The Charlottesville 29

Photo by Do Me A Flavor.

The Dip

“Soggy” is not often a compliment for food, but sometimes moisture can enhance a sandwich. A dip in a flavorful broth or sauce allows the liquid’s seasoning to seep into every last corner of the sandwich.

Among Charlottesville’s several stellar iterations, there is none better than Feast!’s Pho-rench Dip. It is the creation of Head Chef Dan Frosaker, who once managed the kitchen at Pok Pok, then one of the nation’s most acclaimed restaurants for Southeast Asian cuisine. Frosaker draws on that experience to combine roast beef, basil, cilantro, and spicy mayo on Albemarle Baking Co. ciabatta. But, the key is the side of pho broth, the product of a lengthy, but worthwhile process that starts with charred onions and ginger. Then comes toasted star anise, black cardamom, fennel seeds and coriander seeds, with beef stock. The broth reduces for several hours, breaking down the onions, which thicken the stock. To finish, Frosaker adds Sriracha and lime for brightness. It’s a heady, flavorful broth, and may be the reason that popular demand moved this former special to Feast’s regular menu.

#16: Pho-rench Dip – Feast!
(GFA)
The Charlottesville 29 of Sandwiches

Others of Note: Hot, Wet Beef at Kitchenette (GFA), Torta Ahogada at La Michoacana, The Drip at Peloton Station, Roast Beef Sandwich Au Jus at Kardinal Hall, The Hercules at Timberwood Grill; Vegetarian Alternatives: Grilled Cheese With Tomato Soup at Taste Shack (GFA)