The Unvegan

On Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica lies one of the greatest delis in Los Angeles, perhaps even the world. It is the Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery. Besides offering a number of typical Italian sandwiches, Bay Cities brings a colossal contender to the table, known only as the Godmother.

This sandwich is packed with five different meats, all of which coexist in a meaty harmony wirth one another. These glorious meats are Genoa salami, mortadella, coppacola, ham and prosciutto. To maintain the copacetic existence of these meats, a couple of slices of provolone are also thrown in. All sandwiches at Bay Cities can be ordered with the works, an uncomfortable array of vegetables and condiments that would only serve to distract me from my meaty enjoyment, so instead, I like to get a dash of olive oil on my Godmother so my mouth doesn’t dry out.

The result, when sandwiched between two halves of an Italian roll, is nothing short of beautiful. No, this is not the kind of beauty you would get from a chi chi foo foo sandwich shop, but a beauty that comes from within. One bite overwhelms your sense of taste with happiness and an entire sandwich is nearly enough to incapacitate you with bliss.