Bluesfest - The Hole Bagels stall

Blog update: I've unfortunately neglected this blog over the past couple of months, and have lost a couple of Reuben photos due to my phone blowing up, but the blog will push on. One of the Reubens I lost was from a work trip to Brisbane, so needless to say that will have to remain in my memory rather than immortalised on the internet with a review.

Bluesfest: Astounded on the first day by the many many food stalls all serving delicious options, I was truly stuck for what to choose. Passing by "The Hole Bagels" stand, a Reuben offering made up my mind for me. There were a few people waiting to receive their order which was a good sign so I handed over my $10 and waited for my name to be called out. My expectations were low to be honest, I just wasn't convinced a bagel would deliver the goods but the photo on the menu was relatively convincing.

Having received my bagel, I noted significantly less filling than promised by the menu photo, but it was true to the ingredient list of "pastrami with spiced red cabbage, russian dressing & swiss cheese". Never one to eat a Reuben without playing with it first, I opened it up and had a poke around the individual ingredients. The meat was top quality and delicious, the cheese had holes in it (i.e. proper swiss) and the sauce gave a really great tang. I'm afraid that's where the positives ended. The bagel was put on one of the toasting heating conveyors so fast before the ingredients were added that the heat barely penetrated the surface and the bread was...well...really doughy, solid and kind of felt a bit not quite cooked. I know that bagels have that unique consistency and I've enjoyed many a bagel previous to this one, but there was just something not quite right about the bread. I was also disappointed at the lack of hole in the bagel (see top shot).

I ate the insides and threw out the bread after a couple of bites. It seems like I wasn't the only one sharing this view, on the Bluesfest forum it was said: "Tried the Bagel Tent- bagel was dry, supposed to be toasted but not hot, could only eat the turkey and cheese inside and threw that actual bagel away , it was stale".

These guys tried, but just couldn't deliver. Try again next year (spelling "Reuben" correctly on the menu would be a great start) 5.5/10

1 Abercrombie Lane - Cafe Bakery

Tucked away in a little alley you've probably walked past a million times but never ventured down is 1 Abercrombie Lane Cafe Bakery, aptly named after its street address. Whilst surprised at myself for never having even recollected that this alley existed, I was more surprised by the busy lunchtime crowd at the cafe. There are a couple of small tables in the alleyway and a few inside as well, but takeaway seemed the better option as to avoid having to knock elbows with the person next to me. Taking my order was a bit like Abbott & Costello's "Who's on first" skit - English was not the strong point of the guy taking my order, but we get there in the end.                                                                                                               After an unusually long wait I was almost certain they'd forgotten about me, but nevertheless the Reuben ($13) came out in a brown paper bag with a fish-n'-chip-esque styrofoam container within. I ordered it toasted, and although the cheese half melted, the bread was still as fluffy as ever. It worked. The ingredients all came together to form soft and juicy mouthfuls and I almost forgot about it lacking any type of crunch that you'd get from a toasted version. The meat was a generous serving and dominated the sandwich but a bigger helping of sauerkraut couldn't have hurt. It was less saucy than other ones I've had but in a good way. It didn't turn into a soggy mess, with an appropriate sized smearing of mustard to provide the essential condiment and tang to compliment the sauerkraut's edge.                                                                                                                      Get it take away and find a grassy spot to sit and enjoy it. 

         8.5/10

                                                                                      No website - facebook page found here: 1 Abercrombie Lane

Palomino Espresso

A stone's throw away from Loaf & Devotion is Palomino Espresso, a gem of a city cafe. The coffee is excellent and it gets busy during lunchtime, mostly for takeaways. This was my second attempt of securing a reuben from their window (the last one too!); their sandwiches are premade daily and once they're gone you miss out. I decided to carry the fun brown paper bag down to the harbour to enjoy the breeze and sun, definitely a good choice.

The reuben delivered and at $9.50 I'll be coming back again. Given the option between fresh and toasted, toasted was recommended as the better option so who was I to argue. Oozy cheese and house made sauerkraut sandwiched the corned beef, which almost needed the juices from the other ingredients. The sauerkraut was leaning away from the eastern european style to a more hipster variety which delivered an added tang, but didn't sway too far from traditional that it fundamentally changed the sandwich. Thin slices of gherkin and mustard weren't forgotten and the bread was just the right amount of soft - not too fluffy but not o.t.t. sourdough chewy.

The wording on the paper bag sums up the delish choices of food items (Reuben included): "Get In Ma Belly".

8.5/10

Website currently down, facebook page found here: Palomino Espresso