Bagged Lunch (Baggin's)

I can't tell you how much I love sandwiches. I just adore a good sandwich, and on any given day, chances are good that I'm in the mood to eat one. To me, sandwiches are the perfect food. They combine bread (really, one of my favorite things in life) with meat (another favorite) with other tasty fillings to create: art. I think the beauty of a sandwich is in its versatility and the fact that one added or removed ingredient can give you a totally new experience. Plus, there's really no end to the things you can add to one- over the years I have tried all sorts of new additions, from jelly on savory fillings, to bacon in my peanut butter. While not all of these have been successful or particularly edible, they have instilled a sense of sandwich adventure in me, and I appreciate restaurants that share this sense with me.

Baggin's, on Lomas just east of San Mateo, is one such adventurous sandwich shop. Not only do they offer a few interesting combos, they encourage patrons to create their own, no questions asked. I imagine that if I walked up to the counter and asked for corned beef with avocado and jelly, they wouldn't bat an eye.

Baggin's is open for lunch (and does catering), and feeds Albuquerque's sandwich needs. It's a smallish restaurant where you order at the counter and then your name is hollered out when it's ready. Each sandwich comes in its own paper bag (where they write your order, so it's also serving as the order pad) and includes a cookie. You can choose to add a side to the bag, but considering the sandwich size, I'm usually content to stick with just the sandwich.

As mentioned above, Baggin's has a list of pre-established sandwiches, or you can create your own. I would highly recommend the Unforgettable Baggin's- turkey, bacon, mayo, avocado, sprouts, and cream cheese all smooshed between slices of nine-grain. It's outstanding. Julie likes to add cranberry sauce to hers for added kick. They also have a tasty ruben sandwich that somehow reminds me of being a kid (though I don't actually remember eating rubens as a child, so don't ask where this memory comes from...). Or, if you aren't quite feeling any of their offerings, build something to your specifications. Their ingredients are always fresh, and you can watch them make the sandwiches as you order them (sort of like Subway, only slower and far better). In my opinion, if you're going to build your own, you should go for something that you wouldn't normally make at home. Nothing is more disappointing to me than hearing the guy in front of me say he wants to build his own- and then proceeds to only order ham and swiss. C'mon, people, be creative! Get something edgy! Add a new veggie or condiment. Pick a different bread. Have fun with it. Chances are you'll create a new favorite.

After you've enjoyed a Baggin's creation, finish your meal off with one of their homemade chocolate chip cookies at the bottom of your bag. Better yet, give your cookie to me. :)