La Farine Serves Secret Sandwiches

Okay, maybe it's not supposed to be a secret, but I don't think I ever would have known that La Farine on Solano sells sandwiches if I hadn't heard someone ask for one. So I tried it one day—asking for one that is. But it was almost 1:00, which apparently isn't early enough before they run out. But I don't give up that easily.

The second time I went at noon. I was a little nervous because although I've been to La Farine at least a hundred times to buy a rustic baguette, a morning bun, or a pain au chocolat, I'd never asked for something that I couldn't see behind the counter.

"Do you have any sandwiches today?" I asked casually of the baker as if I were a regular sandwich buyer there.

He opened the mini-frig and did some recon.

"We got egg salad and roast beef with roasted bell pepper."

"What comes on the roast beef? Is there any mayonnaise?

(Anyone who knows me is not wondering about this question, but for those of you who aren't personally acquainted with my eating habits—it would be an understatement to say I don't like mayonnaise.)

A different baker chimed in that it had a horseradish sauce. I do like horseradish, but the "sauce" part worried me—it might be code for mayonnaise. The problem is that egg salad also generally had mayo, so I didn't think I was going to be able to order one of the available sandwiches that day.

Dave stepped in and ordered the roast beef, and I ended up with one of their savory focaccia with Gruyère, tomato, and walnuts. Yum! Of course after Dave pointed out that it would have been better warmed up, I enjoyed it less. Thanks a lot, Dave...

But to offset this, he let me have part of his sandwich, which turned out to be mayonnaise-free and quite good. He thought it would be more interesting with other toppings, but as he put it, it was good for someone who "really likes meat." Between the slices of bread were  a few roasted red peppers, sliced roast beef an inch tall, and some mild horseradish but nothing else.

It was a beautiful sunny day, so we sat on the bench outside. It's an excellent spot for people watching.

The only issue was water. Inside is a pitcher of water for anyone who wants some. But the cups are those tiny paper kind, the size of the ones we had in our kitchen growing up that came out of a Dixie dispenser. I think they were basically created for people who need to take pills and need just enough water to get them down. So I had to go back several times to get enough water to last me through lunch even after drinking Dave's water as well.

But it is a bakery after all and not a restaurant, so I wouldn't expect them to have bigger cups. I guess my point is that if I were to get lunch there again, I'd bring it home or take it with me to, say, Peet's across the street, where I can order a low-fat sugar-free vanilla latte to accompany it and sit at their outdoor tables.

So it's a great place if you like savory focaccia or a lot of meat on your sandwich, if you get there early, and if it's a nice day so you can get in some good people watching. But unless you want coffee or a tiny cup of water, bring your own drink!

For more of Tanya's musings, go to For Words.