the great 'wich hunt: from my own kitchen

this isn't technically part of the search, and i'm not going to rate my own kitchen for menu readability and other such criteria. but, i did make a pretty awesome sandwich the other day, and i feel the need to share it with the blogging world.

the story: i am always on the lookout for good recipes on pinterest. one caught my eye a few weeks ago: 

doesn't that look so delicious?

the recipe: maybe one of the reasons i love sandwiches so much is that they are so easy to make. some would argue that this is the reason not to go out to sandwich places--you can usually make yourself a sandwich fairly easily. and sometimes i do get in that kind of mood, where i decide to just get all the yummy ingredients and do it myself. this sandwich features pesto, provolone (or mozzarella), spinach, sliced avocado, and goat cheese crumbles. just toss all that between two slices of bread, spread some butter on those two slices, and grill to melty perfection.

and here is the finished product. so delicious! though i did decide that, the next time i make this, i will add some bacon because 1) it needed a little touch of salty meatiness, and 2) bacon makes everything better.

so, another successful pinterest meal, and a sandwich that will undoubtedly keep me satisfied for years to come.

the great 'wich hunt: which wich?

which wich...it stole my heart.

i've wanted to go there for a couple weeks now, and when i finally did, with my mom and meredith, i was completely enamored.

i wrote in my post about firehouse subs how i detest going to new places and not being able to understand the menu and therefore making a dumb decision about what to order. at which wich, a restaurant where confusion could run rampant, a nice man (probably the manager) asked us if we had ever been to which wich before. since we hadn't, he explained the process.

you come to the menu before you talk to any employees. the menus for each different type of sandwich (chicken, beef, ham and pork, classics, comforts, etc.) are posted on boards up above, then you grab a paper bag and a sharpie to fill out the info for the specific sandwich you want. as we know, i am a fan of roast beef, so i chose the beef bag and filled out accordingly.

 so there i am with my little paper bag. i think this is genius--you see all of the options for meats, breads, toppings, sauces, extras right there in front of you. the sandwich maker doesn't have to recite all of the choices for every customer, and the customer doesn't have to try to remember everything at the counter. you can choose exactly what you want, and that's what you will get.

here's my lovely sandwich--roast beef on white, toasted, with mayo, mustard, cucumbers, salt, pepper, oil, and vinegar. simple but delicious. i also highly recommend the house chips, which are a dollar and are dusted with salt and pepper (why don't more people do this? it's delicious.)

the atmosphere at which wich is also very cool. the appliances and furniture mix stainless steel and blonde wood, a classic look. you can write a message or draw on your sandwich bag and hang it up with utility clamps. instead of napkins, they have rolls of paper towel, which is probably more environmentally conscious. you can sit up at the bar and read one of several newspapers, which are also hanging from utility clamps. and one time when we were there, one of those high school dance team competitions that they show on espn on saturday mornings and afternoons was on--highly entertaining.

all in all, i like which wich a lot. i'm working up to trying the chicken pesto sandwich--next time!

which wich:

taste: 8.5

establishment: 9.5

price: 8 

crave factor: 6

menu readability/ease of ordering: 10

total: 42

take a trip to which wich: 1077 south 750 east (university mall), orem, ut 84097, 801-224-9424 (the only utah location!)

the great 'wich hunt: firehouse subs

i have come to the conclusion that one of the few meals i am always in the mood for is that great american institution, the sandwich. so, in the vein of other similar pursuits found elsewhere, i will attempt to chronicle and rate the sandwiches i encounter. maybe someday i will find the best.

but for today: firehouse subs. it opened a few months ago in the strip mall across from the actual mall, and it is right next to some of my favorite places in provo (smashburger, yogurtland, and rubio's), so i had high hopes for firehouse.

i finally went one day by myself because the people i usually go to lunch with don't have the same affinity for subs. the chain has a firefighting theme, complete with dalmation-print tabletops and red plastic helmets for the kids. when i walked in, some of the employees called out "welcome to firehouse," which i think is nice but also a little cheesy. anyway, i hate going to a new place without anyone who has ever been there, because i tend to get confused by new menus. and this time was no exception. luckily, my choice was good.

this is the smokehouse beef and cheddar brisket (tm)(the sandwich name includes the tm, so i guess i should include it here, too). it is one of firehouse's hot specialty subs, and it is exceedingly delicious. all of the subs come with a cold dill pickle spear, and the pickles make my mouth water. the brisket has been "smoked for 10+ hours," and i believe it because it is so tender and juicy. the cheese is melted and not annoyingly stringy or chewy, and the combination of barbecue sauce and mayo adds just the right flavor. this is a simple yet satisfying sandwich.

firehouse subs (all scores out of 10):

taste: 9

establishment: 8

price: 6 (about $8 for a combo, $5-6ish for the sandwich only)

crave factor: 8

menu readability: 5

total: 36

visit firehouse and let me know what you think: 538 east university parkway (across from university mall), orem, ut 84097, 801.705.8500