Dining on a budget: Unexpected delicacies at Vons Supermarket
Rarely does one get convenience and quality: It’s usually one or the other.
However, at the Vons supermarket in Glendora, I found that these two traits have apparently united at the deli counter.
As a former Azusa Pacific University student, I’ve been going to the Glendora Vons deli for years, finding it to be a local, quality meal — even on a student budget. In those days, a Vons sandwich was a decadent treat enjoyed during my weekly trips to buy Top Ramen in bulk.
So, for the discriminating eater on the go, this may be the ideal solution.
One of the great things about the Vons deli is their sandwich ingenuity, something you wouldn’t expect to find on a toilet paper or dish soap (or Top Ramen) run.
For $4.99, the deli offers a variety of interesting and unique sandwich creations.
In my younger years, I never did branch out all that much, sticking mostly to turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread. For this review however, I decided to go nuts — or at least my version of nuts.
I ordered the “Hail Caesar,” described as having Primo Taglio pan-roasted turkey, Primo Taglio havarti, green leaf lettuce, garlic spread and tomatoes on rustic Italian bread.
Sounds fancy, right? It tasted pretty fancy too.
The combination of the havarti cheese, fresh lettuce and tomatoes was entirely refreshing. And while the garlic spread was a bit strong, it served as a nice counterpoint to the rest of the sandwich.
My only complaint, however, was the rustic Italian bread. I’m not entirely sure why a bread that shreds the roof of one’s mouth is being widely used on sandwiches, but it shouldn’t be. It hurts. I recommend staying far away from the rustic Italian, and instead perhaps opt for a nice sourdough or wheat roll.
While the sandwich alone was $4.99, Vons will “make it a meal,” which means add chips and a medium drink, for $1.50 more. However, the chips can be substituted for fresh fruit or soup.
“California Dreamin’” is a pan-roasted turkey sandwich with avocado, bacon and ranch spread, also on the painful rustic bread.
These are just a few of the many culinary Frankensteins available for the adventurous palate.
Gourmet soups, rotated from day to day, are also another feature here. For a $3.29 small, or $3.99 large, customers have the choice between broccoli and cheddar, minestrone, chicken noodle or clam chowder. And that was just on Friday. Couple a half sandwich with the small soup and pay only $4.99.
Finally, hot paninis are available in turkey and havarti; ham, swiss and cheddar; pastrami and swiss; three cheese; or philly cheesesteak.
I personally wouldn’t touch those greasy nightmares with a 10-foot pole, but for the seemingly ubiquitous price of $4.99, you, too, can look like you were recently dipped in oil.
I guess my favorite part about all of this is that, while there’s a Starbucks four doors down from Vons, there’s also one about 20 feet from the deli counter.
So, why not substitute that soda for an iced coffee? It goes great with a turkey sandwich!
However, at the Vons supermarket in Glendora, I found that these two traits have apparently united at the deli counter.
As a former Azusa Pacific University student, I’ve been going to the Glendora Vons deli for years, finding it to be a local, quality meal — even on a student budget. In those days, a Vons sandwich was a decadent treat enjoyed during my weekly trips to buy Top Ramen in bulk.
So, for the discriminating eater on the go, this may be the ideal solution.
One of the great things about the Vons deli is their sandwich ingenuity, something you wouldn’t expect to find on a toilet paper or dish soap (or Top Ramen) run.
For $4.99, the deli offers a variety of interesting and unique sandwich creations.
In my younger years, I never did branch out all that much, sticking mostly to turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread. For this review however, I decided to go nuts — or at least my version of nuts.
I ordered the “Hail Caesar,” described as having Primo Taglio pan-roasted turkey, Primo Taglio havarti, green leaf lettuce, garlic spread and tomatoes on rustic Italian bread.
Sounds fancy, right? It tasted pretty fancy too.
The combination of the havarti cheese, fresh lettuce and tomatoes was entirely refreshing. And while the garlic spread was a bit strong, it served as a nice counterpoint to the rest of the sandwich.
My only complaint, however, was the rustic Italian bread. I’m not entirely sure why a bread that shreds the roof of one’s mouth is being widely used on sandwiches, but it shouldn’t be. It hurts. I recommend staying far away from the rustic Italian, and instead perhaps opt for a nice sourdough or wheat roll.
While the sandwich alone was $4.99, Vons will “make it a meal,” which means add chips and a medium drink, for $1.50 more. However, the chips can be substituted for fresh fruit or soup.
“California Dreamin’” is a pan-roasted turkey sandwich with avocado, bacon and ranch spread, also on the painful rustic bread.
These are just a few of the many culinary Frankensteins available for the adventurous palate.
Gourmet soups, rotated from day to day, are also another feature here. For a $3.29 small, or $3.99 large, customers have the choice between broccoli and cheddar, minestrone, chicken noodle or clam chowder. And that was just on Friday. Couple a half sandwich with the small soup and pay only $4.99.
Finally, hot paninis are available in turkey and havarti; ham, swiss and cheddar; pastrami and swiss; three cheese; or philly cheesesteak.
I personally wouldn’t touch those greasy nightmares with a 10-foot pole, but for the seemingly ubiquitous price of $4.99, you, too, can look like you were recently dipped in oil.
I guess my favorite part about all of this is that, while there’s a Starbucks four doors down from Vons, there’s also one about 20 feet from the deli counter.
So, why not substitute that soda for an iced coffee? It goes great with a turkey sandwich!
Leave a comment