Mourning the end of Paseo? Rachel Belle offers 6 alternatives

Nov 11, 2014, 4:17 PM | Updated: Nov 12, 2014, 8:13 am

Sandwiches are one of humankind's greatest inventions, so why limit them to lunchtime? At Morsel, they forgo boring old bread for freshly made buttermilk (or cheddar chive!) biscuits. The Fast Break is everything you'd expect from a breakfast sandwich: bacon, egg & cheddar, but the addition of house-made roasted tomato jam, the jazz hands of condiments, will make you a regular. The Spanish Fly folds a little bit of Europe into the south: the flaky biscuit is topped with proscuitto, fried egg, manchego cheese, arugula and Mama Lil's pepper aioli.

Let's face it, no matter how tasty, or how much they threw the word Cuban around, our beloved Paseo did not craft a traditional Cuban sandwich. But Snout & Co's version feels far more Miami. It contains the classic combination, pressed until hot and melty: roasted pork, sliced ham, cheese, a healthy smear of mustard and the signature scattering of pickles for crunch and tang.

If it's Paseo's long line that you'll miss, don't fear, a healthy lunch rush queue is formed in front of Salumi every weekday; the only days this tiny shop is open. Owned by the family of famed chef Mario Batali, it seems everyone in the city is willing to wait for house cured meat between bread. The finocchiona salame is a favorite, scented with fennel seeds, black pepper, and a touch of curry, or warm up from your cold wait with a hot porchetta or meatball sandwich.

It's pretty tough to find a suburban American kid who didn't spend at least one rainy day dipping grilled cheese into a mug of Campbell's tomato soup. But Oliver Twist's version is just a tad more grownup and, dare I say, even more satisfying. The sandwich is perfectly melty and toasty, with some nice texture from the panini press, and it begs to be dunked into the creamy, frothed-up soup. And if a grilled cheese sandwich still feels too childish for you, balance it out with a hand shaken cocktail.

If you're mourning Paseo's most popular sandwich, the messy, aioli-dripping-down-your-arm Caribbean Roast, this torta is just as sloppy and delicious. Plus, it includes many of the same components. Spicy pork, slaw, pickled onions and jalapenos are squished inside a Macrina baguette smeared with house-made guacamole. If you're looking for a quick snack and a little aloha, Marination's kalua pork and Spam sliders, on squishy Hawaiian sweet rolls, will do the trick.

I know, you’re all still in shock. You’re vulnerable. You’re still trying to put the pieces of this Seattle sandwich saga back together. But sometimes the best thing to do is distract yourself. And as your self-appointed sandwich grief counselor, I recommend a little hair of the dog. Paseo is gone and they may never come back, so it’s time to focus on the positives: all of the other juicy, drippy, spicy, tangy sandwiches this city has to offer – Rachel Belle

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