The Sandwich: The Chermoula
Where: G Street Food, multiple locations
Price: $7.95
Bread: Baguette
Stuffings: Grilled chicken, bacon, roasted tomatoes, basil chermoula
Thickness: 3.5 inches
Pros: Chermoula—a Moroccan spread made from herbs, oil, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, and salt—brightens the sandwich’s relatively bland grilled chicken breast. Though similar to pesto, chermoula is more acidic; the thick slather of sauce complements the sweet pucker of the roasted tomatoes while countering the salty bacon bits that infiltrate each bite.
Cons: Texturally, both the chicken and bacon suffer. White meat chicken, of course, dries out when placed under a heat lamp, while the bacon becomes limp and a bit mushy. While the crusty baguette contributes a bit of crunch, it can’t overcome all that squishiness.
Sloppiness level (1 to 5): 2. Since the sandwich lacks a sticky element like ketchup or mayonnaise and the baguette is a bit stiff, ingredients will inevitably fall onto your plate. Fortunately, the large pieces of chicken, bacon, and tomato can easily be returned to the sandwich without too much mess.
Overall score (1 to 5): 3.5. The bright combo of tomato and chermoula almost makes you forget about the piles of dry chicken. With more juice, this flavorful bite could become a favorite summer sandwich.
Photo by Caroline Jones