Each week, Justin Bitner goes hunting for DFW's most interesting sandwiches. Have a sandwich suggestion? Leave it in the comments and he'll check it out.
Venue: Milk and Honey
Sandwich: The Falafel Pita ($5.99)
Bread: Fresh pita pulled straight from the oven
Toppings: Falafel balls, Israeli salad, pickles, sauerkraut, hummus and tahini
The Case: Milk and Honey, the fully Kosher market located a Frisbee's throw off Coit in Richardson, has been in the broad 'Wich Trials rotation for a couple years now. At first pass, one might mistake the purveyor of blessed wares for simply a peddler of dairy and bumblebee products. In a way, that's the greatness of finding hidden gems such as this. They're that low-profile type place that doesn't attract a ton of hype but always manages to put out inexpensive, quality food.
Walking into the tiny market, it's tempting to browse through the small isles and eyeball the vast array of grocery products that Milk and Honey imports. Were it not for a beverage case near the front of the store, nearly nothing would be recognizable to the domestic diner.
The deli counter, a simple polished steel surface, provides the dialogue setting for your order. On my most recent visit, I scanned the familiar menu quickly, already having made up my mind on the falafel, but briefly tempted by the chicken schnitzel pita. Opting for the vegetarian-friendly choice, I retreated from the counter and turned an eye to the framed photos on the wall of deformed pitas, each with a nickname and a little face etched on them in Sharpie.
My order was called and I retrieved the plastic red basket from the steel deli counter. The pita, wrapped snugly in paper, sat agape, revealing its generous fillings. With each bite of the sandwich, new tastes and textures revealed themselves without crowding out the ones before them. The falafel, rolled into a perfect sphere and fried to a light crisp, snapped to reveal a soft, green center of verdant chickpea. Pickles and sauerkraut introduce a tangy crunch, while the lettuce and tomato from the Israeli salad meld into the background and give balance.
Though hummus is listed on the menu, tahini is a much more prominent ingredient; the creamy sesame paste imparts a nutty, deep flavor on the pita. The real star, foreshadowed by the photos of its malformed counterparts, is the pita. Baked to the ideal fluffiness in their oven, then stuffed with toppings, the pita retains its billowing thickness and carries the girth of this sandwich's prodigious contents.
The Verdict: For a solid meal that won't wring your wallet, the Falafel Pita at Milk and Honey is a can't-miss.
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More 'Wich Trials: The Doc Brown at Pecan Lodge Smokehouse The Challah French Toast at Coffee House Cafe The Gotham Kitchen at Eno's Pizza Tavern El Pambazo at Tortas La Hechizera The Philly Roast Pork at Jimmy's
