“Cheese! I just LOVE cheese. Raaaaalllly I do!” – Goldimouse, Looney Tunes “1001 Rabbit Tales”
Nestled amidst the older houses along Crestline is not where you’d expect to find one of the best cheese and meat selections in Spokane. With a busy street in front of it and shops that have seen better days scattered around the area, this isn’t exactly a major shopping district. But whether you’d expect it or not, this is the part of town Slice and Grind calls home. And this is where you can sample some of the most delicious cheeses, meats, and sandwiches (made from those cheeses and meats) you’ll find in this part of Washington state.
Before we get into a discussion of just how tasty some of those cheeses and meats are, let’s take a quick moment to discuss where they come from. Slice and Grind specializes in providing foods from John F Martin & Sons, out of Lancaster County, PA. The company, established in 1961, uses a state-of-the-art processing and packaging facility as well as a solar array. They use the smokehouse method with real hardwood chips to smoke their foods and their products are low on GMOs and hormones and high on flavor.
Delicious, delicious flavor.
What do I mean by flavor? Well let’s go with a quick rundown of the Slice and Grind cheeses offered on their menu. There are around 15 items to choose from, of the white, yellow, or specialty flavored-cheese varieties. Want something simple and traditional? You can give mild cheddar or Swiss a try. Have a love of spice in your diet? The habenero/jalapeno or white jalapeno can hook your tastebuds up. Want to try something a little different and full of flavor? Sample the garlic, horseradish, or smoked Swiss. They are all delicious and all pair well with meats on the menu (nearly a dozen to choose from).
While some people swear by bologna sandwiches, others refuse to acknowledge that they exist (I should probably admit that I am one of the latter). But when I was offered a sample of Slice and Grind’s sweet bologna to try, I went ahead and ate it because I’m not afraid of no meat – and it didn’t look anything like the bologna that I’m used to. And boy was I glad that I stepped outside my comfort zone and tried it, because it was amazing. A little sweet, a little salty, with a very soft texture that was much less chewy than expected. I thought it paired particularly well with the smoked provolone.
Aside from the sweet bologna there isn’t anything too wild and crazy on the meat menu. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything tasty on the meat menu. Just that the other options aren’t as unique as sweet bologna. The roast beef pairs well with the regular and smoked Swiss. The Black Forest ham lends a bit of sweet saltiness when eaten with the provolone. And the smoked turkey works with just about any cheese you could think of (as smoked turkey is known to do). I particularly liked it with the garlic cheese, but it was great with the sharp cheddar as well. I wasn’t quite brave enough to try pepper turkey breast or buffalo-style chicken breast paired up with the white jalapeno cheese, but I’m sure it would be a flavor taste explosion, for those that like that kind of thing.
Basically what it boils down to is this – if you’re into cheese, and you’re into meat, than you’ll be into Slice and Grind. And if you’re into eating sandwiches made of those cheeses and meats, you’ll be happy to know that Slice and Grind will slap them together into made-to-order deli-style sandwiches. They’ll pair that up with red pepper tomato or tortilla or cheddar potato soup and call it a meal.
A meal your tastebuds certainly won’t regret.
Slice and Grind Deli & Espresso is located at: 2103 E Diamond, Spokane, Washington.
They’re open 6 am- 6 pm Monday- Saturday & 7 am – 5 pm Sunday.
Dine-in, carry out, and delivery options are available.
They also offer catering services, with meat and cheese trays as well as sandwiches.
