The ’Wiching Hour: Meats & Foods’ Half-Smoke

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The Sandwich: The Half-Smoke

Where: Meats & Foods, 247 Florida Ave. NW

Price: $6

Bread: White sausage roll

Stuffings: Half-smoke sausage, grilled onions and green peppers

Thickness: 2.5 inches

Pros: Sorry, Ben Ali, but this is the best half-smoke I’ve ever tasted. It’s juicy, spicy, and, yes, smoky, and because it’s cooked to order, it arrives emanating little puffs of steam. The grilled peppers and onions enhance the meat’s fiery flavor, but the sizeable sausage remains the highlight.

Cons: Because the sausage is so juicy, the moisture weakens the bun, rendering it a bit gummy. A lightly toasted roll would better withstand the wet piece of meat.

Sloppiness level (1 to 5): 1. A few peppers and onions fall out of the sandwich because the roll’s already packed to the brim with sausage. Just stick them back on top and keep on munching.

Overall score (1 to 5): 4. The roll could use a bit more crunch, and ravenous visitors might not find one sandwich filling enough, but these sausages are damn tasty and cooked to perfection. And since Meats & Foods offers a selection of pickles from Gordy’s Pickle Jar as well as a condiments station, eaters can and should go nuts on the toppings.

Photo by Caroline Jones