rainy day at the beach

outerlands, 25th & judah, san francisco

as the weather has gotten colder and the days shorter i've been hunkering down, bundling up in blankets and surfing the waves of the net.  and i came across this video one morning...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5kKeKSfyOE

i don't have to say it twice, i really love tartine!  i used to live two blocks away and on the mornings i was too cold tired and or lazy to ride my bike to work i'd have to walk past the bakery on my way to the bus.  it would be when they were just opening, things were just coming out of the ovens and best of all there would be no lines! i'd get a croissant that had the best hot crisp flaky exterior and the most melty doughy buttery inside.  their bread is the same when it comes out of the oven.  walking home after buying a loaf  i could easily eat half in that two block distance.

before having watched the video above, i had heard outerlands mentioned by friends before, but the sunset district just always seems so far, i had never really thought to make the trek before until learning about their connection to tartine.  

it was awesome! it's a tiny little hole in the wall, with walls tiled by spiraling wood and hanging hoyas tangled over the counter.  the food is rustic and hearty, which was a perfect match for the rainy day.  i got the grilled cheese with a bowl of lentil soup.  the bread was cut thick, leaving the grilled exterior toasted and crisp while the center was softer and lighter and pleasantly warm with soft melted cheese.  also, the soup was some of the best lentil soup i've ever had! not heavy on the salt, full of fresh cut vegi's and perfect for dipping a sandwich into!  i could eat this every day and be happy! 

another perk, a few doors down was this great shop, the general store, where i purchased a new blanket to add to the nest of blankets i've been burrowing under during this very cold winter.

http://outerlandssf.com/

"let's stop there on the way back down"

Aw and I took a weekend warrior's trip to the snow this weekend and without making a point to sample sandwiches, actually ended up eating a fair amount of 'em!

This fancy striped cheezie goodness became a goal for the end of the trip. While driving on the CA-120, we passed through Oakdale, CA. As a kid I remember stopping at a park in Oakdale and eating out pre-packed lunches and taking awhile to run around before continuing on, yet, we never stopped anywhere else. I told Aw before we left the city that he would likely have to accommodate my whims and make stops when I wanted - thank goodness we ended up wanting to go to the same places! Anywho, I digress... On the way to our destination we drove by a cheese making, gift shop, farm-petting zoo, lunch spot, Oakdale Cheese & Specialties. At the time, however, we were anything but hungry after having finished sandwiches procured in the city, so we promised to not fill up before returning in order to test out this spot.

Walking into a small gift shop, we saw a woman at the counter with a hoard of people sampling gouda cheese. We ordered, she stepped into a room tucked in the far corner with a sign reading "bakery," and a few moments later she returned with our grilled cheese sandwiches (Aw asked for ham on his while mine was straight up cheezie goodness).

After finding a decent pick-nick table in the sun we chomped down. The flavor and texture of fluffy sliced sourdough crisped with melted butter on the outside and held together with gooey sweet gouda satisfied every taste bud with simple childhood comfort.

Now, I would be remiss in my sandwich journalist duties if I did not admit Aw and I shared, he had half of mine and vise-versa. The addition of ham put a bit of a damper on relishing childhood simplicity. All I could think about was what else I could add, and soon the sandwich I was creating in my head became as complicated as adulthood.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend making a point to stop at Oakdale Cheese & Specialties if you ever find yourself driving on the 120.

grilled cheese, apple & spinach

I mentioned in my last entry Atlas' grilled cheese with apple- this is a homemade version that Els made recently. The cheese, however, was Cowgirl Creamery cheese (I got a bunch as an excellent Christmas present). What else is there to say but that this sandwich ruled?

grilled cheese

l'keg gallery, glendale & court, los angeles

JoJoJoJo and I went to a concert at this little art space in....uh.... Echo Park, I'd guess. The sandwiches were fifty cents.

me: "what kind of cheese is this?"
dude behind counter: "I dunno, she made them" (points at girl)
me: "it's really cheesy!"
dude, with no emotion in his voice: "that's because there's two slices."

secret to super-cheesy sandwiches: obtained!

guest review - grilled cheese with apple

atlas cafe, 20th & alabama, san francisco

Not only did the sharp granny smith apples provide a nice balance to the cheddar cheese, along with the arugula (I think it was arugula, it was something green anyway…) they do an excellent job of making a grilled cheese seem healthy and grown-up. It’s on thick whole-wheat slices, which, appropriately, are almost burnt. The apple slices sitting next to each other can make for a slippery eating experience and requires frequent management of the sandwich’s structure. However, if that’s the price I have to pay for ordering a grilled cheese sandwich while still feeling like an adult, I’ll gladly pay it.

guest review by Katie Roquet

grilled cheese

lord, this sandwich was so much more satisfying than the last one. originally I had planned for this to be grilled turkey and cheese with pesto, but I was still kind of angry at the turkey for letting me down earlier. so instead it was monterey jack on sourdough, with tomato and the last of that really fresh avocado I had started on earlier. a little pepper, splashes of crystal hot sauce and dipped in ketchup. ahhhhh yeah.