Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
SADLY, WEST~BOURNE IS NOW CLOSED.
My wife read an article somewhere that eating mushrooms could help prevent Alzheimer’s. The reason she told me about it is not because I am forgetful (which I am!) but because I have lately been obsessed with mushrooms.
I’ve found I eat them multiple times a week. And if they are on a menu at a restaurant, I will ignore the pork and uni (maybe not the uni) and order the mushrooms. Perhaps I should start a mushroom blog?
The latest mushroom dish I discovered is at a breezy all-day café in trendy Soho. I had been to west~bourne a few times before for a healthy sustainable lunch. I do appreciate that they are as waste-free and environmentally-friendly as possible. Their menu also happens to be vegetarian, but that is not something you notice immediately.
One day while eating some healthy bowl, I noticed the mushroom reuben and decided to come back as soon as I was hungry again to test this out.
For this satisfying vegetarian take on the classic deli sandwich, they use maitake mushrooms, which might be my favorite. Maitake have a woodsy earthy flavor and a delicate meaty texture. Perfect for a meat substitute.
Aside from the roasted mushrooms, everything else is pretty standard to a rueben sandwich: the tangy sauerkraut, swiss cheese, buttery rye bread, and a secret special sauce that is somehow better than Russian dressing.
This is seriously something for both Rueben lovers and mushroom lovers to try. Fortunately, I am both. While one might clog my arteries, at least the other ingredient cures many ailments. Price: $16
| WEST~BOURNE |
| 137 Sullivan Street (between West Houston and Prince Street), Soho (347) 534-3050 |
| westbourne.com |
