The Best Sandwich on Earth

I know, I know. You're asking, "Really Rachel?! The best sandwich on EARTH?!" And my answer to you is 100%, without a doubt, there is no better sandwich in existence than the Broccoli Sub from No. 7 Sub in the Ace Hotel in New York City. This sandwich may sound familiar to fans of The Fabulous Foodie, because I wrote about it just about a year ago. In that post, I said "My broccoli sandwich was nothing short of remarkable." I've been eating this sandwich a lot lately, and it is just so good that it needs another post dedicated to it. Sorry I'm not sorry.

This is a sandwich so incredible, so perfectly perfect, that I can't wipe the smile off my face for hours after eating it. In fact, sometimes I'm smiling while I'm actually eating it, which gets awkward because little bits of roasted broccoli fall out of my mouth back onto my plate. But you better believe, I scoop them back up and eat them again because there is no chance I'm wasting a single morsel.

On the days when I get lazy and order it for delivery (it's only 2 blocks from my apartment, don't judge) and my doorbell rings, I scream "YES!!!!!!!!!!!" loud enough for the entire building to hear, and then the delivery man is looking at me like I'm crazy. And maybe I am crazy. Crazy for Roasted Broccoli.

Let's be honest, I'm drooling right this very second looking at this photo...

$9 will get you the Roasted Broccoli Sub with Lychee Muchim (I honestly don't even know what Muchim is.. anyone?), Ricotta Salata (a pure white cheese with a dense but slightly spongy texture and a salty, milky flavor -- like a dry Italian feta) and Pine Nuts. It will be served on the yummiest, crunchiest, most wonderful loaf of bread you have ever treated your taste buds to. The bread will flake apart as you eat it, the broccoli will nearly melt in your mouth, the lychee muchim will be tangy, the ricotta salata will be creamy and the pine nuts will add the perfect balanced crunch to your meal that you won't even know what hit you.

If I could marry a sandwich, this would be it folks. And I don't even think Patrick would blame me for a second, as he is also a huge No. 7 Sub fan. He prefers the non-vegetarian sammies, but all the more power to him, more broccoli for me!

I'm kind of sad that today is Sunday, the one day No. 7 Subs is closed, and I can't walk myself over there right now for this little taste of heaven. But let's be honest, I'm too lazy for that, I'd definitely order it for delivery!

Let's Eat!
-The Fabulous Foodie

Awesome Dishes Around NYC

While I do sometimes like to focus on one meal at one particular restaurant, I thought it was about time that I share some delicious dishes I've had recently around the city--a "round up" if you will. I eat about 99% of my meals out and while some of those entire meals aren't necessarily worth a story, some of the individual food is.

1. Fish Tacos at good restaurant in the West VillageI've already raved about the brunch, but last time I was there having brunch with Jill & Jen I decided to order the fish tacos because, well, I love fish tacos! These didn't disappoint, and I highly recommend you try them (but only after you've worked your way through their standard brunch menu!)

2. Soup Dumplings at Dumpling Man in the East VillageSoup Dumplings are also one of my very favorite things. This place is a definite go-to for us whenever we're in the East Village, especially since Caroline and I used to only live 1 block away. You get to watch your food being made right in front of you.If you order delivery from Dumpling Man, you can log onto their website and spy on the place from their live webcam. (Right Sam?)

3. Crab & Spicy Tuna Timbale at Sagaponack in the FlatironThe only thing that could make spicy tuna better is to add a few of my favorite things: crab, avocado and mango. This appetizer at the charming nautical-themed restaurant in the Flatiron was so good that I almost wished Patrick and I had each ordered our own.

4. Roasted Shitake Mushroom Sandwich from Olives in SohoThis is, hands down, one of the most delicious sandwiches in the entire city. Maybe it's the unique texture of the roasted mushrooms, maybe it's the herb ricotta spread all over it. Whatever it is, get yourself down to Soho and order this sandwich, you won't be disappointed!

5. Croque Monsieur at The Boom Boom Room (Top of the Standard) in Meatpacking (important to note, Boom Boom has no website. So sometimes I doubt it actually exists.)Maybe it was the plethora of cocktails we consumed during Stevie's Birthday Brunch before visiting Boom Boom. Maybe it was the ridiculously ooey gooey cheese melted all over the dish. Maybe it was because we were taking in some of the best views in the city while eating it. Whatever it was, I'm still drooling over the Croque Monsieur from Boom Boom.

What are some of your favorite dishes in NYC, or wherever you live? I am constantly finding new food that I love, and these are just a few examples. Looking forward to discovering lots of yummy new dishes.

Let's Eat!
-The Fabulous Foodie

The Ace Hotel Does it Again

As you've read, I recently had an outstanding meal at The John Dory Oyster Bar and a great lunch (including bone marrow) at The Breslin, both located in the fabulous Ace Hotel on 29th & Broadway. As if two incredible restaurants weren't enough, the Ace is also home to Stumptown Coffee Roasters, a coffee shop that I was worried would be super cheesy based on the long line and hipster-y staff, but was proven wrong. I went this past weekend to get a coffee with a friend, and not only was the coffee delicious, but the staff was incredibly attentive and nice. While we were waiting for our drinks, the barista asked us how we were doing and if we had any plans for the day. It was a really small gesture, but since I'm used to my usual Starbucks crew hurling drinks at me without even looking up, it was a nice surprise. And look how pretty my coffee was:

And there's more! This afternoon, Patrick & I met for lunch at No. 7 Subs, a tiny sandwich shop in the hotel that always has a line out the door. We waited for about 10 minutes and once we got inside we were met with an amazing list of sandwich options. I chose the Broccoli with Lychee Muchim, Ricotta Salata & Pine Nuts while Patrick chose the Braised Short Ribs with Daikon Salad & Coconut Mayo.

The sandwiches took about 15 minutes to come out, but once we got a space by the window and unwrapped our lunch, I realized it had been worth every second of the wait.

My broccoli sandwich was nothing short of remarkable. I absolutely love meat and couldn't even imagine going vegetarian, but this was one of the most delicious sandwiches I've ever tasted and there wasn't a single piece of meat to be found. The broccoli was smoky and perfectly roasted, the cheese was creamy and the bread.. oh the bread! The bread was heavenly. Crunchy outside, chewy in the middle, I now understand why No. 7 Subs shuts down the second they run out of this fabulous bread. It really made the sandwich.

Then I tasted Patrick's sandwich and was equally impressed by the flavor. A little sweet, a little savory, this sandwich was a true masterpiece:

It turned out that a few of my co-workers also went to No. 7 Subs today and got a few of the other offerings, but the opinion of No. 7 Subs was the same across the board: these are some of the best sandwiches in the city!

What are some of your favorite sandwiches? Do you prefer classics, or do you like when there are a few twists, like at No. 7 Subs?

Let's Eat!
-The Fabulous Foodie