Alaska News

Great bread for not a lot of dough: Expert sandwiches at House of Bread, Great Harvest

Great bread is the literal underpinning of a great sandwich. The best fillings in the world won't be nearly as delicious if served between two slices of mediocrity.

That's why lunches at House of Bread and Great Harvest Bread Co. are such a delight. What better place to find great sandwich bread than at a place where it's baked every day? Especially when you get as many as 10 options, with flavors like marble rye, potato rosemary, pesto and feta focaccia, 14-grain harvest and sunflower millet?

The choice can be daunting. My dining companion had no idea what would go best with House of Bread's Alaskan Fusion Panini. The friendly counter clerk suggested focaccia, which held up nicely on the grill and deliciously complemented the pesto, turkey, artichoke hearts and provolone cheese.

I was miserably tempted by the Cranky Turkey (dried cranberries, cream cheese, red onion, lettuce, tomato and turkey), but ultimately settled on the Tuscan Chicken (provolone, pesto, tomato, lettuce, red onion and thick-sliced chicken). Despite the pesto and swirls of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, the "Grandma's white" bread remained toothsome, not soggy. The veggies were so crisp and fresh, it was like having a side salad.

Sandwiches at House of Bread are $6.75 per half or $8.75 for a whole. You can also get a sandwich, drink and chips for $11, or a half-sandwich and cup of soup or small salad for $10. The soup lineup varies depending on the day; like the meats and cheeses used here, the soup is the Boar's Head brand.

The thick, slightly sweet clam chowder was crammed with clams and potato chunks. The minestrone could have used more vegetables but the broth was savory with Italian herbs, none of which hit you over the head: "HI! I'M OREGANO! AND I WON'T LET YOU TASTE ANYTHING ELSE THIS AFTERNOON!"

It's hard to resist desserts here, especially the mint-frosted brownies, lemon bars or luxuriously nutty and raisiny cinnamon rolls (all $3). Just as hard to turn down are the free bread samples; the apple-cinnamon swirl tasted like apple pie with a deliciously pillowy crust.

ADVERTISEMENT

Great Harvest Bread Co. also has free slices, which helps you narrow down the options when ordering from the specialty sandwich menu; the panini and design-your-own sandwiches come on honey white or honey wheat only. Sandwiches cost $6.75 per half and $9.75 for a whole (except for a $6.75 PBJ and a $7.75 cheddar/Swiss panini).

The specialty menu includes intriguing options like Dirk's Spicy Veggie (house-made hummus, Swiss and cheddar, sprouts, jalapenos, onions, lettuce and tomato), chipotle turkey (smoked turkey, pepper jack cheese and a house-made chipotle spread) and smoked salmon with cream cheese and herbs.

My companion couldn't resist the sandwich named Chicken, Alaska. It turned out to be a patriotically named chicken salad: chunks of white meat in seasoned mayonnaise with spicy pecans. The nuts provided crunchy little bursts of flavor that didn't overwhelm the bird.

The roast beef and provolone panini wasn't just a grilled-cheese sandwich with meat. A roasted pepper and onion spread was at once sweet and savory, and slices of roasted red pepper further enlivened the sandwich along with tomato and crisp romaine.

About the roast beef: It wasn't your typical deli-style roast beef, i.e., thinly sliced and pink to blood-red. This was more like shreds of pot roast -- no rare anywhere. Not what I was expecting but still delicious, especially with that pepper-and-onion spread.

Great Harvest does not serve soup. On the bright side, that leaves more room for the bakery's saucer-sized cookies ($2). The peanut butter chocolate chip and oatmeal chocolate chip are divinely chewy, and you can tell yourself that peanut butter has protein and oatmeal has fiber. When it comes to the snickerdoodles, you just have to tell yourself that you deserve a little sweetness now and then.

Both restaurants work hard to provide great sandwich fillings for meat-eaters and vegetarians. But the star of both places is, of course, the bread. When counter clerks ask if you'd like to try a slice, say "yes." You may wind up taking home a loaf of the oatmeal applesauce or jalapeno corn cheddar. No one at home will mind if you spring for a lemon bar or some cookies, either.

House of Bread

Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Location: 8130 Old Seward Highway

Contact: 907-222-1352 and houseofbreadanchorage.com

$

***

Great Harvest Bread Co.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday

Location: 570 E. Benson Blvd.

Contact: 907-274-3331 or greatharvestanchorage.com

$

***

Donna Freedman

Freelance writer Donna Freedman is a veteran Alaska journalist who has written for the Anchorage Daily News and many other publications. She blogs about money and midlife at DonnaFreedman.com.

ADVERTISEMENT