Simple Sands Deli, Pasadena

Half-moons, cylinders, and blocks of gourmet deli meats and cheeses fill the glass display case at Simple Sands Deli. From this bounty, the staff slices pounds of prosciutto, chipotle turkey, brazilian pork, and salami. They wrap their meats and cheeses in tidy parcels for home cooking, but these savory ingredients also compose the deli's menu of Italian breakfast sandwiches. The team makes the capicola and salami, as well as hearty lunch and dinner sandwiches such as the Smoked Mid-Western, which piles santa fe turkey, gouda, onions, tomato, and dill spread atop flyover-sized pieces of whole-grain bread. Jumbo kosher pickles and bags of Utz chips, as well as drinks from soda to iced caramel macchiatos, help round out each meal.