Each week, we share some favorite recent bites, the dishes and snacks and baked goods that didn’t find their way into a full review. Want the list a few days earlier? Sign up for our free newsletter, Bite Curious.
Recently, a sandwich trend flooded my social media feed: Instead of stacking meats and toppings, the fillings were chopped together into bite-sized pieces — condiments and all. The idea is that you get an equal distribution of ingredients in each bite — a chopped salad re-envisioned as a sandwich. Someone has adopted the technique locally: Brother’s Deli & Co in Oakland. The sandwich shop serves the typical deli fare, but one cold sandwich, the Chopped, is filled with a diced mix of ham, turkey, bacon, provolone and mayo. Its softer texture is similar to that of chicken salad — and it works. You can also build your own sandwich and request the fillings chopped (though it isn’t listed on the menu). I also ordered an Italian-style sandwich on focaccia, with salami, pepperoni, provolone and the typical deli veggies, all coated in chipotle spread. Every bite was equally rich in salt and spice, and I’d order it again.
Brother’s Deli Co. 2700 Park Blvd., Oakland.
On a recent trip to Bakesale Betty, the most memorable dish was not their chicken sandwich, but a banana cream pie. It does not reinvent the wheel but it excels at all the virtues of the form: rich custard swirled with banana slices and lush whipped cream, contained inside a crunchy cracker crust. Take this pie to the next family gathering and become an instant hero.
When I peeked through the window of Mo’s Grill, a diner in North Beach decorated with cow memorabilia, I spied a mesmerizing grill with rotating grates. Volcanic rock glowed orange below as thick beef pucks sizzled above. Each burger is giant, consisting of a half pound of beef housed in a football-sized bun — you’ll need both hands. I ordered the cheeseburger, which had the smokiness of a backyard barbecue, served with an elective (but welcomed) side of tomatoes, red onions, and lettuce. Try the cup of chili, which actually tastes of dried peppers and has a decent burn.