The Thanksgiving leftover sandwich is a creation of our collective imagination executed in wildly different ways according to our individual aesthetics. We all think we mean the same sandwich, layered with the remnants of the holiday meal, but we don’t.
Turkey, of course, but only carved breast meat? How thick should it be? Are you looking for a golden cornbread dressing or more of a sage stuffing flavor? Mayo? How much cranberry sauce are we talking about and should it be of the smooth jelly variety or jammy with whole fruit? Sourdough bread and cream cheese are local conventions that I am not ready to adopt, but respect. Is this a hot or cold sandwich? And what about the gravy?
For those of us who can’t wait for leftovers or can’t get enough of the seasonal sandwich, restaurants and sandwich counters around the county offer stuffed specials to soothe our cravings. The intrepid Journal staff gobbled grab-and-go iterations from a range of deli counters, narrowing down to a winning turkey triumvirate. None of these offered gravy, perhaps as a practical matter. Maybe next year someone will offer it layered in or French dip style — maybe dunk the whole thing like a pambazo torta. Just putting it out there, people.
Old Town Coffee and Chocolates (502 Henderson Center, Eureka) annual Turkey Lurkey tradition continues with a minimalist classic that comes hot or cold. Carved turkey breast with a light swipe of cranberry and herb dressing are served up on sourdough. It’s a simple, nostalgic sweet and savory balance with Stove Top Stuffing/kids’ table vibes from back when your parents were still together and nobody cared about carbs.
North Coast Co-op (25 Fourth St., Eureka; 811 I St., Arcata) offers the Cranpepper turkey panini over at the hot table. This is a dark horse for those looking for a different flavor profile or who just identify with being spicy and a little pressed for the holiday season. This slim number comes on sourdough with carved turkey, melted Monterey jack, a generous scoop of chunky cranberry sauce and sliced pickled jalapeños. Lobbying for this one year-round so we can feel the tart burn and feel alive.
Murphy’s Market (4020 Walnut Drive, Eureka) goes for it with a Gobbler as big and messy as an extended family gathering. Dutch crunch is the recommended roll and perhaps your best shot at maintaining the structural integrity. There’s the turkey breast, a heap of herby-garlicky dressing, the jellied cranberry and, if you get the standard order, a thick spackling of cream cheese. It is a behemoth and, like the meal, may leave you on the couch, helpless to fend off marauding nieces and nephews. It’s all right. Go to sleep.
Jennifer Fumiko Cahill (she/her) is the arts and features editor at the Journal. Reach her at (707) 442-1400, extension 320, or jennifer@northcoastjournal.com. Follow her on Instagram @JFumikoCahill and on Bluesky @jfumikocahill.bsky.social.
This article appears in Holiday Gift Guide 2024.
