Tahoe Daily Tribune (July 4)

By Cal Orey, M.A.

The summersun blazed, and the promise of a crisp, refreshing veggie sandwich beckoned.After a lucky streak at the casino, winning $250 on a dollar slot machine (June29th, my lucky number 9 was calling!), I treated myself to adeli-made sandwich to go. The vibrant colors, the tantalizing aroma, thesatisfying crunch—it was a symphony of sensory delight. But as I savored eachbite, a question lingered: Why couldn’t my homemade sandwiches ever quitemeasure up? This sparked a quest to unlock the secrets of deli-worthy veggiesandwiches.

Discoveringthe Tahoe Sandwich Shop Advantage

1.    Garden-FreshIngredient Sourcing: Tahoe shops likely source high-quality ingredients,including fresh, seasonal produce. This ensures flavor and freshness.

2.    GoodBread Selection: The bread is a crucial element. Shops often use artisan breadwith interesting textures and flavors, such as sourdough, ciabatta, ormultigrain.

3.     Healthy Vegetables: The veggies areprepped with care and thinly sliced for optimal texture and flavordistribution. Use a variety to create diverse flavor profile and texture. Try includingLeafy greens (lettuce, spinach, arugula); Tomatoes (heirloom, cherry, orbeefsteak); Bell peppers (various colors); Onions (red); Cucumbers (English orPersian); Avocado and sprouts. The variety ensures a range of nutrients.Optional: Add lean protein like turkey or chicken breast. Protein is crucialfor muscle repair and satiety.

4.     Condiment Crafting: Homemade options,like aioli, pesto, or flavorful vinaigrettes, add complexity and depth. Aioli:A garlic-infused mayo or use olive oil and Greek yogurt. Pesto: A sauce madefrom basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parm cheese, and olive oil.  Vinaigrettes: Use balsamic, red wine, orapple cider. These fats contribute tooverall health and can enhance flavor.

5.    SuperSeasoning: Season veggies with a tad of salt, pepper, herbs (like basil andthyme), and spices to enhance their flavors. Add a drizzle of olive oil forextra flavor.

6.    WholesomeFlavor Combos: Sandwich shops are masters of flavor pairings, carefullyselecting ingredients that complement each other.

7.    BeneficialAssembly Technique: The order in which ingredients are layered matters. Properlayering ensures each bite has a balance of flavors and textures.

8.    HealthyFreshness and Timing: Sandwiches are often made to order, ensuring maximumfreshness.

9.     Wholesome Tahoe-Level Sandwiches:California Veggie: Multigrain bread, avocado, sprouts, tomato, cucumber,lettuce, and a sprinkle of everything bagel seasoning. Mediterranean Veggie: Sourdoughbread roasted red peppers, spinach, red onion, feta cheese, and a drizzle ofbalsamic glaze.

The result?You’ll win a copy creation (like you get from Tahoe deli shops) that can be nutritious and exciting, makingit a convenient and refreshing choice for active summer days. [Recipes in The Healing Powers of Vinegar, Olive Oil, Superfoods, and Herbs and Spices.]

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topicssuch as adventure, health, romance, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degreeand master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco StateUniversity. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, and Couragewith Paws. (Book 2) Time-Traveling Tabby, and an electrifyingco-authored sci-fi-fantasy series--The Ghost Ships. She is a South LakeTahoe local. Her website is www.calorey.com