Shelley Taylor

Sequim Sandwich Shop

104 E. Washington St.

683-8229

8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-

Saturday. Closed Sunday

Delivery available



Carlsborg Station - Shell Gas/Convenience Store

20 Carlsborg Road

681-2290

5:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; Friday, Saturday until midnight



Speedi Mart Grocery

320 Old Olympic Highway

452-3885

7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-

Friday, Saturday 8 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.



Sometimes you barely can fit in a bite to eat.

Traffic slows you down, you're late to your next appointment, you just need to make a quick rations run to stop the grumbling noises, or you're ready for a last-minute hike and picnic.

So here are three Grab 'n' Go choices to get you to your next stop on your way from Sequim to Port Angeles.

In the heart of Sequim, on the parking lot next to Over the Fence, under a sea of red parasols is the Sequim Sandwich Shop.

Judie and I met in the midst of errands and it was just starting to sprinkle (in August!) - but that didn't dampen our appetites.

The Sequim Sandwich Shop alder-smokes its own meats and that was all Judie needed to hear. She ordered the pulled pork ($7.50) on panini. It was tender with just the right hint of smoky flavor, swathed in barbecue sauce and a nice layer of homemade slaw. I had a bite, and I concur.

I had the grilled hamburger with sides of both (Costco) potato salad and slaw. What-

ever the seasoning on the burger was, it matched up perfectly with what my taste buds were primed for. Next time I'll add grilled 'shrooms.

We both agreed: Next time we'll request our bread and buns take a pass over the grill to warm them up a bit. But that's minor.

Also offered: twice-baked potatoes; smoked roast beef/pastrami/salmon/turkey sandwiches; chicken salad; BLT; Polish beef or ball park hotdogs; chili; chili dogs; and nachos with chili and/or cheese. I tasted the chili and it was tangy with a bit of a kick.

If you're really in a hurry, grab the pre-made ham and cheese on sourdough or turkey and cheese on multi-grain deli.

But don't miss their custom sandwiches. Lots of varieties of breads, meats, veggies, cheese and sauces to choose from.

To go with are chips and beverages, including root beer (sorry, no ice).

Sweet-tooth lovers can pick up muffins in chocolate, blueberry, apple crumble, banana nut or poppy seed flavors.

And breakfast. Panini breakfast sandwich or breakfast burrito come with eggs, cheese and choice of bacon/ham/steak. Or the complete breakfast - 2 of each: eggs, pancakes, bacon or sausage. All three are $6.50 each.

Moving on down U.S. Highway 101 to the Carlsborg corner is the Carlsborg Station Shell Gas and Convenience Store.

It may not be what the doctor ordered, but if you're lookin' for some hot comfort food ... you've hit the jackpot. Made-on-premises egg roll, pig in a blanket, corn dogs (honey crunch, jalapeño and cheese, chili lover), mini tacos (7 for 1.25!), bean 'n' beef or barbecue burrito, mini cordon bleu, chicken 'n' cheese crispito, chicken gizzards/leg/breast/thigh/tenders, hot 'n' spicy wings, jojo potatoes and chimi beef. Greg pronounced the jalapeño poppers "awesome."

For breakfast, try the Early Morning Riser: small coffee, sausage patty, hash browns ($2.79).

Gotta have sugar? Try their maple or chocolate maple bars or strawberry filled pastry - plus those drumstick ice cream cones in Baby Ruth and Butterfinger flavors.

There are pre-made sandwiches and chicken Caesar salad. But go for the satisfying custom mix 'n' match choices - a great deal at $4.29.

And finally, just off Highway 101 behind the red Rock Store, you'll find the Speedi Mart Grocery.

New owners Jesse and Anne Portugal now make it a family affair.

Nothing like the loving touch ....

Jesse indulges his passion for cooking in his little red caboose of a kitchen parked alongside the market.

Made daily are salsa and guacamole (mmmmmm) - and surprises. Tortillas are cooked on the spot.

For your romantic "loaf of bread, jug o' wine and thee," they offer organic sulfite-free wines and gluten-free items.

Locally bought and served items: fruit, Clark Farm grass-fed beef and Hole-in-the-Fence Farm eggs from "pasture-ized" hens.

Lull your sweet tooth with bear claws, muffins, other pastry delights and wash it down with Rainshadow Coffee.

Jesse is ever expanding his menu. Coming soon: a new cheese sauce for his Swedish meatballs - and boy it tastes just like Alfredo: a bit spicy, with white and yellow cheddar and roasted garlic; simply wonderful chili (think about taking this home for dinner!) and sliders, too.

Judie loves Mexican so she got the burrito and really liked the corn Jesse added

to the filling. To wash it down, Judie had diet Barq's Root Beer (if you haven't had one lately ... you'll remember what you've been missing).

I accompanied my yummy quarter-pound burger (stacked with fresh lettuce, tomato and onions) with sweet potato fries - dusted with just the right touch of sugar and cinnamon.

Pick up your beverages inside.

Also cooked up to order are soft tacos (choose from ground beef, carne asada steak or chicken), quesadilla, chicken strips, fries, Polish and regular hotdogs - all ranging from $2 to $5.

Their pre-made ham and cheese, club and chicken-salad sandwiches are homemade too.

Can't wait to see what Jesse comes up with next.

To save you even more time, all will have your order waiting for you if you call ahead.

Now get going!



Do you have "the collecting addiction?" We're looking for confessions here.

The Sequim Gazette is planning a column that peeks into Sequim residents' curio cabinets and I'll be bringing it to you. I suffer from the collecting obsession, too, so I'll be sympathetic.

So, if you have a collection - of anything - that you'd like to show off, contact me through the Gazette at editor@sequimgazette.com and we'll get to work.

I'm mulling over possible column names and welcome your input on those, too. Some ideas to get your creative juices going:

Three Makes a Collection

Just Couldn't Help Myself

One More Can't Hurt

Driven to Collect



Shelley Taylor and her husband relocated to the peninsula from California. By her own admission, Taylor likes to eat.