In San Andreas: the Greening of Subway

Foothill Flavors

By Antoinette May Herndon

Where do you go for a quick dinner on a Monday night? Home might be a likely choice. But suppose that isn’t possible? Suppose you have a meeting to get to and time is running short?

That has happened to me on a lot of Monday nights over the past couple of years. I meet regularly with other members of Writers Unlimited at the Arts Council on Main Street in San Andreas.

Let me tell you, it’s not easy to get dinner together, clean up, make 16 copies of a chapter (we each read aloud from our ongoing novels) and be there at 6:30 sharp.

Add to this, San Andreas is not exactly Restaurant Row on any night of the week. How many times have I roared up and down Highway 49, searching, searching, searching? How many times have I pulled up expectantly in front of one restaurant after another, only to find that each of them was closed?

Ok, here’s the good news. I’ve finally found nirvana. There is a restaurant open on Monday night—on every night, for that matter. Not only that but the food’s good, the service great and the price just right.

Have you been to Subway recently? If not, you’re in for a nice surprise. It’s no longer that same old, same old sandwich shop. Subway has joined the green generation.

If you’re counting calories or

cholesterol, if you’re concerned about protein or fiber, if you care about vitamins and minerals, Subway has a handy nutrition guide to help you steer the course. If sustainability and accountability are bywords, here’s a neighborhood touchstone.

On Monday nights Ashlee Sheffield and Yvonne Herring are a dynamic duo behind the counter working with you to select sandwiches tailored exactly to your taste.

A current house special at Subway is the Bracado. In case you haven’t already guessed, this dish involves lots of fresh avocado. I tried it on a recent Monday night and very much enjoyed the mixture of cheese, steak, cucumber, jalapeno peppers and onion laced with a dash of chipotle sauce and wrapped in flatbread. (I did my best not to breath on anyone at the meeting.) The price was $5.25.

A quick glance at the bistro’s nutrition guide revealed that I’d consumed 452 calories and 40 mg’s of cholesterol. I won’t go the into the total calories from fat, the trans fat, the salt, sodium, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, sugar, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron, but they are all listed as well.

Along with the Bracado, I had fresh brewed ice tea (a real treat). Price: $1.81 and ten calories.

Charles’s personal pepperoni pizza (also $5.25) contained 790 calories and 60 mg’s of cholesterol. I don’t know how much you get into all that nutritional stuff. I do try to count calories, but, well .

. . you know how it goes.

Still, you must agree, it is helpful to get a wakeup reminder once in awhile and Subway’s listing does this in a manner that’s easy and fun to understand.

I also like the lively, friendly young women behind the counter who provide fast service and variety of food choices. The fare is fresh, regional and surprisingly tasty. Subway is a postage stamp-sized place with two whirling ceiling fans. You can be super cozy inside or take your food out and eat it in the park as Charles and I sometimes do.

Subway is a pleasant place to go on Monday night or any night. (Whether you’re in a hurry or not.) And one of these mornings I’ll stop in there for a breakfast of sausage, egg and cheese omelet sandwich. ($2 and 610 calories)

Who knows, maybe I’ll see you there. Say hi, won’t you?

VITALS: Subway is located at 314 East Saint Charles St., San Andreas. Phone: 754-0366. The eatery is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Credit cards accepted.

Pictures:

Diners at Subway in San Andreas have a wide variety of meat fillings from which to choose.

Local veggies are a special treat at Subway in San Andreas.

The interior of Subway in San Andreas is lively and inviting.

There’s always lots from which to choose at Subway in San Andreas.

Yvonne Herring is waiting to build any sandwich you want just the way you want it at Subway in San Andreas.