August is National Sandwich Month and to honor this marriage of bread and meat, At Play checked out three new sandwiches.
Chicken Mole Rojo Rustica
Cosi $7.39
586 calories, 22 g fat, 1,902 mg sodium
Cosi’s limited-time Mexican-style sandwich marinates shredded chicken in a six-chile mole that includes ancho, pasilla and guajillo. The sandwich is topped with guacamole, pico de gallo, cilantro and feta.
First thought: A bit messy to eat, but the filling is zesty and rich, piled high on their trademark crispy bread. Chicken has wonderful, earthy flavor with hints of chipotle. Cilantro chiffonade is a nice touch.
On second thought: The heap of guacamole overpowered the red mole.
McGrade: B+
Bourbon Chicken
Subway $6.39
700 calories, 10 g fat, 2,040 mg sodium
Jon Lovitz lends his mug to Subway’s latest TV campaign, and this toasted bourbon chicken sandwich is one item they’re banking on.
First thought: Great if you’re counting fat grams. Chicken strips look edible and aren’t dry.
On second thought: Bourbon sauce, ostensibly the only thing new here, is tooth-decayingly sweet. The sodium count is pure insanity; this sandwich has 240 mg more sodium than a Burger King Stackers Quad’s four beef patties, four slices of cheese and eight bacon strips.
McGrade: D
Smokehouse Beef Brisket (regular)
Quiznos $7.99
(Nutritional information currently unavailable; check www.quiznos.com in the future)
Quiznos hopes to wrangle new customers with their mesquite-smoked brisket warm sandwich.
First thought: Toasty, chewy, sesame seed-topped bread with smoky heaps of beef brisket. Melted Cheddar cheese is mixed with semi-lean beef and just the right amount of not-too-sweet barbecue sauce.
On second thought: A bit greasy, but that’s the price you pay for a fantastic sandwich.
McGrade: A
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kpang@tribune.com
