(Jess Steinitz photo)We asked readers to nominate their favorite sustainable, locally owned sandwich shops — the ones sourcing their ingredients directly from nearby farms and turning them into “consistently and mind-blowingly good sandwiches,” as Grist’s Tom Philpott put it. Dozens of you shared your suggestions in the comments, but only two — Jess Steinitz and Nin Andrews — sent in their entries as requested via email with photos. (Both Jess and Nin nominated meatless restaurants, interestingly; we’ve noticed that vegetarians seem to have more energy than all you lethargic carnivores.)
The crew of Ely’s to GoJess raves about VG Burgers in Boulder, Col.: “Boulder is not lacking in quantity of sandwich shops, but none rivals VG Burgers for taste or environmental commitment, and none is as zealous about sourcing local ingredients. They have all the regulars — turkey clubs, bacon cheeseburgers, and meatball subs — with one slight difference: their menu is entirely plant-based. Their to-go ware is 100% compostable, their restaurant is 100% wind-powered, and all of their food waste goes to a local animal sanctuary.”
Nin on Ely’s to Go in Youngstown, Ohio: “The daughter of a dairy farmer, I never thought I’d consider going vegan. But that was before The Bread Chef came to town. Ely, the vegan chef at the restaurant [at left in photo], has even been flown to Palo Alto to help the folks out West learn how vegan cooking is really done. Believe me, if you eat her dishes, you’ll know why. “
Here are 11 additional appetizing suggestions from around the country, with hats tipped to our lazier readers:
