Sandwich Queen

Current favorite breakfast:
Locally made bagel, sprouts, tomatoes, and laughing cow cheese

The Background.

I have a coffee shop where I am a regular. It has trendy black tables and chairs, uses natural light effectively, and is independently owned. The owner was talking with people about revising their sandwich board and I thought "Hey! I can help with sandwich inspiration!"

The Story.

Woo's Brews of Wooster, Ohio is a cute place.  It is nestled in the corner and not necessarily obvious unless you are looking for it. That is one of the perks for me; the quiet location is part of its charm. 

Monte Cristo with strawberry jam

The other part of the charm is the atmosphere. It is like a roomy version of a city coffee shop (for roomier Midwestern bodies like mine, I am sure). The owner addresses people by name, often coming around the corner to give hugs. The barista knows my drink (down to the "hold the foam" part) and I always feel like I am being genuinely greeted when I walk in.

They opened in November of 2010 in downtown Wooster, Ohio, about a five minute walk from my house. They are the sort of place that sells baked items from local kitchens, shares samples of said baked goods with the regulars, and begins making my latte as soon as they see me through their glass doors.

This is the sort of place where a discussion among two retired men resulted in panic in the whole coffee shop; there was fear that  a local bakery had closed. I was able to provide the gentlemen with the address (with the use of that new fan-dangled Internet); it turns out that the bakery moved. One of the gentlemen drove to the bakery and called back to Woo's Brews to let everyone know that it is indeed still in business.

Regulars bring in cupcakes to share, and give me newspaper articles to protect me from new Mac viruses. Another regular is a retired man who used to design Lennox crystal; he brings a small portable tablet and paints with water colors while drinking his coffee. A group of cyclists comes in post ride and drinks coffee (picture 5 men in spandex with coffee in their hands). There is one guy who regularly pays for friends and acquaintances, and offers to get other customers coffee refills. It is the sort of place where I can exclaim frustration with the student work I am grading and someone well reassure me that I am invested and that my students should be pleased to have such a dedicated instructor.

Goat cheese, Balsamic V., and Turkey on left. 

One day the owner and her husband were talking about revisiting their sandwich board. They rely heavily on paninis, and since I am (a) trying to eat a bit healthier, (b) want this newly established café to thrive,  (c) not fond of the other options in town, and (d) still slighted from not going to culinary school, I offered to come up with some sandwiches for inspiration.

It seems like the husband was more interested in changes than the owner, but by then my head was already thinking of ideas. I offered to bring in a sandwich a day the following week for a total of 5 sandwiches.

Just two days ago one of my co-workers accused me of being an over-achiever. 

I created a list of 20 sandwiches, 2 salads, 2 potential themes, and an alternative to chips. 

The Recipes.

Turkey Panini with (cheap unauthentic) Mango Chutney

Turkey Panini with Mango Chutney
Country white or sourdough
Sliced turkey breast
Roasted red pepper
Jarlsbery cheese
Mango chutney

Garden Grilled Cheese
Whole Wheat
Cheddar
Sliced cherry tomatoes
Sprouts

MonteCristo
Country white bread
Shaved ham
Swiss cheese
(can consider a thin spread of honey mustard)

Grandma's Grilled Cheese

Grill and serve with strawberry preserves for dipping

Grandma's Grilled Cheese
White bread

Colby
Thinly sliced apple

Balsamic, Goat Cheese, and Turkey Sourdough french bread
Goat cheese
Shredded cooked turkey
Balsamic vinegar
Basil leaves
Sliced english cucumber

Consider broiling turkey and cheese, or grill 

The Process. 

I went to Local Roots and got some great bread that must have been made by a woman who must be either Amish or Mennonite. The honey whole wheat was very much like my own that I blogged about, and the white was perfect for indulgent peanut butter sandwiches. 

The Future. 

I want to work my way through my "theme" lists; I made a peanut butter list and a grilled cheese list. In addition to the sandwiches above these are a part of the lists that I want to make again/for the first
time:

Peanut Butter: (a) grilled PB&J, (b) grilled PB & honey, (c) grilled PB & banana, (d) PB & applesauce, (d) PB & nutella, (e) "Fools Gold": PB, blueberry jam, bacon, (f) fluffer nutter

Grilled Cheese:
(a) roasted red pepper, artichoke heart, and cheddar, (b) cream cheese and strawberry jam cheddar and bacon