I didn’t know I was going to have a sandwich for lunch yesterday, but I was spontaneously invited out by a friend to the Harvest Country Store in West Hartford.

 

What used to be a 7-11 is now a quirky and thoroughly modern store with a sandwich menu featuring items like the “Buffalo Soldier” and the “Garlic Lover”, a coffee bar, local ice cream, and a ridiculously diverse array of craft beers. I had heard about it before from a coworker who had encouraged me to try one particular sandwich, the “Queen Rachel” … and so I did.

 

Is this an official Connecticut grinder, or merely a sandwich? You decide!

 

 

Turkey, pastrami, bacon, Swiss, lettuce, tomato, onion, coleslaw, and Russian dressing. I neglected to ask about the origin of the bread, but my, doesn’t that look marvelous?

 

 

This was a very well-considered sandwich, with the salt and chewiness of the meats complementing the sweet coleslaw and dressing and the crunchy veggies, and the bread had as much personality as the pic would make you think. A remarkable thing whose creator should be applauded, and a nice change from my usual Italian-type fare.