If Paseo’s success—and recent demise—taught us anything, it’s the power of a good sandwich, and the magic that comes from very specific ingredients built in a very particular way. A sandwich is the ultimate composed plate; a juxtaposition of flavor, textures and aromas, it is its own succinct meal. While the classic deli lunch sandwich will never go out of style, some of our best chefs have elevated the humble sandwich to a level of stardom that allows it its place on even the high-end plate, bringing exotic meats, ethnic flavors, and unexpected, farm-fresh ingredients that take us worlds away from turkey and swiss.

Here, ten must-try sandwiches in Seattle that challenge your perception of what a sandwich can be:

The Burrata Sandwich at SLAB

I’ll never forget the first time I had burrata. It was at my favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant in Brooklyn. I remember thinking ‘how can mozzarella be this creamy and delicious?’ Easy, just add cream to the mozzarella. When I bit into the Burrata Treviso sandwich at SLAB, I had a similar reaction. This time: ‘how can this burrata be this creamy and delicious?’ The quality is unparalled, and its slightly sweet milkiness is a beautiful foil to crisp, barely bitter treviso. A tiny spark of sour via Mama Lil’s peppers completes the trio served on baguette. The sandwich is so rich and dymanic that you may find yourself forgetting it’s vegetarian.

The Braised Rabbit Sandwich at Matt’s in the Market

Chef Shane Ryan has many delicious sandwiches on the menu, but where else can you get one with braised rabbit? This one incorporates leg and thigh meat, wild mushrooms depending on the season (Ryan forages for his own on Whidbey Island), arugula and an herb aioli. It comes on brioche, which adds a lovely sweet note to the mix.

The Caesar Salad Sandwich at Damn the Weather

This re-constructed version of a Caesar salad comes with an egg cooked into the top slice of toasted, buttery bricoche (toad-in-the-hole style). Between the bread are crisp romaine leaves dressed with lemony, anchovy-forward Caesar dressing. When you cut into the sandwich the egg mingles with the dressing bringing even more lushness. An anchovy is plated beside it.

The Sloppy Joe at Good Bar

A Sloppy Joe is akin to meatloaf; part of your mother’s old-school but delicious dinner rotation (at least it was mine as a child in the 70s). While you can argue that this is a sandwich that needs no bells and whistles, Good Bar refutes that line of thought. Served on a ciabatta roll, the beef from Painted Hills gets a dose of tomato (traditional) and stout (a newcomer that brings more depth of flavor). It’s further radicalized with a creamy roasted onion ailoi.

The Charred Kale Sandwich at Stoneburner

There’s a lot going on in this seductive vegetarian sandwich, starting with charred kale. Like Sundstrom at SLAB, chef Jason Stoneburner knows the virtues of burrata paired with a leafy veg; similarly he also adds zing via pimento peppers and, even more creatively, with pickled fennel that really makes itself heard amid the multiple flavors. For textural interest, smatterings of chickpea cake are present as is a piquant, herbaceous salsa verde. It comes on a round, housemade, thinner, crisper version of ciabatta.

The Albacore Tuna Salad Sandwich at Canal Market

It’s not hard to find a salmon sandwich around town, but Ericka Burke changes things up with her tuna sandwich with pickled zucchini, red onion, baby arugula and caper relish, served up on Columbia City potato baguette. Just another reason to stop by the new Canal Market.

The Cheddar Apple Melt at Pork Chop & Co

Over at Pork Chop & Co., one of the best sandwiches on the dinner menu is not, in fact, the pork chop sandwich. Instead, a most sophisticated version of a grilled cheese steals the show. First, there’s the cheese: cheddar and gruyere. Then there’s the tangy blast of pickled Pink Lady apples and the sweetness of carmelized onions. Served on grilled sourdough, it’s ridiculously good. Should you choose to make it more gluttonous: add a slice of country ham for an extra two bucks.

The Brisket Sandwich at Smith

When a friend told me about this sandwich my first thought was, gross. My immediate next thought was: I need to try it. Surrounded by taxidermied animals at this Capitol Hill pub, a decadent brisket sandwich is right at home. While it’s only available on the brunch menu, it could easily make a great dinner dish. The heaping pile of brisket is topped with a fried egg, fried green tomatoes, mustard ailoi and swiss cheese. It’s got heart attack written all over it, but the acidic flavors cutting through the fat are phenomenal. The side of french fries makes it nearly comical in its decadence.

