Sandwiches: More than fine

With the heat in Toronto this summer, I'm actually kind of grateful for my basement living situation. I will take cool and damp and dark over hot and sticky any day. I'm mostly living off of popsicles right now, but sandwiches offer a little more sustenance and so I offer you a round-up of Toronto sandwich news and a sandwich of my very own.

First of all, Sandwich Box is opening a new location at Bay and Bloor which I am thrilled about, because since the Queen St. W location shut down over a year ago, I've had to find excuses to visit the Financial District. Although in a cruel twist of fate, I will likely be graduated by the time it opens and actually work near the Financial District locations. As long as I have regular access to this gourmet Subway with excellent packaging, I'm happy. No opening date posted yet but renovations have been going on for a couple months now. Soon, I hope!

Sky Blue Sky Sandwich has been open for months but I was late to the game and have only started going this summer. They have a huge customizable sandwich menu, all named after Wilco songs (if you're into that kind of thing) with lots of vegetarian choices (if you're into that kind of thing). So far I've tried the Casino Queen (turkey with a balsamic onion marmalade, bacon, and avocado) and the We're Just Friends (chicken with roasted red peppers, Swiss cheese and red onions), both of which have been stellar though in the future I will ask for them to be buttered before grilled as they were a shade dry. The bread is craving-worthy, with several varieties (three cheese, honey-nut whole wheat, cranberry cream cheese) baked in house daily. I also tried the avocado-cucumber soup which was the perfect choice for a sweltering afternoon. The owner is incredibly friendly and happy to chat. Best of all, all sandwiches are under five dollars. There can be a bit of a wait if you come at a peak time, but there is the option of emailing your order so it's ready for pick-up. The future.

Lastly in sandwich news, two of my favourite restaurants are facing off this Sunday at Deli Duel, as a fundraiser for The Stop Community Food Centre. Caplansky's, The Stockyards and Goldin's are the names, smoked meat's the game. Sandwiches are three dollars and admission is free. Caplansky's has never failed to impress in the smoked meat department (I'm partial to the smoked meat poutine) and other deli fare. I wouldn't call The Stockyards a deli, but I would bet that their smoked meat is a contender, after having tried their barbecue options. Goldin's I have never heard of before, so I'm looking forward to tasting what they have on offer. Deli Duel is tomorrow at 1pm at Wychwood Barns, on Christie at St. Clair.

Finally, I leave you with a fancy BLT that was just the thing on a night too hot to turn on the oven. Bacon, spinach, tomato and fresh mozzarella grilled until crisp and melty. Simple and delicious.

Pesto makes everything better/My favourite sandwich

Food processor older than I am + Fresh Basil = Delicious Pesto


I used Mark Bittman's recipe from How To Cook Everything but it is seriously easy beyond belief, just process basil, pinenuts or other nuts (I used walnuts), garlic and olive oil. You can also use cheese if you want but I don't like to.

Mostly I made this pesto because it is the basis for what I consider to be the perfect sandwich. There is a small chain I love in Toronto called Sandwich Box, which is basically high-end Subway. I actually really hate Subway. The smell as soon as you go in is so overpowering and if I'm paying for someone else to make my lunch I don't like making that many choices. You're supposed to be an 'artist', use your judgement. Also choosing between the soggy veggies/cold cuts is not all that appealing. But Sandwich Box...I dream about it. You pick a bread, a spread, and three toppings from meats, vegetables and cheeses. Of course you could always choose more. And we are not talking slimy chicken terriyaki and wilted lettuce. No, no, my friend. Would you like some roasted garlic and cumin aoili? On fresh-baked rye, foccacia? Some caramelized onions and portobellos on that? YEAH. AND they pack it up in the cutest box and serve it with a side salad, after seasoning and toasting your sandwich.

This is a recreation of the sandwich I almost always get, prosciutto, brie and pesto on a baguette. But what, isn't that only two toppings? I thought you said three. Yeah but I don't feel like veggies on this one, although I was kind of disappointed not to get my three toppings worth. Until I realized I could just ask for double the brie. This sandwich is also reminiscint of one of my favourites from Spain a couple summers ago, serrano ham (they do fucking incredible things with pigs there) and brie panini.


Prosciutto, brie and homemade pesto on sourdough instead of baguette.

P.S. I finally got a summer job! I start on Monday but will try to keep up.