[Pigging by Wilfrid: August 24, 2009]
I like to think I have the Far East Village beat covered. What used to be called Alphabet City when nobody wanted to live here.
The inside dope was hidden at the end of an Underground Gourmet piece on Defonte's new Third Avenue outlet. The last paragraph revealed that notable heroes were to be found also at Sunny and Annie's deli on Avenue B. Really?
I had been dropping by Sunny and Annie's literally for years, because they squeeze some nice orange juice if I am too lazy to do it myself. I had noticed the sandwich counter, but assumed it churned out the standard ham and swiss on a roll. I ate an ordinary sandwich there once. The deli stands on the corner of the avenue and 6th Street, on the west side. Roughly where the Times's Sam Sifton once said Number One Chinese was located.
New York was onto something. When I actually looked hard, the sandwich counter turned out to be plastered with little signs advertising some unusual hero combos, mostly with funny names. I was set on the so-called "Pho Real" which can be ordered hot or cold.
Although the conceit of the creation is to reproduce the flavor profile of pho in sandwich form, truthfully, this is a good roast beef sandwich with some very nice garnishes. Plenty of juicy beef. Basil, lots of cilantro, diced pickled onions, tomato. Two sauces, hoisin and sriracha. What I liked especially was the thought put into construction. Generous slices of avocado form a foundation which supports what could otherwise dribble through the bread.
Sweet, mildly spicy, very filling. Oh, I don't know, around five bucks. I must read some more of those little cards.
