Goudy Commons

(Please also read part 2, posted September 2011)

Goudy Commons is the cafeteria on the campus of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. They have several options to choose from, including a salad bar, a deli, a pizza place, and a dessert area. On this excursion, I went with the deli for a hearty sandwich.

I ordered a turkey sandwich with cucumber, lettuce, tomato, onions, spinach, pesto, and Dijon mustard on whole wheat bread ($6). The sandwich came with a side of their house-made pickles.

Turkey sandwich w/house-made pickles

A better shot of the cross-section

In all honesty, this was one of the best sandwiches I've had in recent memory -- and it came from a university cafeteria, of all places! The light, fluffy whole wheat bread encased a hearty helping of turkey and vegetables, making this a struggle to take a bite -- but it was worth it. The vegetables were refreshing and gave that wonderful texture contrast I crave. The tang of the Dijon mustard and herbaceous pesto united well with each turkey-filled bite. Seems like I chose wisely there.

Goudy also had sriracha as a condiment selection. Putting that in the sandwich just took the meal to the next level. Nothing like a little spice to liven up the experience!

The house-made pickles retained a lovely crunch, and each briny bite complemented my next bite of the sandwich. While I prefer the intense dill-flavored pickles from the jar, I definitely respect the people at Goudy for making their own. A great lunch for $6!