THAT'S BALLSY

Chef Nirali (!)

HOLY HIATUS!  Boston just can't seem to keep up with my yearning for new sandwiches; luckily I have friends who can provide me with entertaining sandwich delights!  Shout out to Nirali for her seriously incredible meatball subs (and I swear I'm not just saying that).  Let me paint you a picture.

Fresh sub rolls from Bova's Bakery created a safe haven for Nirali's little balls of meat.  Thick enough to endure spoonfuls of vodka-based tomato sauce, the roll was split in the middle (New England hot dog style) and stuffed with perfectly rounded turkey meatballs.  All sauced up and topped with even more sauce, just the right amount of parmesan cheese was sprinkled evenly on top.  The first bite yielded a pleasant surprise as melted mozzarella cheese oozed out of the meatball’s nucleus.  As we savored each subsequent bite, we joked about opening a bar named “Balls” with a menu filled with unique variations of the traditional Italian meatball sub.  Sure, a chicken tikka masala meatball sub, a Vietnamese bahn mi meatball sub, and a Mexican taco meatball sub all sound enchanting.  Hopefully this isn’t my last post on Nirali’s balls.  Erm.. meatballs.  You know what I mean.

You Had Me at Pastrami

The clock had almost struck midnight on Friday night as I perused Eastern Standard’s extravagant dinner menu.  In serendipitous fashion, my eyes locked in on the House Made Pastrami sandwich.  Last call for food trembled through the sophisticated restauarant at the Hotel Commonwealth, and I eagerly ordered the sandwich. 

A slow smile appeared on my face as I gazed at the toasted pumpernickel bread and the thickness of the sandwich.  My first bite left my tongue tingling, the cole slaw was slightly pickled and the Dijon made the perfect spicy balance.  The pastrami gives SLG’s a good run for its money – the sandwich is served hot and toasty, and aside from SLGs chipotle mustard, I couldn’t find too much else that gave me preference to SLG.  The sandwich was accompanied by fresh potato chips and a side of pickled purple cabbage.  As we sat around the table munching on late night bites, we sipped our fancy cocktails and laughed about life.  Who said sandwiches don’t bring friends together?

Baggy Sweatpants and Subs

The likes of Anthony Bourdain, my co-worker's dad, and multiple Yelpers have given this dive sandwich shop two thumbs up.  When I heard about their steak and cheese with hots, I figured it was about time I hike out to Southie to see what the fuss is about. Cautiously entering Rondo’s, I examined the clientele and instantly felt over dressed.  My jeans and a t-shirt suddenly felt like I was wearing a ball gown to a Red Sox game.  To call the dress code casual would be an extreme overstatement.  Man boys hovered around tables rocking grey baggy sweatpants and backwards flat-brimmed caps.  A thick Boston drawl was prominently heard, and I realized I had never seen these guys in their natural habitat before.

Not making eye contact, Jess and I grabbed a table near the back of the shop.  Angelo, Jimmy or Harry behind the counter asked me if I wanted my hots cooked into my steak and cheese – sure, why not?  

Slowly unwrapping the paper from my sub, I wondered whether I’d be able to eat all of it.  I did.  And I savored every last bite.  The sandwich was steaming hot, and the American cheese was melted perfectly into the steak.  The cherry peppers were nice and spicy, giving this traditional American sub the extra kick it needed.  The steak was cooked to juicy faultlessness, and it was enveloped by a freshly baked, soft bread roll.  Though mainly silent through this sandwich eating experience, Jess and I looked up at each other and exchanged “mmm”s.  For the rest of the day, I couldn’t stop talking about this sub.  I guess there’s a reason why Anthony Bourdain has his own show.

Bocadillos: The Sandwich of Spain

Las Ventas is a quaint Spanish specialty shop located directly next to Estragon - and not surprisingly owned by the same chef.  Walking toward the large storefront, my eyes drift toward a sign placed gingerly adjacent to the entrance.  Boasting 12 different sandwiches and 4 different loaves, the sign is actually a poor excuse for an advertisement.

There are two other customers in the store, and when I leave, I leave it completely deserted.  The specialty shop is fairly bare, a large, plastic display case is filled with Spanish cheese and meats, and the woman behind the counter offers me a slice of their spicy chorizo.  My stomach rumbles as the lingering taste of spices clings to the back of my throat.  I decide to order three sandwiches: Las Ventas, Mallorca, and a jamon serrano special written haphazardly behind the cash register.

The aroma of hot meat and cheese rise from the bag as I hurriedly made my way to Nirali and Jamie's apartment for our lunch feast.  Excitedly, I present them with the bocadillos buffet!

Unwrapping all the sandwiches as if they were carefully wrapped Christmas presents, we placed the sandwiches in halves on plates to share.  I took my first bite of the Mallorca, a sandwich consisting of sobrasada, goat cheese, spring mix and a housemade aioli.  The sobrasada was cut thick, baring a similar quality to chorizo, and soaking up oils and juices that gushed out with each bite.  Sandwiched between a fresh multi-grain loaf, the goat cheese perfectly complemented the spiciness of the meat.

The next bite I took was of the ham serrano special made of two thickly cut slices of sourdough bread, thin slices of jamon serrano (a less salty prosciutto), manchego cheese and, my favorite, fig jam.  The sweetness of the jam mixed with the saltiness of the ham created a perfectly balanced sandwich.

Both sandwiches were delicious, if I had to choose between the two, I would go with the Mallorca.  I did save the best for last though.  The sandwich Las Ventas, named after the shop itself, is stuffed with traditional tortilla espanola (a Spanish dish consisting of a thick egg omelette and potatoes), carmelized cubanelle peppers, and of course, the store's famous aioli.  The woman behind the counter recommended sourdough bread for this sandwich, and we were not disappointed.  The potatoes and peppers were grilled and sauteed to the point where you could taste the brown grill lines in your sandwich.  That is the dream, isn't it?  The eggs were made light and fluffy and the sandwich was so satisfying, I was sad that I only got a few bites out of it.  My next trip to Las Ventas will definitely include the Las Ventas! 

ACTION SHOT, Jamie eating the Mallorca!

Food Truck Festivals Abound!

See if there's one near you - http://bostonherald.com/blogs/lifestyle/fork_lift/

The weather sure is getting warmer in Beantown.  Food trucks, where are you?