#16 out of 48: Meatloaf Sandwich at Three Girls Bakery

A steal at less than $8, the Meatloaf Sandwich at Three Girls Bakery is unbelievably satisfying. When smothered in Dijon mustard and mayonnaise and topped with onions, the sandwich is a little spicy and perfectly balanced. Baked in-house, Three Girls' breads are soft yet just strong enough to support the dense meatloaf inside. If this sandwich could be served warm, it would surely be an A+.

#15 out of 48: Grilled Cheese with Dungeness Crab at Beecher's

Our love for Beecher's runs deep. We've dragged many a visitor there to sample their World's Best Mac & Cheese. We participated in a cheese tasting and wine pairing class one holiday season. Heck, I was even cheesemaker for a day there, as well. So, our expectations of the Grilled Cheese with Dungeness Crab were high. Maybe a little too high.

Served on perfectly toasted bread, the Grilled Cheese with Dungess Crab seems kind of pricey at $10, but they don't skimp on the crab in any way. The sandwich is bursting with crab in such a way that it actually overpowers Beecher's signature Flagship cheese. Add a tasty remoulade sauce to the mix and the result actually tastes more like a crab salad than a grilled cheese. It's a tasty sandwich, but a slightly better balance would make it an undeniable favorite.

#14 of 48: Pork Burger at Facing East Taiwanese Restaurant

Until today, I'm not sure either of us could have said we've had sugar on a sandwich before. That is no longer the case, and I'm not so sure that's a good thing. The peanut topping on Facing East's pork burger was unfortunately overwhelmed by brown sugar and overly sweet. The glaze on the pork belly was lovely and appropriate, but in general, this sandwich was lacking in focus for us. Neither of us could get the "perfect bite".

In addition to these criticisms, it seems like a stretch to call the pork burger a sandwich at all. Sold for $3.25 each, the pork burger is quite small in size and serves better as a snack. We popped in after 2:00 pm on a Sunday afternoon to find Facing East bulging with customers. Fortunately, it was very easy to grab these to go. Next time, I might just see if I can have the pork belly in the bun all by itself. That just might notch it up to an A.

See what Seattle Magazine had to say about it.

#13 of 48: Porchetta at Salumi

We were delighted to find ourselves eating at Salumi on their weekly gnocchi day this past Tuesday. So much for squeezing in two sandwiches! We ordered a porchetta sandwich alongside Salumi's melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi and left completely stuffed.

The Porchetta is a very comforting sandwich that feels just like your grandmother made it. It's rich (but not too rich), gooey and full of bursts of fennel and garlic. It's not the prettiest sandwich, but I wouldn't hesitate to order it again... especially in late fall or winter when it's heaviness would be most appreciated.

See why Seattle Magazine put it on their sandwich bucket list.

Your favorite sandwiches?

Have you noticed the little green button just underneath our photo to the left? Email us your favorite sandwiches and we might just give them a try. No guarantees, though. ;)

One heckuva prime rib sandwich.

When we were home visiting family in Indianapolis recently, we also stopped to visit our favorite sandwich: the St. Elmo Prime Rib Sandwich at Harry & Izzy's. Totally meat-tastic and oozing with cheese, the Prime Rib sandwich also comes with melt-in-your-mouth mashed potatoes. If you stop in for this sandwich, don't pass over the pork tenderloin sliders either. If you're lucky, you might just spot a celebrity or two of Indianapolis caliber in here, as well.

#12 of 48: Lamb + Beef Gyro at Aladdin Gyrocery

We are big fans of our local Mr. Gyro's, so we felt like we were cheating by visiting the Aladdin Gyrocery. But, oh my! The lamb + beef gyro was amazing. From its crispy pita, tangy tzatziki and delicious meat, we were almost wishing we hadn't decided to split it ($4.50). I was slightly repulsed by the pool of grease at the bottom of the wrapper, but hey, I'll let it slide. Now if we could only get them to change the name of the shop...

#11 of 48: Crispy Drunken Chicken at Baguette Box

Acquiring the Crispy Drunken Chicken from Fremont's Baguette Box was another challenge for us. The first time we visited the shop, they had just closed (again, why no sandwiches for dinner?!). On our second try, they had run out of chicken (which we later found out is a common problem). Finally, on our third attempt, we scored a sandwich!

The Crispy Drunken Chicken was not only our first Bánh Mì in this sandwich challenge of ours, but our first ever. Like eating sesame chicken packaged in a crunchy baguette , the Crispy Drunken Chicken includes caramelized onions and lovely bits of cilantro on top. Shawn was smitten, I found it to be a tad on the tangy side. Because of the chicken's fried nature, we ordered a side of green bean + feta salad to balance out the meal. We shared both items and left fat and happy. If you can actually get your hands on one of these, it's a sandwich worth trying.

