Between the Bread

Everybody loves sandwiches, but this year more than ever, sandwiches were everywhere. I could barely step away from my blog without missing some piece of breaking sandwich news. And what weird news it was. Here are the top 10 sandwich news stories of 2010.

1. Blimpie sandwiches sued for not being meaty enough
2. The rise of sustainable sandwich making
3. Chef creates a $176 cheese sandwich
4. Denny's creates a $4 fried cheese sandwich
5. Underground grilled cheese maker delivers on the DL
6. Carl's Jr. tests a footlong cheeseburger
7. Candwich sandwich in a can named in SEC lawsuit
8. Man dislocates his jaw eating giant sandwich
9. Three words: Selleck waterfall sandwich
10. And the biggest sandwich story of 2010: KFC debuts the Double Down

Source: Flickr User Daves Cupboard

The insatiable food truck trend means lots of sandwiches on wheels. Last week, I read about a new fancy Italian sandwich truck, Cibo Per Strada, arriving soon in the East Bay. But from LA to the Bay Area and across the country, I've already got five sandwich trucks I need to chase down.

• 3-Sum Eats (San Francisco) From former Top Chef contestant Ryan Scott, this brand-new truck offers three choices in three categories: sandwiches, salads/sides, and sweets. I'm eying the pork sandwich with apple cole slaw and cheddar jalapeno bread (above) and gnocchi tater tots.
• The Grilled Cheese Truck (Los Angeles) Considering I've seen people cooking up grilled cheese sandwiches in the parking lots of Dead concerts, a grilled cheese truck seems like a no-brainer. Choices include brie on cranberry walnut bread and a sammy stuffed with mac 'n' cheese.
• Roli Roti (San Francisco) The porchetta sandwich at this rolling rotisserie — pork loin rolled up with pork belly, served on Acme Bread — gets endless accolades, including landing on San Francisco magazine's sandwich list.
• Gaztro-Wagon (Chicago) Naanwiches served on Indian bread but stuffed with ingredients from a cornucopia of cuisines, including lemongrass pork cheeks, veal picatta, and butternut squash with mascarpone.
• Coolhaus (Los Angeles, Austin, and NYC) Specializing in "architecturally inspired ice cream sandwiches," this dessert version puts homemade ice cream between the cookies of your choice (pictured below).

I promise I'll get to Roli Roti one of these days. Meanwhile, got some more food trucks I need to try? Share them below.

A good sandwich can't fix everything, but it certainly helps. Recently, during a tough day at the office, I decided to ditch my lunch from home and treat myself. Glancing at the menu for The Golden West, the warm mushroom sandwich with pine nuts and goat cheese called out to me. The home-baked bread alone would be the perfect comfort food.

Garnished with basil, this shroom sammie is similar to the last sandwich I had at Golden West, but better. It's on the menu this week, too, if you want to taste it for yourself. Oddly, last time I sought out a mood-lifting sandwich, it also featured mushrooms. Just a coincidence, I swear.

• The Le Grande burger at Tyler Florence's Wayfare Tavern does its fancy pants price tag proud — The Hamblogger
• Thanksgiving dinner, on a dog — YumSugar
• This little piggie knows roast beef — Simply Sandwiches
• Clever but creepy: the cheeseburger cocktail — Insanewiches
Kitchenette introduces us to kaarage fried chicken — Bread x Bread
• Ryan Scott's new food truck lands on my sand wish list — FreshGuide San Francisco

My leftover turkey and sweet potato pone sandwich was good but not great. The sweet and savory combo craved a bit more salt. After debating between stuffing and mashed potatoes, I opted for the easier-to-spread taters and was not disappointed.

Yes, I felt a little gross after eating it, but what's Thanksgiving without a decadent, carb-laden sandwich to send it off?