I always say that MN struggles with its sandwich game, but I think it's more so if you don't know where to look. France 44 Cheese and Meat delivers a compact, reasonably priced, high quality ingredient sandwich in a beautiful, open deli with an assortment of takeaway goods, spreads, chocolates, oils, fish and of course cheese galore.
I was between the Grinder and the Turkey Club and was recommended the Grinder by the kind woman behind the counter - her personal favorite.
First the roll - a soft, pillowy, square cut roll is delicately topped with sesame seeds and creates the perfect based for the sandwich. I really loved how all the components stayed within the sandwich with each bite, clearly carefully crafted. Next the meats, three kinds of deli meat: soppressata, house-roasted ferndale farm turkey, house-made mortadella, are cut to order and stacked in the ideal ratio just under the top slice of roll. It is not a sickening amount of meat, just enough to appreciate each flavor profile on its own. The harder texture of the soppressata and mortadella pair perfectly with the lighter turkey cuts.
Although the meat attempts to steal the show, I would honestly argue that the accompaniments shine brighter. The giardiniera is layered across the bottom of the sandwich, lending a potato chip like crunch. The dijonnaise is light and subtle, not squirting out everywhere and causing the inside of the sandwich slide out from its bread (you know what I mean). Finally, my favorite part was the thick cuts of manchego. Almost like a parmesan flavor, this white and salty cheese has an excellent bite.
I really couldn't think of a better sandwich and will be coming back to try more, although it will be hard not to select the Grinder on repeat. They are renovating their seating space so I had to eat outside in January, but I didn't mind, the sandwich was that good! read more