The Japanese Katsu at Nue

Katsu Sando is a the Japanese version of a pork cutlet sandwich, breaded typically with panko. Recently opened, global street food restaurant Nue, hits it on the nail, its pork loin cooked to perfection and nestled beneath the deep fried exterior. Served atop toasted, crust-less white bread, the meat is dressed up only with kewpie mayonnaise (sweeter than western mayo, made from rice wine vinegar rather than distilled vinegar) and a housemade tonkatsu (a thick brown Japanese barbeque sauce) made with Worcestershire, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, mustard and garlic powder). It’s a deceptively simple, but oh so addictive sandwich, served up with their own Togarashi chips, dusted with red chili pepper and other spices like ginger and sesame.

The 25-Minute Lobster Roll at The Ballard Annex Oyster House

No disrespect for the lobsters of the Pacific, but maybe, like me, you sometimes find yourself hankering for the boiled red Maine variety. If so, then this is the place for you. Their 25-Minute Lobster Roll (meant to be shared by two), is 3-5 lbs of lobster meat, the tail served on a bun with butter lettuce, a spicy mayo celery sauce, and the rest on the side with some Old Bay. Market prices apply, so expect to pay about $85. I recommend washing it down with a bottle of their house Cava, a steal at $30 a bottle.

The Sandwich Sultans

John Sundstrom, SLAB

Who would have guessed that the chef who brings Seattle diners such refined food at Lark would open a sandwich shop? For John Sundstrom, it made sense to utilize the array of ingredients from his dinner menu in a novel way. He’s always enjoyed the French tradition of open-faced sandwiches and tartines, but the Lark menu didn’t quite fit with those. He also had fond memories as a child of going out with his mom for a crab roll, something that wasn’t easy to find in Utah (expect to see a crab sandwich with spreadable chorizo and apple fennel slaw soon!). Besides sandwiches, SLAB also offers savory meat pies (think pasties) packed with shortribs and wild mushrooms. But we’re in love with his burrata sandwich with treviso and spicy peppers (see page TK), as well as his super original smoked faro bread (made in-house and toasted) with smashed avocado and tomato ginger jam. Despite the popularity of his sandwiches, Sundstrom says, “It’s a tricky thing, because even though we make really great sandwiches with quality ingredients, we’re still kind of competing with the Subways of the world. Because of their price points people think a sandwich should be six bucks instead of seven or eight.” Trust us, these sandwiches are worth the extra couple dollars!

Paul Osher, PorkChop and Co.

When Paul Osher, who grew up in a family that ran a Jewish delicatessen for a living, opened Pork Chop & Co in Ballard, he didn’t expect that people would flock to it for sandwiches after lunch hours. But while the restaurant features plated entrees at night (mostly deconstructed versions of his sandwiches), the sandwiches themselves took on a life of their own at dinner. And despite the name of the restaurant, Osher, who was a vegetarian for many years (“I lived off cheese and mustard sandwiches; it was kind of sad” ) brings not just meaty goodness a la the whole bone-in pork chop sandwich, but incredibly flavorful and out-of-the-box veggie concoctions, like a Smoked Beet sandwiches (see Page TK). “One tricky thing when putting together a vegetarian sandwich is making it rich enough to feel like a meal,” says Osher. “But our beet sandwich is so and good flavorful, yet pretty light, it’s not at all what people expect.” About sandwiches in general, he says, “It’s all about balances, figuring out what goes well together; anything really rich paired with something that cuts though it, like pickles, for acid, or something sweet or spicy. Things that are more bland with something really flavorful.” Besides his deli background, Osher’s sandwich career all began with a grilled cheese invitational in LA., where his Apple Melt (see page TK) won a judge’s choice award. “It was the weirdest, craziest thing I’ve ever been to,” he chuckles.

[Sidebar]

It’s All About the Bread, ‘Bout the Bread [sidebar]

It can go really great or quickly downhill depending on the bread. Most chefs get their loaves from Macrina, Columbia City or Grand Central Bakery. But no matter where they shop, they all agree on the types of bread that pair best with specific ingredients.

The Baguette: It’s got a great chew, and you need to unlock your jaw to get into it, which makes it great for hearty sandwiches like “a big old angry Italian sandwich,” says Matt Snyder from DeLaurenti. John Sundstrom of Lark likes using a rustic, crispy baguette from Columbia City Bakery to contrast the creamy tenderness of burrata cheese, like one from Columbia City. Meanwhile he opts for a softer, larger baguette from Wild Wheat Bakery when he does a Cuban or brisket sandwich because it has a chewier texture that works great when grilled.

The Wheat Bread: Macrina’s Vollkorn is a slightly sweetened wheat bread topped with flecks of sea salt and pumpkin seeds, which gives it a deft balance of sweet and salty. The kiss of honey in the dough makes it a perfect partner for something like roasted chicken and veggies.

