I seem to have a pop culture blind spot when it comes to Top Chef. I’ve never watched it before, even though it seems like the perfect show for foodies. The only reason I know who Tom Colicchio is, is because Deb talked about him in a post about a sandwich. So let’s refer to a reality TV expert, Kristine, who will explain why she loves Tom Colicchio and Top Chef:

“He makes food so sexy! LOL! Ok, seriously, I love the show because it puts two of my favourite things together…food and Reality TV competition! Chefs are so much more cutthroat than any Survivor contestant…and ’cause Tom Colicchio is so sexy! :)”.

So that brings us to ‘wichcraft, Tom Colicchio’s sandwich shop, in the MGM Grand in Vegas. I had an extremely difficult time choosing what I wanted to eat – a little menu paralysis if you will. These were my contenders:

– grilled cheddar, smoked ham and apple on pumpernickel

– meatloaf with cheddar, bacon and tomato relish on a roll

– grilled gruyère and caramelized onions on rye

And I chose:

– roasted turkey, avocado, bacon and balsamic onions on a roll

Can you please just stop and think about that for a second? Slices of thick, juicy turkey breast, creamy avocado, smoky bacon, and sweet caramelized onions with the tang of balsamic vinegar. All piled on a fresh roll. It was fantastic. I am so excited for Thanksgiving this weekend, so I can attempt to re-create this ‘wich with my leftover turkey.

Kristine had a panini with grilled chicken, roasted red pepper, mozzarella and pesto on country bread, and she loved hers too. Or maybe she was just dreaming that Tom put it together especially for her!

*A special note on Vegas sandwiches: My brother insists that the best sandwiches not only in Vegas, but in the continental US are found in the Paris hotel at Cafe Ile St.Louis. I have yet to verify this claim.