Traveling Down The Golden Road

Greetings, Readers!

You know, sometimes a place makes such good sandwiches (or beer as well in this instance) that you just have to return again and again to have that same meal or to try something new.

In this case, I spent the evening with close friends at Golden Road Brewing, a place I have visited numerous times before and reviewed a year ago

This time, relaxing in the cool evening air with friends and a gut-warming glass of GRB's Barleywine (amazing, try it) I decided to go a little lighter than my last visit. This time I tried a sandwich for all of you vegetarians out there.

This time around I went for the Tomato Caprese Sandwich.

Stuffed into a golden, flaky French roll were thick and delicious slices of mozzarella, sliced roma tomatoes, basil pesto, balsamic reduction and olive oil.

The sandwich, while filling, was fresh, light, and thoroughly enjoyable. A contrast in flavors and ingredients to my previous visit (the delicious pulled pork sandwich), this was an excellent example of delicious on the other end of the food spectrum.

And it's proof that pub food doesn't have to be soaked in grease and made from meat to be enjoyable and easily paired with delicious beer.

As I've stated on the blog before, when tomatoes are on a sandwich that I am eating, I really need them to be fresh and juicy. If a tomato is mealy in any degree, I'll pull all of them off...but this was not the case this time around.

The tomatoes were fresh and juicy, with the balsamic reduction and pesto adding excellent herb flavors on top. Packed inside the flaky French roll, this is sandwich worth eating....again and again.

Overall, with this sandwich I can proudly state that Golden Road is a place where carnivore and vegetarian can eat at the same table and drink delicious beer while both enjoying excellently created sandwiches.

+++++++++++

In related sandwich news, I wanted to pass on this excellent article regarding the inherent danger in sandwiches. They can be so dangerous that even professional athletes can get hurt.  Seems that Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Joel Peralta suffered a neck injury on a recent sandwiching adventure in Florida.

Read more about it here.

Do you see, Readers? The danger I put myself in weekly to inform you of great sandwiches?

So take care out there this week, and enjoy your sandwiching.

Until next time...


Tomato Caprese Sandwich
**** 1/2 Stars
Golden Road Brewing
5410 West San Fernando Road
Los Angeles, CA 90039

Just Follow The Golden Road...To Deliciousness!

Greetings, Readers!

Feelinjg inspired by last week's entry with Tony's Darts Away, I decided to try out another local beer themed locale. This week I stopped by Golden Road Brewing.

Also run by Tony Yanow, this massive micro-brewery opened up on a small stretch of land between train tracks and the I-5 in Atwater Village.

I had been wanting to visit Golden Road when they originally opened late last year, but I my plans were continually thwarted. I had even tried their Golden Road Hef before even stepping into their brewery because of its availability at many local bars (canned, not bottle btw).

Finally making a stop at the brewery this past week, I was not only excited by their enticing beer menu, but after having sampled the food at Tony's Darts Away, I was eager to find a sandwich that would appeal to me here.

It didn't take long to decide on the pulled pork sandwich. The shredded pork was braised in the aforementioned Golden Road Hefeweizen, and stacked high on the bun along with shredded Napa cabbage and whole grain agave mustard on a croissant.

Yes, a croissant.

When I first got my food, I was a bit confused. Maybe I was given the wrong sandwich. I had never been given a pulled pork sandwich on a croissant before, or even anything after breakfast hours, so this was a bit strange.

But did it taste so good.

The buttery, flaky croissant really contrasted amazingly with the sharp mustard and strong flavors from the barbecued pork. The cabbage joined the party and added some crunch to the mix, which was definitely needed to contrast with the soft croissant.

Overall, this may be the best pulled pork sandwich I have ever had. Combine it with some potato salad and two pints of Golden Road's own draft offerings, and you have a delicious meal.

I cannot wait to go back.

Until next week, Readers!



Pulled Pork Sandwich
**** 1/2 Stars
Golden Road Brewery Pub
5410 West San Fernando Road
Los Angeles, CA
www.goldenroad.la