The Verdict Is...Dangerous!

Good Morning, Dear Readers!

Last week I was called in for jury duty, and I was picked in the first round.

As a person who doesn't like to waste opportunities when it comes to sandwiching, I decided to hit up some Downtown LA sandwich shops while doing my civic duty.

The one place I've wanted to visit downtown since reading Los Angeles magazine's top 17 sandwiches of LA was Gram and Papa's on 9th street in the fashion district.

The article raved about the Chicken Salad sandwich and I was determined to have it in order to complete the list.

The only problem is that I was never able to get downtown during G&P's hours, but now that I had an hour and a half break from court to walk 3 miles round trip, I set off.

From the outside, Gram and Papa's doesn't stand out much, and if you're not looking for it, may pass it by at first, but the inside is a different story.

A cozy little restaurant with plenty of tables that fills up quickly, Gram and Papa's is an inviting place to have lunch with friends or co-workers. Brick walls, dim lighting, and large print photos of actors that adorn the walls (the absolute coolest one being Dennis Hopper staring directly at camera), this place has atmosphere that just makes you feel cool by eating there.

Before I start with this review, I should note that I've never been a huge fan of chicken salad sandwiches, but I wanted to remain open-minded after hearing so many great reviews about Gram and Papas' and their delicious sandwiches.

My sandwich was quickly made and I grabbed a spot in a corner and unwrapped it. The brown pretzel bun stared back at me, promising DANGERous sandwich glory, would it hold up?

The first bite of this sandwich, I can't even describe. The pretzel bun was soft, with a smooth outside, that just melted in my mouth.

The chicken was roughly cut into generously sized chunks. They were tender, juicy, and full of flavor. It may be the best chicken I've ever had on a sandwich.

My one problem with chicken salad has always been the amount of mayonnaise used. This sandwich mixes the right amount in with the chicken. It moistenes the sandwich, adds a tasty flavor to the chicken, but does so without making it too moist or even overpowering the other flavors in the sandwich.

The lettuce was crisp and fresh, and the tomatoes were juicy and flavorful, without having any of the meal-y texture that I find so often in sandwiches that use tomatoes. These red gems made me almost rethink my stance on tomatoes in sandwiches.

And last, but certainly not least, what else did I find? Yes, sliced almonds.

This was a special extra that made the sandwich. The almonds added to the crunchy texture of the sandwich (along with the lettuce) and provided a slightly nutty flavor that stood out while still complementing the rest of the sandwich. Well played.

The verdict is in on this sandwich, and the defendant is...delicious.

Gram and Papa's may be out of the way for Angelenos that don't live or work downtown, but of all of the sandwich shops I've visited, this is definitely one that should be a destination spot for all true sandwichologists.

Until next week DANGER fans...


Chicken Salad Sandwich
**** 1/2 Stars
Gram and Papa's
227 E. 9th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015

This little piggy went straight to my stomach...

Look out! DANGER ahead!

...and by DANGER, I mean PASTRAMI!

For this week's adventure, I headed deep into the concrete jungle of Eagle Rock in search of another of Los Angeles' highest rated sandwiches:

The Oinkster Pastrami Sandwich from legendary eatery...Oinkster.

I had heard about The Oinkster a number of times: wonderful reviews in LA Weekly, Top 17 Sandwiches of LA in LA Magazine, and through numerous personal reviews.

When I first arrived at Oinkster, I was greeted by a very lengthy line that stretched out the door and around the corner. But have no fear readers, as this lengthy line moves very quickly, and will not keep you away from your own taste of heaven for too long.

Wanting to tackle another of LA's 17 Best Sandwiches, I ordered the Oinkster Pastrami Sandwich: Pastrami cured for 2 weeks, Gruyere cheese, carmelized onions, and red cabbage slaw.

Wow. Seriously. For those less daring, the regular Pastrami sandwich does not contain those extras.

But seriously, why would you want to miss out?

The first challenge of the sandwich was figuring out how to eat it: It was oddly wrapped in paper and oddly cut, so that if you tried to pull it apart, the pastrami poured out into your basket.

So here's a tip: don't try to figure it out, just bite into the deliciousness, head on!

