A few of my favorite things...

I like food. I like GOOD food. I like good food that will fill me up until dinnertime. About 11am I am so hungry, I need more than the regular peanut butter and jelly sandwich can offer. It seems I treat myself to lunch about 3 times a week. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a major budgeter. I keep track of what I spend and never go over my weekly food budget. I just find ways to mingle that spending into my budget. I don't get fries or hamburgers, I like a hearty yummy sandwich. These are a few of my favorite places to go:

I just went to Spicy Pickle for the first time today and it was SO delicious! The bread...YUM! I will be back, even if it is a bit further away then some of these others. I built my own (turkey and avocado with chipotle mayo), but it was on delish seasoned Rosemary Focaccia Bread. Heavenly. Alyssa got a kids pizza and it was a really thin/yummy crust.

My favorite regulars are: Jason's Deli where I started going in high school. I get the California Club most of the time, but recently I've found enjoyment from the Chicken Panini (with pesto and pine nuts). This is where I like to go when I go "out to lunch" with friends. Its a fun environment, lots of choices. So when I tell Alyssa we are going to lunch, she'll say, "to Jason's Deli?" She gets a kids pizza there.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe has only been discovered in the last 2 or 3 years. I'd go occasionally before, but it seems I go once a week now. I get coupons in the mail or can find them online to buy a sandwich and get a smoothie free. I split the smoothie with Alyssa in 2 cups and get either Blimey Limey (strawberry, pineapple, orange, and lime) or the Blueberry Island Intensity (blueberry, strawberry and I sub pineapple for the banana). AJ calls it the purple drink. The sandwich I get is the Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad on 7 grain bread--sooo yummy! I also get chips and thats what Alyssa eats as her meal (don't forget, she has the smoothie, too).

Jimmy John's first came into my life when we lived in Provo. I went once or twice just before we moved away and never heard of it again until a few years ago when it came to Round Rock. I get #12, the Beach Club--its got avocado's--need I say more? Their wheat bread is also quite scrumptious.

Lastly, I'll mention Sandella's Flatbread. It just made its debut to Round Rock a few months ago (near IKEA for you locals). I was drawn to it at first because of the quesedilla's, and got one on my first trip. I liked it because it was different than a sandwich shop. They have a flat bread and serve it up several different ways. I first went with my mom and she got the Tuscan Chicken Panini and I fell in love with it. That is what I've got the 2 other times I went.

If anyone has any other sandwich shop suggestions, I'd love to hear. I can't wait to go to Houston in a week and go to Rao's Bakery and get their chicken sandwich on that heavenly bread. It's all about the bread.