Pink Butcher Paper and The Perfect Sandwich

Sometimes I feel like I don't know my neighborhood very well. I tend to get into a rut about where to eat and where to shop and where to order carry out... Then I discover something new (to me, anyway) and my head explodes with love for this city. Have you seen this new book? Our friend, Carley gave it to me for Christmas and I've been perusing and daydreaming about eating, shopping, cooking, baking with it in hand. I have a thing about sandwiches, and am always on the hunt for the perfect sandwich. I came across the listing for Romo Italian Deli & Grocery which extolls the owner, Rosario's sandwiches as the best in the world. I checked out this Yelp listing too, which intrigued me even more, because it mentioned he only makes one kind of sandwich. Well, now I HAD to know. I'd driven by the place a thousand times, without a glance at the mini-mall exterior and tight parking lot. But little A and I headed over there after pre-school pickup and wandered around checked out the cheese, chocolate, cookies and pasta and ordered one of the famed sandwiches. It was so great, splash of olive oil, perfect crusty bread, prosciutti, salami, and provolone, wrapped in pink butcher paper--like the deli where I used to work when I was a kid. I loved it and picked up some hard to find pasta as well. Maybe I need to wear this book around my neck.

And don't miss this deal... lots of area restaurants are slashing prices on Prix-fix dinners for the next couple of weeks, inspired by the recession. Here's more details...

Such “Deluxe” (and EAT: LA fave) places as Beacon, Angeli Caffe, Carousel, Luna Park, Ita-cho and Royal/T will have three-course meals at $16 for lunch and $22 for dinner. “Premier” places (at $22 and $34, respectively), include Ford’s Filling Station, the timeless Dal Rae, Max, Vertical Wine Bistro, Chaya Venice and Cafe Pinot. On the high end are the “Fine Dining” places ($28 and $44, respectively), including BLT Steak, Bashan, La Cachette, Comme Ca, Water Grill and Grace.

And those are just the beginning — go to dinela.com for the roster of plenty more participants. Do your part, and show your favorite restaurant some love!