I have THE best readers of all time. Yes, you. You are simply the best.
Last month, just before the holidays, I received an email from a reader of mine, Michelle, whose comments I always love and whose conversations always make me smile. Michelle is also a Los Angeles resident and had 2 extra Mendocino Farms coupons for free sandwiches that she was not going to be able to use by the expiration date and she wanted to know if we would be able to use them. Since Chris regularly eats at the downtown Los Angeles location and we have another location about five minutes from our house, I was pretty sure we would be able to take them off her hands. She popped them in the mail, along with an adorable Christmas card. Michelle is just one reason why my readers are THE best.
Mendocino Farms is a chain of restaurants who pride themselves on using local and seasonal ingredients. Though they have a great selection of salads, they do pride themselves on being "Sandwich Aficionados." Mendocino Farms is far from being a vegan restaurant, but they have a vegan section of the regular menu and one sandwich in their seasonal monthly menu is always vegan. In their deli case, a large portion of the salads are also vegan (you have to ask but they are always very knowledgable about which ones are vegan and are even willing to give you a little sample if desired- I once tasted their vegan potato salad and it was awesome!).
Chris and I chose to redeem our coupons on a Saturday, when we were both busy with lots of other holiday things and had little time to actually prepare food at home (thus the reason for the very few, very boring iphone pictures you see here). At the Marina del Rey location, there is generally always a line out the door, but you can rest assured that this line moves quickly. We were able to get in, grab our sandwiches, and get home in less than 30 minutes (and that says a lot, being that it was a Saturday before the holidays in Los Angeles).
Chris ordered the Vegan trip to India, the vegan sandwich from their winter menu. The sandwich is described as "Indian spiced chickpea & spinach patty, tamarind chutney, vegan mint raita, red onions, and Scarborough Farm's baby spinach on ciabatta."
I ordered mine and Chris's favorite, the Vegan Shawarma. The Vegan Shawarma is described as a "Mediterranean chickpea shawarma, with a bean puree, vegan tzatziki, red onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, and shredded romaine on a grilled honey wheat tortilla wrap (vegan tortilla available on request)." We obviously got the vegan tortilla.
Both the sandwich and the wrap were awesome, though I still like the shawarma the best. The ciabatta takes away from the "Indian-ness" of the Vegan Trip to India and the breadiness covers up many of the great flavors going on inside. If I were to get it again, I would likely ask for a different bread. The shawarma is just incredible and the tzatziki is just to die for. It's a definite must-try.
Mendocino Farms is a great place to grab a vegan sandwich on the run, but has a nice enough ambiance and enough variety on the menu to make it a great place for meeting up with omnivore friends. If you are in Los Angeles, checking out one of their locations should be on your to-do list. Thank you again, Michelle, for the coupons- they were definitely put to good use!
Photography by Kristy Turner
janet
Yum!! I wish they were near me. Good ideas to try myself, though, so thanks.
keepinitkind
If you recreate them, please share! I would love to check them out! 🙂
Michelle
YEAH Glad it worked out. We got those in September and Mike said we go to LA enough especially for good food...
then it was Thanksgiving and then we booked our vacation and Christmas. There was NO way we'd get up to LA so I remembered you lived the beach or 2 over... I am just glad they went to good use =0)
LA has such good Vegan options... now if it would just not be so cold at night all would be good =)
keepinitkind
Thank you again, Michelle! It worked out so perfectly! I hope you all had a great time in Hawaii and that your 2013 is getting off to a great start! 🙂
elise
you are such a lucky lady! i looove mendo for their vegan sandos. i just wish theyd open a location in santa monica!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Elise! And SM location would be pretty great, but if that's where you are, MDR isn't too far. 🙂
jodye @ chocolate and chou fleur
Both of those sandwiches look so good! I think I might have to recreate the shawarma wrap. I used to eat shawarma all the time in me pre-vegan days and haven't really thought about it until now. Thanks for the reminder!
keepinitkind
If you do recreate the shawarma wrap, let me know! I would love to check it out! 🙂
adogwithfleas
Making me hungry just looking at them. They both look delicious! And that was really sweet of one of your followers to offer they coupons. That is why I love blogging and the poeple you meet while doing so! 🙂
keepinitkind
I never thought blogging would lead me to meeting so many wonderful people. I am so blessed. 🙂
Richa`
oooh i like both the sandwiches.. i;d probably amp up the flavor in the indian one.. how dare the bread take away from it 😉
keepinitkind
You could make a pretty kick-ass version of the indian sandwich. In fact, I think yours would be better! 😉
Heather
Both samies look so good and easy to recreate at home!
keepinitkind
They totally would be! One of us should get on that! 😉
Cadry
I always heard good things about Mendocino Farms on Quarrygirl's blog, but somehow I never made it there to try it. The shawarma sounds wonderful! That would definitely be my pick!
Lea
Please learn us how to make both of them! Pretty pleaaase
keepinitkind
It's on my list of things to do. 🙂