#10 of 48: Reuben at I Love New York Deli

So, I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I Love New York Deli's Reuben was my first. Fortunately, it did not disappoint! Who knew I liked sauerkraut? The first bite was total A+ material, but the sandwich got sloppier with each subsequent bite and became slightly less enchanting. While this particular Reuben could have benefited from a bit more dressing, I suspect that might have added to the general messiness of it. Packed high inside of toasted light rye bread, this Reuben stands over two inches tall and, at $10.95, is a fantastic value. We shared it and left feeling quite full. I'm not convinced I'll be able to make it through another 38 sandwiches before returning here for a repeat tasting. Read what Seattle Magazine had to say about it.

#9 of 48: Pulled Pork at Pike Street Fish Fry

Our taste buds tend to work in similar ways, but when it came to Pike Street Fish Fry's pulled pork sannie, we were a bit split. While I drooled over the combination of sweet, tangy and earthy flavors in this sandwich, Shawn was overwhelmed and slightly turned off by the salsa verde especially. I appreciated the fact that the salsa verde toned down the typical sweetness of pulled pork. We both agreed, however, that the Macrina roll was unbelievably fresh and toasted perfectly.

As far as price to quantity ratio goes, the pulled pork is a cheap little bite that is rather small in size. Still, I won't hesitate to drop in on this sandwich the next time we're off to Neumo's for a show. Shawn can just stick to a beer + frites.

#8 of 48: Clubhouse at Luna Park Cafe

Club sandwiches, in my opinion, are a bit meh. But, as far as clubs go, Luna Parks Cafe's was a good one. Crispy and zingy, this jam-packed sandwich was surprisingly fresh and not greasy in any way. In fact, nothing (including fries and onion rings!) we ordered was greasy. Hooray! Our favorite menu selection (and the one we will go back for time and time again) was a chocolate peanut butter milkshake. It was total perfection. As Shawn said, Luna Park isn't a greasy spoon, it's just a spoon!

#7 of 48: Crab Cake, Bacon + Avocado at Homegrown

As we've progressed with this little project of ours, patterns have started to emerge. Sandwiches aren't the easiest things to procure on evenings and Sundays. Since I work most Saturdays, filling our sandwich eating quota can be challenging.

The Fremont outlet of the Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich Shop is fortunately open on Sundays, but closes at 4:00 pm throughout the week. Why?! Do people seriously not eat sandwiches for dinner? I know we do!

The first time we tried to purchase this sandwich, we arrived 15 minutes too late. The second time (shown below), we were told they had run out of rolls. That day's sandwich artist ended up finding a day old roll that we were served (but still at full price, mind you). In the end, the bun seemed a bit too dense, but given the fact that it's supporting a crab cake, I can forgive that minor flaw.

The crab cake, bacon + avocado (regardless of bun age) was delightful. Full of flavor, this sandwich also possesses surprising bursts of citrus that make it very refreshing. Shawn initially gave this unique creation a B, but has grown to love the thought of it more over time. The biggest negative: the price to quantity ratio. The crab cake, bacon + avocado is not a good sandwich for sharing. Oh, well!

Blackberry season rules.

We get absurdly excited each year in late summer because blackberries grow in insane amounts around here. The first year we went picking, I broke a toe along the way, but braved the pain in order to get my precious berries. The following weekend, we kept to ourselves waiting for news about Shawn's ailing dad. In an effort to keep our moods positive, we decided to turn the 4+ cups of blackberries into a delicious pie. That would surely bring a smile to our faces.

We cleaned the berries, purchased the ingredients, and drooled as we watched our very first blackberry pie burbling in the oven. When the timer buzzed, I took the pie out and laughed as I watched it spin in its glass dish. Oops! I guess I must have overgreased the dish. When the spinning stopped, I held the dish up to see if the bottom had browned. When I did this, the entire pie flew right out of the dish and smashed all over the floor and interior of our oven. The dish stayed put right in my hands. In a desperate move, Shawn began to scrape remaining bits of pie off of the oven so we could have a taste that night. This plan worked to some degree, but we were pretty much left pie-less. All that plus the broken toe left me a little disenchanted.

The next week, we ran across a huge, largely unpicked batch of berries in a local park. We grabbed a bag out of the car and went nuts—scraping our arms, snagging our shirts—desperate to make and eat a blackberry pie. We headed straight to the grocery and baked one helluva pie that evening. I very carefully took it out of the oven this time, and my... was it ever yummy.

We have since perfected blackberry pie (see our favorite recipe). The past couple of years, we've branched out to other blackberry recipes, as well. Here are two delicious and easy options we mastered recently:

• Blackberry Milkshakes
• Blackberry Puffs
  
  

#6 of 48: French Dip from Rizzo's French Dip

In addition to the Parma we consumed on one particular Friday afternoon, we ventured into Rizzo's French Dip in north Ballard. When we walked into this tiny place, we were greeted with "cheese or no cheese?". Rizzo's sells one thing and one thing only—French Dips. Standing behind your expertise and working hard to perfect it is definitely a concept we can get behind.

