A late night at the corner diner...

Welcome dear readers, for another lesson in DANGER!

There is something that you should know about me before we begin today: I have a deep love of diners.

Don't begin to worry though, this love has been deemed healthy and safe by a number of medical professionals, so i'm in the clear. Thank you for your concern though.

So what is it exactly about diners that I love so much?

Is it the atmosphere? The muddy coffee? The regulars? Or is it the waitress who once asked "you need anymore coffee, doll?"

It could be a combination of all of those, but then again if that was all I talked about, this foodie blog would leave out the crucial aspect of food reviewing.

Now for anyone who has ever eaten at a diner, you know for a fact that diner food can quite often be very hit or miss (there are some notable exceptions to be had though). And so, when a good meal is found it's definitely worth being passed on to others.

Enter the Reuben at North Hollywood Diner.

I've been coming to this diner since I first interned in Los Angeles in 2005, and I've tried at least half of the items on their substantial menu, but the Reuben is something new for me this time around.

Corned Beef, Jack cheese, and a healthy dose of sauerkraut on grilled rye bread seems like an easy enough sandwich, but in my position, I also know it's something that can easily be screwed up. The wrong proportions, or badly prepared meat can lead to an unsatisfying mess in your hands.

The Reuben at the North Hollywood Diner could have been improved upon had the meat cooked a little longer. The problem with corned beef is that if you don't take your time in cooking the meat long enough, it can be quite tough and take away from the experience. The seasoning for the corned beef was great, producing a subtle tangy flavor, but every once in awhile i'd have to put my incisors to work a little more than i normally like to.

The sauerkraut was perfect: not too sour, but not too weak either. The cheese was melted until it was creamy and blended well with the healthy dose of sauerkraut.

The grilled rye bread could have spent a little more time on the grill. There was a slight crisp to it, but was still very soft in most parts. Even the butter used on the bread was still noticeable, and a sure sign it hadn't been fully cooked. If you're going to grill rye bread for your sandwich, go hard or go home, is what i always say.

Overall, if you find yourself in North Hollywood and looking for a satisfying meal, the North Hollywood Diner will certainly tend to your needs. This sandwich, though, was passable but there are plenty of other delis and diners in the area that can easily do much better.

Until next time, may the DANGER be with you.

*** Stars

North Hollywood Diner

11329 Magnolia Boulevard

North Hollywood, CA 92601

Off To The Greek Isles...Or South of Koreatown.

Good Morning DANGER-ites!

Once again, taking up my now sacred duty to taste test all of LA's 17 most delicious sandwiches, I arrive in the Byzantine-Latino Quarter of Los Angeles (yes, it does exist, much to my surprise as well).

Alongside taco stands and spanish billboards lies Cyrillic signs and Papa Cristo's, a delicious Greek deli and market.

Having to drive this far away, I breathed a sigh of relief when I arrived there at 730: 30 minutes before closing.

I quickly ordered the sandwich and awaited a delicious journey into my digestive system. The service was very quick too as my sandwich, along with pickled vegetables, was on the table in less than 10 minutes.

To start, the Roasted Lamb and Feta Cheese sandwich comes on a tough Italian Roll, with large chunks of slow roasted lamb, and copious amount of feta cheese.

The sandwich roll was a very good contrast for the sandwich: a little tough and perfectly golden.

The lamb must have been roasting for quite some time, as the meat easily feel apart in my mouth. Taking a chunk of it from my sandwich, I pulled it apart to see that most of the fat had been melted away ages ago, leaving a very tender, juicy, and lightly seasoned meat in it's wake.

While the lamb is more subtle in its flavor, the Feta cheese is a different story altogether. Feta cheese is another one of my favorite cheeses for any situation. I really do love dry and pungent cheeses (listen to me rave about goat cheese sometime), and this feta delivers. It is a serious taste bud explosion when you get a mouth full of feta along with the lamb. It really adds a nice punch to the entire sandwich.

Overall, the sandwich ranks very highly with me. The lamb was very well roasted, the cheese adds a nice touch, and the bread surrounding this delicious pair ties it altogether in a distinctly DANGEROUS way.

If you're in LA, and can make the trip to this remote part of the city, Papa Cristo's is definitely worth the journey to this DANGER-filled neighborhood.

**** Stars

Papa Cristo's

2771 West Pico Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90006

http://www.papacristos.com

Thanksgiving Comes Early

Back for more oh seekers of DANGER?

This week's find comes from simply walking down the street and letting my DANGER radar sniff out a place for me.

While walking down Ventura Blvd, awaiting a DANGEROUS oil change, I stumbled upon a small cafe in Sherman Oaks called Pane Dolce.

A quaint local shop, Pane Dolce is very warm and welcoming, almost as if you've shown up in your own living room and decided to pay for overpriced coffee on your couch.

But the coffee is not what you've come for, it is the sandwich.

Pane Dolce has a wide variety of paninis available, but the one that struck my eye the most was the Turkey, Pesto, and Cranberry Panini.

Now like most people, I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving.

A nationally recognized day to gorge ourselves in remembrance of....something...

So, naturally, when someone combines the two best parts of Thanksgiving dinner into a sandwich, I'm game.

The bread was a crisply baked golden wonder. Just like any good panini, it was cooked just the right amount of time to give it grill lines, and a crisp exterior while still staying warm and soft inside.

The cranberries inside were incredible.

I am a huge fan of cranberries. Though I usually prefer them more on the tart side, the way these sweet cranberries paired so well with the slightly tangy and creamy pesto, it was something that i was able to overlook. I will now have to try to find more savory sandwiches to add sweet cranberries to.

