultimate Turkey’ from Hopkins’ Eatery in Tallahassee...).

In the meantime, I will tell you about my deli counter sandwich experience at a different grocery store- Whole Foods. Deli sandwiches are so great to take along on adventures. My friends and I planned to go tubing yesterday, and we stopped at a Whole Foods to pick up snacks and sandwiches and beer (these are a few of my favorite things)- all of the essentials for a few hours on the river. I was quite excited when I noticed the made-to-order sandwich option at the deli. I just love filling out the little form with all of the sandwich ingredient options. For today’s adventure, I selected fresh sourdough bread, grilled chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, avocado, a delicious creamy dill havarti cheese, and a little bit of Dijon mustard.

It was a perfect sandwich to pack for our afternoon ahead.

Apparently, it can be ‘cold’ in July in NoVa, so tubing rapidly (get it? rapidly?) lost its luster. Although the weather did not cooperate with our tubing plans, we ended up on a different adventure- wine tasting nearby. After sampling several wines at 3 Fox vineyards, we purchased a bottle of 2011 Leggero Chardonnay to enjoy with our WF sammies. The wine was perfect with my dill havarti cheese! Wine and sandwich pairings…hmmm…food (and wine) for thought WB! I mentioned to the guy doing our wine tastings that the description of this particular chardonnay should have included: "pairs well with sandwiches."

Next up on our grocery store sandwichpants agenda is Wegman’s. Get ready!!

(photos taken by guestphotobloggerpants Dana "Ddubs.")

Months that don't end in "R"

When you go to Baltimore, you eat crab. It's just what you do.

"They" say, for the best crab experience, you should go during a month that doesn't end in R.

A few weeks ago, 7 girlfriends and I Staycationed in Baltimore for a hot summer weekend (good for crabs!) during the bicentennial Sailabration of the War of 1812.

And that's when this really delicious crabcake sandwich came into my life. Somehow, we snagged a spot at the J. Paul's bar on the water- among hoards of people visiting the Inner Harbor that day- to grab a quick bite before our scheduled speedboat tour. This thing was one of the best crabcake sandwiches I have ever eaten. It was perfectly moist, with a good crab-to-other-stuff-ratio (not overly breaded), and melted in my mouth with just a thick slice of tomato, a fresh piece of lettuce, and a generous slathering of sauce (cherry pepper remoulade). The bun was so soft. All this sandwich needed to be was a quick lunch to tide us over before a boat sped off without us. And it was so much more.

Sandwich Scene from The Breakfast Club

I do not think sandwichpants will be attempting to recreate this...masterpiece.

My History of Sandwiches

So while giving quite a bit of thought to the most memorable sandwiches I've had, I decided I would talk about some of them.  There are sandwiches I loved simply because the combination of ingredients or fillings caused my tastebuds to beg for more, and there are sandwiches I remember because of who I was with, or where I was when I ate them.

I've been eating grilled cheese sandwiches since I can remember.  I used to eat them with chicken noodle soup, and as I grew up I switched to tomato soup.  Moving on in my life I discovered that adding things like tomatoes, or bacon, or ham just made it that much better.  Definitely a sandwich that's good with soup on a cold rainy day.

When I was a teen, I remember the summers, and my mom always had all kinds of fresh cold cuts in the fridge.  She used to love the sandwiches I would make, because I could never decide what to put on them so I would just put some of everything...ham, cheese, turkey, roast beef, lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, mustard.

My high school BFF and I used to make the craziest egg sandwiches in the mornings after we had a sleepover.  She remembers them too...just recently she invited me for a visit and said she would even make  one for me in the morning.

For those of you that knew me when I lived in Houston, or when I worked there, there are two specific sandwiches that I think of...the first is from the Cool Beans Cafe in the MD Anderson Cancer Center.  I used to work there quite often and you could go to the cafe and have a wrap made to order.  I don't know if it was the tortilla and how they made it all soft and chewy when they steamed it, or the roasted red pepper sauce, or the contents, but I loved those things!!  And then there is the Italian Sandwich from Central Market.  A most amazing food, the perfect Italian Bread, fresh baked at the store, premium Italian meats and cheeses, and most importantly the lettuce, tomato, carmelized onions and roasted red peppers.  And of course, Balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  Every time I traveled to Houston for work I would make sure I went to CM for one of these sandwiches.  Who doesn't like a good Italian?  (Sorry WB, I couldn't help myself!!)

I am thinking that the closest I may get to that sandwich around these parts may be at a place like Wegman's, but have yet to get a sandwich there.