The Giuseppe Bread: Macrina’s version of a classic Italian loaf, it’s to go-to bread at Paseo and Salumi, and doesn’t have as formidable a crust as a baguette; it’s also lighter and airier on the inside. It’s a great bread to grill because it gets crackly on the outside but gives way to the sandwich’s interior, so you’re not going to cut the roof of your mouth. It’s also mild in taste, which allows other flavors to take center stage.

The Ciabatta: Paul Osher, of Pork Chop & Co. is a fan of ciabatta rolls because of their softness, which allows you to pile a lot into them. Plus they have a lot of flavor, unlike the tamer tasting Giuseppe Bread. However, he never uses them for a grilled sandwich; the air pockets make it holey, which can create a big mess. The Sloppy Joe over at Good Bar (See Page TK) also comes served on Ciabatta.

Sliced Bread: No, we’re not talking about Wonder bread. Nice for toasting and for something good-sized, sourdough and rye are great options when it comes to bread by the slice, according to Osher.

[Sidebar]:

Always Wear a Condiment

Besides the bread and the main ingredients (usually the protein or a veg) no sandwich is fully realized without the condiments that give it a spark and bring all the disparate parts harmoniously together. Here, some trends and specific products that make chefs (and thereby, us) swoon:

“Mama Lil’s Peppers: Ever wonder why just about every restaurant—from pizza joint to trendy gastropub—has these locally-made babies somewhere on them? These pickled peppers are especially good at bringing zing to a rich sandwich, as are most cured peppers. But according to chefs out there, these are especially coveted for their slight crunch, which brings an element of texture when needed. MORE TK FROM OWNER There, now you know.

Speaking of pickled things, well, pickles: Maybe you grew up eating sandwiches with oval slices of dill or circular sweet and sour bread and butter pickles. These days, though, chefs pickle just about every veggie and fruit they can get their hands on (a stop at any of Renee Erickson’s restaurants will prove that point; pickled figs or plums anyone?). These pickled items help break through the richness of many a decadent sandwich. At Stoneburner, Jason Stoneburner pickles fennel for his Charred Kale Sandwich (see page TK), and Ericka Burke pickles zucchini for her Albacore Tuna Salad Sandwich (see page TK) while over at SLAB, Sundstrom pickles baby bell peppers and jalapenos, and also ferments and then cold smokes cucumbers, which add a smoky, tangy blast to his Cubano. Another favorite there: Crispy chicken skins, available to order on any sandwich. Because we all need a little more fat in our lives.

Put an egg on it!: Notice people plopping eggs on everything, including pasta, salads and sandwiches (see the Brisket sandwich at Smith on page TK and The Cesar Salad Sandwich at Damn the Weather on Page TK)? So, What’s the deal? Simple: They’re delicious, and an easy way to make something richer.

Gourmet Mayo: Put down the Hellman’s and step away. That’s right, it’s not your mama’s mayo anymore. Chefs and specialty shops make and sell their own in-house mayos or aiolis, like DeLaurenti’s Black Truffle Mayo, that are not as intense as truffle oil. “It doesn’t have to be the lead singer in the band, it can just play the drums, man,” says Snyder. Shane Ryan at Matt’s in the Market makes horseradish aioli for his sandwiches, as well as a sambal mayonnaise, and the folks at Good Bar (of Marination fame) have a roasted onion aioli. For his “Fishwich,” Ethan Stowell goes for a Malt Vinegar aioli and a simple lemon one for a Dungeness Crab roll. Ericka Burke looks to herbs, like basil and cilantro, for her mayos and aiolis. At Miller’s Guild, Jason Wilson makes one from the juices off the massive “Infierno” grill! And at Bell + Whete, a ham aioli made from speck, charcuterie and pork scraps get reduced into a pork stock until the liquid is gone. That softened meat then gets folded into their garlic mayo.
 Savory jams: Skillet made the bacon jam a hit on its burgers, and other chefs now play around with tomato and onion jams and the like, usually to add a sweet/sour dimension to a sandwich. At Volterra, an apricot chutney gets a spicy/salty kick from ginger, red chili flakes, onion, cinnamon and clove for their crab cake sandwich.

Chips or Fries: A Poll

We asked. You told us. When you’re noshing on your favorite sandwich, would you rather the hard snap of a chip or the slightly softer crunch of a fry to accompany it? Fries were the surefire winner, taking 61 % of the votes, followed by a tie between chips and the wishy washy “I’ll take either” at 16% each. What we can’t wrap our heads around? The 14% of you who said “Neither.”

CHIPS! *Crunch crunch*

Fries – steak fries to shoe strings, I like ‘em all. 16%

I’ll take either, potatoes are what I’m after. 61%

Neither… 14%