Between the Bread

A Tempeh Take on Banh Mi

nancyeinhart — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:05:53 PST

The first time I encountered tempeh, I was a high-schooler venturing trepidatiously into a vegetarian restaurant in Atlanta, and the soy patty sandwich blew me away.

Since then, I have never had tempeh that impressed me much, until this tempeh banh mi at Urban Picnic. The protein is savory, spiced, and layered with flavor, like a good marinated meat.

More details and photos after the jump.

A Waffle Sandwich Dine and Dash

Nancy Einhart — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:32:11 PST

Waffles are an underrated sandwich vehicle, but I'm a big fan of salty-sweet waffle sandwiches. So when I heard about a cafe in San Francisco earning props for its waffle creations, I put it on the sand wist list. When I finally made it to Dash Cafe, the waffle sandwiches underwhelmed me, but maybe I caught them on a bad day. At least the Belgian-style waffles showed promise; click through to see.

'Wich Trip: Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe

nancyeinhart — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:24:57 PST

I have long been drawn to Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe for the name alone. It can't beat Taco's Sandwiches (in name or in taste), but Mario's makes up for it with old-world coziness. I finally made it to Mario's for the famed focaccia sandwiches and panini, so get a taste and take a 'wich trip.

Making Friends With Pal's Takeaway

nancyeinhart — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:25:55 PST

Pal's Takeaway has been on my list of must-try sandwich spots for at least a year, but I'm not often at 24th and Hampshire on a weekday. So when I recently had a rare Monday off in SF, I finally buddied up to Pal's.

Needless to say, expectations were high. On Pal's website, the sandwich makers proclaim that their ongoing mission is "to find some good f*cking stuff to put between pieces of bread." It is succeeding with a daily-changing menu of innovative eats and an irreverent sense of humor.

I ordered the delightfully clever 'Wich Came First sandwich, featuring tarragon-poached chicken breast and egg salad with chives. Get to know Pal's.

Randomwiches: 7 Odes to National Sandwich Day

Nancy Einhart — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:57:24 PDT

Today, Nov. 3, is National Sandwich Day! I plan to celebrate by eating a sandwich for lunch. But you know, I eat a lot of sandwiches, and I take a lot of pictures of them too. Each month I find myself with some leftover pics that didn't make it into a blog post but still look delicious. So I present my new feature, Randomwiches, where I round up eight sandwiches that have nothing really in common except that I ate them. Let the celebration begin!

Crafting the Tuna, Fennel, and Lemon 'Wich at Home

nancyeinhart — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 10:08:28 PDT

The mayo-free tuna sandwich at 'Wichcraft is one of my favorites, and compared to many of the other recipes in the cookbook 'Wichcraft: Craft a Sandwich Into a Meal - and a Meal Into a Sandwich, this one is relatively simple. The resulting meal is so magnificently complex and and innovative, I couldn't believe I'd made it all by myself.

As I learned making 'Wichcraft's goat cheese with avocado and celery, this cookbook gives you the option (and the recipes) of making many of the ingredients from scratch. In this case, I skipped the homemade lemon mayo but did make the lemon confit, which was extraordinary. I have since used the thinly sliced, cured lemons on numerous sandwiches and salads, and it's a great accent to have in the fridge.

Get the recipe now.

Southern Special: Pimento Cheese Sandwiches

nancyeinhart — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:29:41 PDT

The Blue Angels flew into town this weekend for San Francisco Fleet Week, and some friends of mine with a roof deck hosted a brunch bash. Since the Blue Angels hail from my hometown of Pensacola, I honored my roots by whipping up a Southern party-food staple: miniature pimento cheese sandwiches.

At work last week, we were sent some Oroweat sandwich thins minis, which were about the size of coasters, so I made some sammies with those (pictured below) and another batch with cute pumpernickel toasts from the supermarket (pictured above). I thought the pumpernickel tasted better with the pimento cheese, but the minis were classier and easier to eat.

Everyone from the South knows what pimento cheese is, but for the unfamiliar, it's basically a mayo-based cheese spread made with shredded cheddar and jarred pimento peppers. This time, I added chopped pecans and worchestershire sauce, which gave it a nice texture and smoky flavor. Get the recipe.

Round Two: The Deli and the Dive Bar

nancyeinhart — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 18:46:39 PDT

The first time I discovered Clare's Delicatessen, I knew I'd be back. The premise is just too perfect to avoid: a late-night deli and kitchen that delivers sandwiches and tater tots to the dive bar next door, the 500 Club. Last weekend, my friends and I found ourselves there after a day of drinking in the sun, and it was even better the second time around. Here's what hit the spot.

Easy Cheesy Goodness at The Melt

nancyeinhart — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:59:05 PDT

Though I got an extra special sneak peek of The Melt, it wasn't until yesterday that I paid a visit to the much-hyped outpost of the new fast casual chain in downtown SF. My dining companions, including Julia of PopSugar SF, agreed that the concept of a gourmet grilled cheese restaurant often falls short, but a fast-food grilled cheese restaurant makes a great easy, comfy hot lunch. Click through to see why.

After Midnight Tortas

nancyeinhart — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:42:16 PDT

The Cubano sandwich and the Mexican torta have more than a few things in common: both hail from Spanish-speaking cultures, both share characteristics with toasty subs, and both sandwiches make perfect after-midnight sustenance.

The Cubano actually earned the nickname medianoche, or midnight, for its role as a post-dancing snack. But as I recently proved after tearing up the dance floor at a wedding in Chicago, followed by a little honky tonk at Carol's Pub until 3 a.m., the torta makes an equally suitable meal after medianoche.

I can't remember what this place was called - does it really matter? - but I do know that I scarfed down a chicken torta there, and it hit the spot.