Welcome to the future

In a few weeks it will be 2010, how weird is that? I thought things would be all futuristic and flying cars by now, but technology just hasn’t kept up with my imagination. Except for the part where I can flip a coin on my phone (without an actual coin), and use satellites to give me directions when I am lost (which is constantly). Oh, and that OHSU tram is pretty futuristic too. Aside from all of their archaic and useless animal testing at least OHSU is moving us into the future.

get outta my dreams, get into my pod

(I stole this photo from portlandground.com.)

Anyway, the point is, I feel like it’s time for us to get with it, embrace the fact that the future has arrived, and start serving you fresh, made-to-order sandwiches at the bakery. Usually I would just make it happen, and hope you like it, but this time I’m asking for your suggestions. Remember all of those times you have walked in the bakery and said “You know what you should make? You should make [insert your favorite item here] and I will come in every day and buy it.”  Well now, here’s your chance to get what you want. Tell me this: what kind of sandwich would you want? What kind of bread, hot or cold, what veggie fixings, condiments, and sides to go with it. My choice would be this, which will most likely make it onto the menu:

fake meat, i love you so much

This is a vegan Italian Sub that my friend Ed made for me once, I think about it several times a week, with great longing and joy. Please leave you feedback in the comments section and I will start working on our new sandwich menu!

This guy makes your soup

In the ongoing theme of employee introductions, let me introduce you to Jesse.

bronut highfive

This photo is known as the bronut photo, and is one my most cherished bakery memories. Back in the day, Jesse made the doughnut dough, and he was really really good at it.  This was one of those delirious early mornings, and we were giggling for no reason, and Jesse tossed the dough in the air and high-fived it. Katie captures it with the camera, and Jesse’s amazing grin is remembered forever. Also, no one else gets this covered in flour.

Nowadays, Jesse makes all of our savory food. He’s the mastermind behind the soups, sandwiches, salads, sauces – all of the s-words. I get to take credit for the bacun scallion cream cheese recipe, but Jesse’s first week working here I said “make some flavored cream cheeses” and he came up with the rest. We were all so excited about the chipotle, and the now defunct caramelized onion!

He also makes our delicious focaccia that comes with our daily soups.

knife skills 101

All of this savory food really helped us get through this “ecnomic downturn” and has made the cafe busier every day. It wouldn’t happen without Jesse’s ability to produce delicious recipes on the first try, with very little instruction or help. He’s one of those rare people that you can always count on, will always show up early, and (even if he’s grumpy) is always willing to take on a new task.

I know someday he will go open an amazing restaurant, or write the best cookbook ever, or be a chef on the food network and I will be his biggest supporter! When is the food network going to get some vegan chefs anyway? They need to get on it.

Sandwiches

We currently offer pre-made sandwiches in our deli case.  We have a few constant varieties and a few that come and go.

By far our most popular is the Unchicken Sandwich, made from TVP (textured vegetable protien).  We also have a few seitan sandwiches, the basic “Deli Style” with Seitan and Lettuce with mustard and Vegenaise.  The Seitan and Potato Salad Sandwich is the same as the Deli Style but with Potato Salad, it is fairly popular too.  Our final seitan sandwich is the BBQ Seitan, with housemade BBQ sauce.  We recently added a tofu sandwich with thinly sliced and marinated tofu.  We call it the, oh so original, TLT, as it has Tofu, Lettuce, and Tomatoes.  Every once in a while we have a hummus sandwich, but we are still working on a few things and will probably become a regular addition once we get pre-made salads going.

Come in soon and grab a sandwich, with a side of macaroni or potato salad for lunch!