One of our favorite cities on our recent trip to California was Solvang. It is such a charming city. I reviewed Sort This Out Cellars on my food/wine/books/cats/garden blog, Sidewalk Shoes – Sort This Out Cellars review. As we were finishing up our wine tasting, we asked for suggestions for lunch. She recommended Bacon & Brine, and oh I am so glad she did! It was wonderful.
It is a very small restaurant with outdoor seating. You go inside and read the current menu on the chalkboard, be warned – it all sounds amazing. Everything appears to be housemade and you can tell. We ordered the Ginger Sweet Tea to drink and the Belly and Kraut Sandwich. We got our mason jar of tea and waited outside. The tea was perfect, obvious fresh ginger flavor. Our sandwiches came wrapped in brown paper and tied with a cute red and white twine. I am a sucker for cute packaging and this totally one me over.
But it was what was inside that was outstanding. This was quite possibly the best sandwich I have ever eaten. The pork belly was flavorful and insanely tender. The kraut was perfect, even the bread was wonderful – a chewy baguette.
If you are in Solvang you have to try Bacon & Brine! I just went to their Facebook page, Bacon & Brine, and it makes me sad that I am so far away in Tennessee. If I was there I would be ordering the Smokin n Nola – oak smoked andouille sausage, Danish red lager, and honey chipotle onions!!!
Beautiful photo! I’d love to deconstruct that sandwich and try to make one. . . or two.