The vegetarian cheese and walnut loaf sandwich at Fuel isn’t something that I would normally order. Chef Carrie Mitchum, who is a vegan, definitely has a magic touch. The loaf is basically her mom’s meatloaf recipe, minus the beef, with walnuts substituted. It’s a combination of oats, ground walnuts, cheddar cheese, spices, and onions. It’s bound with egg then glazed with ketchup and brown sugar. You can order it hot or cold, but as good as it is, I can’t imagine eating it cold. The sandwich can be made on white, wheat, or a baguette, and the bread is grilled on the flat top with a little olive oil. It’s dressed with Fuel’s signature burger sauce (ketchup, mayo, Dijon mustard, and horseradish), lettuce, tomato, and a dash of sweet chili sauce. It seems like a lot for one sandwich, but everything fits neatly into place and tastes fantastic. This flavorful sammy costs $10 and comes with your choice of fries (Fuel has great hand-cut fries), salad, or chips. Serious fans of the loaf can get a larger serving for dinner with mashed potatoes, green vegetables, and mushroom gravy for $16. — Stacey Greenberg
Fuel Café, 1761 Madison (725-9025) fuelcafememphis.com
