“My Rustic Sandwiches” offers recipes for artisan breads and sandwiches that compliment them. However, the focal point is clearly the sandwiches. Artisan baker Sam Sidawi provides dozens of sandwiches covering a wide variety from simple camembert cheese on a baguette, to extravagant, seared tuna and sesame crusted grilled salmon. There are recipes for both cold sandwiches and warm sandwiches, all on a variety of breads. The simpler, more intuitive sandwiches merely list the ingredients, leaving assembly up to the maker. The more complex sandwiches have recipes and cooking tips. All of the sandwiches are accompanied by extremely tantalizing photographs.

Unfortunately, I could not try all the sandwiches due to budget and time, but I picked a small sampling, trying to get the best range possible, given my tastes and the circumstances. My first choice was the simple fresh mozzarella, balsamic vinegar, tomato, and grilled red pepper on ciabatta. Those ingredients are always a favorite, classic combination. The grilled chicken with roasted garlic mayo, roasted tomato and herbs, and provolone cheese on ciabatta was also extremely delicious and a warm, hearty sandwich. My last selection was the shawarma with tahini sauce, roasted tomatoes, parsley, onions, and pickles on pita. I did not like it as much as the other two, but I am probably just not a fan of tahini. The Stuffed Country Boule, which contains a variety of meats, cheese, and vegetables, also caught my eye, but it seemed a little too ambitious to sample, given its size. However, it would make a great dish for a party. Many of the stuffed Focaccia sandwiches also look extremely enticing, and I eagerly look forward to trying them.

Overall, “My Rustic Sandwiches” contains a great, well-rounded selection of sandwiches. With all the interesting choices Sidawi provides, there is easily something to please all tastes.
Kym Markowitz, BookReview.com