One of the things about Pastrami, for those that don't know, is that if it's not prepared right it can be tough, bitter, and fatty. If you don't take time preparing it well enough, it can be an incredibly offputting experience.

Oinkster's Pastrami is cured for two weeks, and is just perfect. Soft, delicate meat with an exceptional seasoned flavor. Not too strong, but not too weak.

Gruyere cheese is probably one of my favorite cheese of all time. it's lumped on here pretty thick, and is very gooey. If you're not used to cheese on a pastrami, it may be off-putting at first, but be adventurous!

The red cabbage slaw is the real surprise winner here. At first it's sweet, then it's a bit tangy, and is a great contrast to the rest of the sandwich. For how little is actually there, it's pretty noticeable, and very delicious.

The only part of the sandwich that I was not that impressed with was the roll. It was flaky, a bit dry, and didn't complement the sandwich well. I would have preferred the grilled rye of Brent's that I sampled a few weeks ago. Regardless, it's not bad enough to take away from the overall enjoyment of the sandwich.

If make it out to Eagle Rock to visit Oinkster, make sure you order a side of their fries (crispy, warm, lightly salted, and delicious), and get the spicy sweet Chipotle ketchup to dip the fries in.

You won't be disappointed.

So, another week, another sandwich.

A highly recommended sandwich at that.

This is my 11th entry here at The Danger Sandwich, and I hope it is as enjoyable for you as it has been for me so far. Please keep the suggestions coming (even for places not in Los Angeles), as I plan to keep moving forward in my mission of sampling delicious sandwiches, so that you may not have to face the DANGER by yourself.

Unless, of course, it's delicious.

Then by all means, have at it.

**** Stars

The Oinkster

2005 Colorado Blvd

Eagle Rock, CA

323-255-OINK

http;//www.theoinkster.com

Spain = Delicious

Oh, hello readers.

back for more DANGER?

Recently, Los Angeles Magazine had their annual food issue, and this year they've written an article about the 17 best sandwiches in LA.

And I of course, must try them all.

But have no fear! It may take all of my fortitude to survive this challenge, but I will.

FOR YOU!

This week's delicious challenge is the Spanish Turkey Sandwich from Artisan Cheese Gallery in Studio City.

Now, I had always seen this place, seeing as I work very close to it, but had never stopped in. On my first visit there I was very pleased with the ambiance of the place. A very rustic looking shop, lined with wine bottles and soothing music playing. They have regular wine and cheese tastings too! Once you sit down here, you feel right at home.

But, no time for dillydallying! For I have a half hour lunch break, and sandwiches to conquer!

The Spanish Turkey is served on a delicious baked ciabattina roll, which just so happens to be another favorite of mine. Perfectly smooth and golden exterior, with warm and soft insides.

Between those two delicious slices of heaven, there is a Campo de Montelban Cheese (A type of Spanish cheese made from combining cow, sheep, and goat's milk), turkey breast, chopped marcona almonds, roasted sweet red peppers, and aioli sauce.

It seriously was like someone assembled a dream team of foods to fight off the evils of hunger.

The cheese is more similar to a goat's cheese, despite the combination: a little dry, but very creamy.

The turkey breast was roughly chopped, and perfectly cooked. Full of flavor, succulent, and not the least bit dry or overdone. They also pack in a surprising amount into this sandwich, which makes this sandwich very filling.

The roasted sweet red peppers were pretty surprising. I'm a person who loves peppers of all types, and tends to use a lot in cooking, but I never have ever tasted peppers like these. Seriously, their sweet flavor is so powerful, but not so powerful that it's all you taste. The garlic aioli definitely helps in acting as a delicious balance.

The last part of the sandwich was a bit of a surprise. The chopped Marcona almonds added this very subtle nutty flavor to the mix. And as you can see by the photos, they stuff a lot in there. It was something new for this Sandwichologist, but a very welcome addition to the sandwich.

If you couldn't tell yet, dear readers, I loved this sandwich very much. LA Magazine may just be right in naming this sandwich in their top 17, but there's only one way to find out if they're right...

...D-A-N-G-E-R!

**** stars

Artisan Cheese Gallery

12023 Ventura Blvd

Studio City, CA

http://www.artisancheesegallery.com