Let me preface this review by saying that we are in no way connoisseurs of French Dips. The sandwich itself is huge and pre-dipped, which unfortunately made it a bit soggy. Regardless of this fact, Shawn found the meat to be a bit dry. I felt like I was eating something that I shouldn't have been. The French Dip is meaty and gooey after all. The first bite was kind of amazing, but in the end, we both agreed that the sandwich didn't sit real well with either of us. See what Seattle Mag had to say about it, and go decide for yourself.

#5 of 48: The Parma from DeLaurenti

On days when we're feeling really motivated, we've been eating two sandwiches from two different locations. Shawn picked up the Parma from DeLaurenti after work one evening. It traveled to our side of town quite nicely for consumption an hour later when paired up with another selection from the list.

A perfect picnic sandwich really, the Parma consists of prosciutto, Reggiano, arugula, and truffle oil wrapped up in a crispy Macrina roll. Primarily earthy in flavor because of the truffle oil, the sandwich doesn't look like much but remains surprisingly complex. Although Shawn didn't really love the truffle oil, I was very drawn to the Parma and can't wait to have it again. After all, it's affordable, manageable and pretty darn authentic.

#4 of 48: Chicken Salad at the Volunteer Park Cafe

With the fourth sandwich, a debate begins between us. How exactly are we rating these sandwiches? Are we comparing them to the other sandwiches on the list? Or, are we judging them on an individual basis? Just how good is this chicken salad sandwich seeing how it's a familiar concept to us? After chatting for a bit, we decide that we should rate each sandwich on its own, not as part of a 48 sandwich unit (if you know what I mean).

The Volunteer Park Cafe & Marketplace is a hip little joint that feels like it could be tucked into a hidden corner of Brooklyn. I love how it is integrated into the surrounding neighborhood, and like to envision myself hanging out there if I were lucky enough to live right next door. Not to mention taking a stroll to its namesake park afterwards...

The chicken salad itself is lovely and fresh with crunchy apples and celery in the mix. We both felt the baguette took the sandwich to another level, though. Alas, it's a chicken salad sandwich—not the most exciting thing, but a comforting classic. For more details, read what Seattle Magazine had to say about it.

Oh, and did I mention the cereal bars? Actually, I'll let the photo below speak for itself.

#3 of 48: Monte Cristo at Kiss Cafe

The Tour d'Sandwiches continues! Our third stop was at another unassuming cafe that we've passed a million times and never bothered to visit. The Kiss Cafe is a great little place along NW Market Street in Ballard. Among a sea of other eateries, it's easy to overlook, but definitely worth a stop.

After we placed our order, we were presented with a complimentary jar of pickles (normally $2). Tasty! Since we decided to split the Monte Cristo, we also ordered a cup of jambalaya that proved to be perfectly seasoned and delicious. When the sandwich arrived, we were happy with our decision to split it. The Monte Cristo is not only large, but is accompanied by a lovely seasonal fruit salad. I'm not just talking melons here, the fruit salad included plump blueberries and strawberries, as well.

The sandwich itself was oh-so-good. Falling somewhere between breakfast and dessert, the Kiss Cafe's Monte Cristo is buttery and sweet once dipped in a side of strawberry jam. Can't wait to try it again sometime! For a more elaborate description, read what Seattle Magazine had to say about it.

#2 of 48: Rajun Cajun at Other Coast Cafe

The second stop on the Tour d'Sandwiches came on a Sunday afternoon during the Ballard Market. We frequently walk past the Other Coast Cafe and have heard only good things about it, but we've never stopped in. The Rajun Cajun sandwich (turkey, pepper jack, cheese, tomato and onion with spicy salsa mayo) made Seattle Mag's bucket list, ranking it as one of the top five sannies in the city.

Although Shawn might agree with this top ranking, I found it a bit too spicy (but hey, they warn you!) and slightly greasy. Regardless of these two factors, it's still a tasty sandwich wrapped up in one heck of a toasty baguette. Think I'll just go with something a little less intense next time.

#1 of 48: The Croque Madam at Cafe Presse

When we purchased the 48 Best Sandwiches issue of Seattle Magazine at the end of July and decided to take upon the challenge of eating all of them, we had both technically eaten four sandwiches on the list (more on those later!). But, for the purpose of this blog, we'll say that we officially started chowing our way through the list on the night we tried this beauty: Friday, August 6. And, what a way to start...

Cafe Presse's Croque Madame easily rivals those found in Paris. The egg isn't too soft, but yet, it runs perfectly over what lies beneath it (ham and Gruyère). The result is a delightful, savory mess worth dreaming about at night.

The cafe itself has a casual feel that made us wish for an outlet closer to our neighborhood. It's simple and chic with a lot more menu items we look forward to trying.

Peckish?

We are married Seattleites (Heather & Shawn) who have recently challenged ourselves to eating Seattle's 48 Best Sandwiches. We're kind of nuts about food, so we're going to grade them along the way and share our opinions with you. If you're lucky, we might even throw in a few non-sandwich related items. Please take note: we don't take ourselves too seriously and we aren't pretending to be sophisticated, we just love to eat.