La Luce Cafe & Deli, Pasadena, CA USA

Ordered at La Luce Cafe and Deli in Pasadena, California.

My coworker – another Evan – recommended the restaurant based off of Yelp reviews. I had never heard of it. I didn’t even know where it was located, even though the address put it 100 yards away.

La Luce Café and Deli… I suppose you could best describe it as unassuming. Its location matched its atmosphere: random. I had quite neutral vibes going in, thinking La Luce would be your standard sandwich spot, but that all changed when I glanced at the menu.

A self titled “La Luce Club Sandwich” on the Vegetarian section of the menu. Now that was the opposite of unassuming. I was confused and excited in this moment. What had Evan gotten me into?

As I unwrapped the meal back at the office and took my first bite, I felt confused yet again. This was not the lunchtime meal I was accustomed to. This club sandwich, albeit healthy, lacked a heartiness I so craved.

Rachel had always told me about the vegetarian club sandwiches in India. Could this resemble that?

Nevertheless, the avocado, feta cheese, tomato, cucumber, lettuce, on a French baguette, was more of an appetizer than a meal, and while I enjoyed it, I really didn’t know what to make of it.

I felt healthy. I felt unsatisfied. And I felt like Luce could have added more produce to their vegetarian club sandwich.

People always ask me “What makes a club, a club sandwich?” Meals like this make it hard to answer.

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