Messy, Sloppy, Delicious

Ike's Place
475 Via Ortega, Stanford CA 94305

This place has been open for months...a year now? And the lines are still ridiculously long.  This "Going Home for Thanksgiving" sandwich required a 20-minute wait.  (Intolerable without a smartphone!) And it was not yet even noon! 

Still, Ike's has the best messy (read: open wide and let it get all over your face) sandwich I have had in California.

There are ways to call in your order ahead of time. But they are still working out kinks on that...

New Crush at Coupa: Almond Croissant

Coupa Café
Y2E2 473 Via Ortega, Stanford CA 94305

Coupa, my go-to for spicy mocha, hot chocolate and savory crepes, now has me hooked on its almond croissant.  

It's flaky, flecked with slivered almonds, and has marzipan in the center.   

HOT chocolate

Coupa Café strikes again.
Never seen this on hot chocolate before.  Didn't know it was possible. Danica's Friday treat:

Abuela Hot Chocolate. Warms you up on a brrrrrr-brrrrr cold day.

As the university has resumed, so too have our regular visits to Coupa Café, and this puppy had Danica's name all over it. 

The Holy Trinity of Stanford Campus Eats

In addition to abundant sunshine, Stanford has some pretty good eats on campus,  including a famous San Francisco sandwich shop with a cult following.  This is especially convenient because the campus is self-enclosed.  Some of the eats are outstanding.  My three favorites:

Fraiche Yogurt,  Tresidder Union

The San Francisco Chronicle Special: steel cut oats with organic yogurt topped with fruit and nuts.

Ike's Place, Jen Hsun Huang School of Engineering Center

I consider it a godsend that Ike's Place chose Stanford for its new location. Ike's features sandwiches that will satisfy a snobby East Coaster.  Just like it's service, Ike's extensive menu is very accommodating.  

If you are vegan, you can order the Vegan Elmo with "Cucumbers, Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato, Pesto, Cream Cheese.

If vegetarian, you can get the Chelsea Clinton- "Vegan Turkey, French Dressing, Avocado, Smoked Gouda."

Carnivores can get the Kryptonite with "Roast Beef, Corned Beef, Pastrami, Salami, Turkey, Bacon, Ham, Mozzarella Sticks, Stuffed Jalapeno Poppers, Beer Battered Onion Rings, Avocado, Pesto, EXTRA Pepper Jack."

These are just examples. There are dozens of options. 

You can also order half-sandwiches here.  As for me, I love the wordy "Going Home for Thanksgiving" sandwich.  Turkey, cranberry sauce, Sriracha, Havarti.  

"Going Home for Thanksgiving"

Danica, dearest campus buddy and food companion, went for the "Bill Walsh" with  turkey, avocado, and Havarti which this slender creature swallowed in just one bite. 

The "Bill Walsh"

Inside the kitchen.

The line at 11:45am on a Thursday.

The line right before noon.  

Tip: Go early.   We were delighted with a special treat the other day: Ike was hand-delivering the sandwiches to customers!  If you look closely at the center of this picture, you will see the blur by the pillar--that's him, zipping back-and-fourth in his spiffy black vest!

Coupa Café, Y2E2 Building

Scrambled eggs with goat cheese, sundried tomatoes and chives

I write about Coupa every few days it seems. The other day, we went for breakfast.  We were at work, but it felt like vacation.  But now that Ike's is here: let the battle begin between these two!

I know Stanford students work extremely hard. But they are also so spoiled. 

The Cool Café

328 Lomita Dr, Ste 200
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 725-4758
www.cooleatz.com

Reviewed 5/21/2009

My chicken chutney sandwich was slathered in mayo dressing. But I ate it anyway because I was starved and didn't want to waste $10.

Now I feel fat AND dissatisfied.

Those fat calories could have been better spent on a super-dense ganache-covered brownie.

Worse, I was telling my friend about how I've enjoyed JZ Cool in Menlo Park as we were waiting in line.

The location is terrific, if you work on campus. It is close enough to walk to, but far enough that it feels like you've gotten away.

In spite of my tough talk, I will probably give it another try because I am a slave for bread pudding, and they had some that was cooing, "come hither"..but we'll see.