We were halfway through our meal at the new Barrio Sandwiches concept when they started bringing out the loaves. You know the ones: The brilliant pucks of golden brown bread that people stand in line for at the Broadway Village shopping center.
It's a new thing they're trying downtown at the Temple of Music and Art: selling Don Guerra's artisan loaves in addition to the delicate sandwiches made by young chef Riley Chandler. The collaborative concept was originally a pop-up before Arizona Theatre Company performances. But the duo has recently expanded to lunch hours, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
Sonoran wheat bread for sale at Barrio Sandwiches, $7 a loaf.
This afternoon they had just six loaves total of the Sonoran heritage wheat bread for $7, and the long epi breads that are shaped like a wheat stalk, $4.
This is in addition to the four sandwiches that Chandler prepares in the restaurant's kitchen. With his small menu and outstanding breads, the rising star pop-up chef is upping the sandwich game downtown.
Focaccia Veggie Special, $8, with fresh mozzarella, basil, local tomatoes and a Barrio Bread Italian Herb Focaccia.
We tried a couple this afternoon and the clear favorite was the Focaccia Veggie Special, a caprese sandwich with fresh mozzarella and local beefsteak tomatoes. Simple, yet the stellar ingredients made it one of the best bargain bites you can get downtown. (The sandwich is only $8 and comes with chips.)
Also check out the soup du jour, $10 to have it inside a Barrio Bread breadbowl, which today was a creamy split pea soup with shredded turkey. It tasted like Thanksgiving at the family farm. Also, I repeat, do not leave without grabbing a Barrio Brownie made with local Sonoran White Wheat Flour. We all agreed it was a superb representation of the baked goody, with a flawless texture of fluffy fudge wonder.
Barrio Sandwiches, 330 S. Scott Ave., operates 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 90 minutes before each performance of Arizona Theatre Company's "Man of La Mancha." Call 520-884-0238 for information about catering orders as well as bicycle delivery.