Lastly, and probably the least standout part of this sandwich would be the turkey.

Roasted, and thick cut, the turkey was good, but that's about it. Not great, but not bad at all. A middle of the road addition, and easily overshadowed by the cranberries and pesto. This sandwich may not even have made it onto my radar had it not been for those two delicious friends.

Well this marks another week in my search for DANGER.

Next week, I take on another sandwich in LA Magazine's Top 17 Sandwiches of Los Angeles.

Until then...may DANGER be with you.

*** 1/2 Stars

Pane Dolce

13608 Venutra Blvd

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

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

A Muffu-whatta?

Welcome back, dear readers!

This week, I am tracking another treat from the deep south: The Muffuletta sandwich.

Originating from New Orleans' French Quarter. The Muffuletta was accidentally created in the early 1900s at The Central Grocery, a local hangout for Sicilian farmers who sold their produce at the market.

The sandwich consists of capicola, salami, mortadella, emmentaler, and provolone cheese topped with a tangy olive salad, and stuffed between two halves of an Italian roll, also known as muffuletta.

It's a thick sandwich. Really thick.

I had always heard of people mention this sandwich as it seems to be incredibly popular in Louisiana. Bobby Flay even delved into the history of the sandwich and professed his love for it on an episode of his show, Throwdown.

So when I was prompted with a suggestion of where to find a Muffuletta in Los Angeles, I was eager to try it...and try it, I did.

Making my way through the tight winding corridors of the Farmers' Market at The Grove in Los Angeles, I finally arrived at The Gumbo Pot.

Biting into my first Muffuletta, the first thing I noticed was the olive salad, and I really, really enjoyed it. Tangy and full of flavor the olive salad really stood out among all of the other ingredients of the sandwich.

The flavor of the numerous meats and cheeses blended together a little too well, though. Nothing really stood out, nor could I tell which meats were actually even used as no single taste was discernible from the others.

The real low point for me was the bread.

And as you may know from previous posts, this can sometimes be the break point for a sandwich.

The bread was chewy, and had very little, if any, taste.

Bland would be putting it mildly when talking about the bread.

The sandwich did receive a second wind though, when the next day I braved the trials of turning on my own oven and placed the sandwich in the fires at 350 for 10 minutes to bring this monstrous creation back to life.

The bread was much less chewy, and I would have to say the overall experience definitely was better, but still, I was left wanting more.

Another time, Muffuletta?

All in all, my first experience with the Muffuletta was a let down. But have no fear, for I will keep my eyes and ears open for another place that offers this supposedly DANGEROUS sandwich.

Until then, dear readers...

** 1/2 Stars

The Farmers Market at the Grove

6301 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles CA

Hey, Stunad!*

Ever since I started this blog, I have constantly asked for suggestions of places to try in my quest to find the ultimate sandwich.

And when I've asked for DANGER, dear readers, you have all reached out and thrown it my way.

And I applaud you.

This week I wanted to try a place that was recommended to me by numerous people: Bay Cities Italian Deli.

Sounds....DANGEROUS.

After hearing stories about long wait times, I was a little bit wary about my first expedition there. I headed out to Bay Cities around dinner time though and lucked out with a very short wait.

The most surprising thing about my visit to Bay Cities is that the deli itself was more than what I expected. I had gone there thinking it would be another east-coast style deli, but was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the deli was only one half of a fully stocked Italian Market. They were stocked with fresh baked goods and a wide selection of other items you would normally find at any local market.

The excellent selection of hard to find sodas in the back is always a welcome sight in a sandwich shop.

For my first expedition into DANGER, Italian Style, I saddled up to the counter where I felt compelled to order like a portly Italian man from Brooklyn.

Deciding that ordering a sandwich like Tony Soprano in this case would be more DANGEROUS than necessary, I grabbed a number and ordered the Godmother.

What a name.

I mean, with a name like that, you'd almost expect something magical.

And It delivered.

The Godmother consists of freshly baked Italian bread, genoa salami, mortadella, coppacola, ham, prosciutto, and provolone. I also got it with "The Works" which adds mayo, mustard, onions, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, Italian dressing, and mild or hot pepper salad.

Now, that's a sandwich.

As I always like to do when evaluating a sandwich, let's start with the bread.

The Italian style baked bread is excellent. Soft on the inside, but a nicely baked tough crust on the outside. It's a real treat to find bread as well made as this. If it were used as a side, or torn off and covered in butter, it would be equally enjoyable by itself.

The army of meat is an delicious combination of Italian cold cuts. It is high quality deli meat that easily falls apart in your mouth. Combined with the more pungent and spicy "Works", this is an all around savory sandwich with a nice spicy kick that contrasts nicely with the subtle, but delicious combination of Italian meats.

The only problem though, and it's a minor one, is when these two parts of the sandwich are combined into...well, a sandwich.

With the tough exterior of the bread, any bite made into the sandwich pushes the contents out. By the end of your dining experience, your hands are covered in about four different liquids, and about a third of the sandwich may be on the table.

Nonetheless though, this is a first rate sandwich worth the drive out to Santa Monica.

Note, all sandwiches at Bay Cities come in small or large sizes. I highly recommend you get the small. It's more than enough, unless you just so happen to starve yourself three days in advance.

Bay Cities is the type of place I would love to live around the corner from. It has a wide variety of items, and the place has real charm. But those two things are easily trumped by the excellent deli counter, and their delicious sandwiches.

Until next week, Danger Lovers...

*(Stunad - n. Italian slang for a stupid person. Aka one who does not try Bay Cities' Sandwiches.)

****

Bay Cities Italian Deli

1517 Lincoln Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90401