One last one I want to mention, and if you haven't tried it I think you must.  Bananas and Nutella on toast.  OMG!  Sometimes I have to have two because the first one tastes so good and I eat it so fast I have to have another so I can remember the experience!!

A nostalgia sandwich...with a grownupdate

When I was a kid, my dad made fried egg sandwiches often for my brother and me. I remember thinking they were a little weird and not really LOVING them all that much (probably because I got sick of them), but for my dad, they were a quick lunch or dinner to make us when it was just about time for another trip to the grocery store. And, although I loved- and still love- a good PB&J, a hot sandwich just feels more like comfort food.

Today, I got home from work after a long day (and a long commute in traffic) and I found myself hungry with limited dinner options. I haven't trekked to the grocery store lately...I looked in the fridge and saw eggs and sesame buns (the whole wheat ones from Trader Joe's- so good) and immediately thought of my dad. As a kid, I always reminded him to make mine with NO PEPPER, but today's version included freshly ground pepper and kosher salt on the two fried eggs. To add dimension in flavor, texture, and temperature, I topped the eggs with fresh sour pickles that my brother bought from a local Maryland farm over the weekend.

The result was incredible! I fried the eggs over medium, so the sandwich wasn't too messy to eat but I still had the yummy, slightly runny yolk that I love. The pickles were crunchy and cold and (dare I say) the perfect addition to my otherwise seemingly plain sandwich.

I know what I'll be eating for dinner the rest of this week, when I'll probably be similarly too busy (read: lazy) to grocery shop, too cheap to order out, and too hungry when I get home!

What is a sandwich, and why do we love it?

Joey from Friends was obsessed with them. For Subway's Jared, they are a way of life. The Men at Work sang about a vegemite sandwich. So what exactly IS a sandwich, and why do we feel so strongly about it?

Dictionary.com tells us that a sandwich is:
sand·wich
noun
1.two or more slices of bread or the like with a layer of meat, fish, cheese, etc., between each pair.

My bookshelf's Merriam Webster Dictionary from the SEVENTIES gives us a little more history by telling us the sandwich is named after John Mantagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich.

Some may think of the bread (or pita or roll or bun or "wrapper") as simply a vessel for the filler, but I strongly disagree. The bread's complementary flavor, texture, and proportion are essential to the sandwich.

Sandwiches know no limit in borders or languages or cultures. The pickiest kids love them (even if sans crust only) and adults salivate just thinking about them (what, you don't?). They are vastly diverse in composition and flavor. They are traditional, simple, complex, and contemporary. They are breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, snack, and tea time. They are a meal shared among strangers or close friends, and they taste of a place faraway or up the street. They remind you of a person, a funny or interesting story, a weekend trip with friends.

In many ways, sandwiches are like people. You never forget the really amazing ones.

As WB alluded to below, we both love food (especially sandwiches) and crave adventure. So, all of that being said....

WHO'S HUNGRY?

In search of the perfect sandwich...

I suppose you can tell from the name of the blog that it's about sandwiches.  Before we get into the sandwiches I'll just give a little history.  My Work Bestie and I became friends over sandwiches, not by sitting and having lunch together per se, but by running out for lunch together.  It started out as a once in a while thing and has now turned into every day we have the chance.  We go get lunch together.  Rarely do we get to eat together, but if we happen to get something amazing we tend to email each other back and forth about it most of the afternoon, about how yummy it is, etc.  I owe a debt of gratitude to lunch for bringing us together.

So the other day, my WB was working out of the office, and she posted something about the sandwich she had for lunch.  It was so inspiring to me...her description not only of the sandwich, but also of how she couldn't stop thinking about it.  And that is how we got here...so, I feel the need to share what she said as I feel that when you read it you will understand too.

"Today I ate the most delicious sandwich of my life.  Where, you (didn't) ask?  The NIH cafeteria.  I can't stop thinking about that sandwich"

So of course, I had to know what this sandwich was that was so captivating...and that I wasn't able to share with her except in cyberworld.  And here is what she said...

"seared rare ahi tuna, avocado, the most perfect, juicy tomatoes, crispy bacon, and this wasabi mayo-esque sauce, on whole wheat toast and ohmygod now my mouth is watering."

Her words inspired me to suggest that we go on a quest to find more sandwiches that make us feel this way.  And to share our quest with those who share a love of sandwiches.  I most likely will let WB do most of the writing up here since she is more talented than I when it comes to the written word, so keep tuned, and hungry for more sandwiches.