The Parish Cafe and Bar, Boston, MA USA

Ordered at The Parish Cafe and Bar on Boylston Street in the Back Bay of Boston.

Note to self: when someone tells you “I’m not sure if I can be that helpful,” believe them – and don’t meet them for lunch, meet them for coffee.

When I moved to Boston as recent company founder, I needed to network. I started with the organization that everyone told me I needed to be involved in. I met with their head, who told me the organization had just dissolved and that he wouldn’t be that much help. Gosh, I thought, this person must have experience and connections to share even if the organization is dissolving.

I was wrong.

So I learned my lesson: don’t meet people for lunch who describe themselves as unhelpful. But if you have to meet them for lunch, meet them somewhere delicious as a backup plan. And with that in mind, I chose The Parish Café, a Boston sandwich-focused eatery that typically has long lunch lines, especially during the summer.

I was excited for lunch and I was excited to meet this person everyone told me I needed to meet but described themselves as unhelpful. I assured him through email: “I’m sure you have more usefulness than just the former co you worked for…. right??”

I wouldn’t need his response to answer the question.

But back to the more important part of this story: there was one sandwich on the menu that I obviously had to try, because sitting with this unhelpful person was just uncomfortable: Sean’s Meatloaf Club with homemade chipotle meatloaf on country white toast with applewood smoked bacon, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and a chipotle aioli. Nicely served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and gravy.

Sean Simmons is the executive chef and owner of The Parish Café and Bar in Boston. The Club Sandwich is the only sandwich in the restaurant with the owner’s name stamped on it, so this had to be delicious; there was no way Sean approved anything otherwise.

And so as I realized the person I was with couldn’t be more unhelpful, I told him about my Club Sandwich blog and waited patiently for my meatloaf club sandwich to arrive.

This is no light sandwich fair – the Parish Café’s Meatloaf Club Sandwich is one serious appetite quenching meal. I was intrigued by the mashed potato with gravy; an interesting yet fitting side to this meaty club. And so I dove into the side dish first: delicious. Yummy, creamy, savory, and an all-together lovely side for this club sandwich. It wasn’t exactly elegant, but then again, meatloaf rarely is.

I left most of the mashed potato and gravy on the side, where it belonged, and wrapped my mouth around the meatloaf club. Yum – totally not the traditional club I’m used to (especially in Boston) and it started with the chipotle.

“What’s that spice?” I asked the waiter.

“Oh that’s the chipotle.” She told me.

“And what’s chipotle?”

“Um… a sauce,” the waiter replied.

“What type of sauce is that? I don’t get it,” I told her confused.

She shrugged and then the person I was with actually shined for a moment: “Chipotle is a type of smoked chili pepper from Mexico.”

I stared at him with surprise and stated: “So you are helpful!”

Back to my meatloaf club that had a hint of spiciness that was welcomed on this colder day:

The meatloaf was great, a bit mushy of a consistency but that’s just meatloaf for ya. It was nicely seasoned though, an important step that can be overlooked in the meatloaf making process. The bacon took a backseat to the well-seasoned meatloaf, but it added a nice crunch and smoky flavor to each bite I took.  The extra chipotle aioli probably wasn’t necessary unless you’re a huge chipotle fan – which I guess I’m not. The lettuce and tomato while small and nestled in the bottom still added nice moisture and crispness to this club sandwich. The bread didn’t add anything special, and I was a bit disappointed with how soggy the bottom slice of the second half got while I was finishing the first half; the bottom slice didn’t support the sandwich well.

My first meatloaf club experience will not be my last: Sean Simmons did a great job bringing this spicy club creation together. I’m still curious why he chose and stuck with meatloaf as the center ingredient, and very much look forward to having the opportunity to ask him sometime soon.

I will be back to The Parish Café, there’s no doubting that, although next time I hope the company is better. We finished our sandwiches and were out the door in 30 minutes – literally the fastest lunch I’ve eaten with another person since moving to Boston. But it’s nice knowing I can’t wait to get back, especially after the 224 Boston Street club…

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