Henk's Chicken Pesto SandwichAnother Thursday lunch with Heather, this time we ventured to Henk's European Deli & Black Forest Bakery. Tucked away behind the massive Half Price Books on Northwest Highway, this charming deli serves up authentic German American breakfasts and lunches everyday (dinner is served on Friday and Saturday evenings only). The store is part restaurant, part bar, part bakery, part market and all kitsch. If you arrive at noon or shortly after, it will be crowded and you may have to wait. This will give you the perfect opportunity to wander the market aisles where you will find an eclectic mix of wine, authentic Manner wafers and - my personal favorite - a revolving tower of Dutch black licorice! The east side of the store is devoted to its bakery and deli counters, each a display of beautiful, European delights.
Service and seating is simple: seat yourself, menus are on the table and you pay the cashier before you leave. For lunch, I questioned the server about the "broodje/brotchen" sandwiches on fresh baked hard rolls. After all, we were at a German deli, shouldn't I order something that at least sounds German? She quickly pointed us to the grilled sandwiches, as "they come with cheese". Was it that obvious? Did we just scream "turophiles*"? Alas, we both succumbed to the grilled sandwiches, I to the Chicken Pesto and Heather to the Hot Amsterdam (gotta love that name). Soon thereafter, the sandwiches arrived with a side of classic Ruffles and a sour pickle. The bread was perfectly toasted and golden, the color which can only come from a smear of real butter just before its being pan fried. Inside, there was moist chicken breast sliced deli thin, just a few roasted red peppers and an appropriate amount of basil pesto, all sandwiched between these aforementioned bookends of fresh white bread. Now I must tell you the best part about this sandwich was indeed the cheese. My Chicken Pesto came with Swiss cheese, not just your typical one slice of melted, stringy Kraft Swiss. No, there lay two deli-thin slices of Jarlsberg, with enough thickness to be the creamy counter of the sweet peppers and salty pesto and enough melt to glue the whole sandwich together.
Please, I beg of you, try Henk's. You may be forced to wait and wander the market aisles, but time (and money spent impulse shopping for stroopwaffles) is well worth every penny. Besides, you can afford to waste a few pennies when the sandwich, enough food for two days lunches, is only $6.50.
*Turophile- a lover of cheese, derived from the Greek word for cheese "tyro"
5811 Blackwell
Dallas, Texas 75231
214.987.9090
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