Breakfast sandwiches are simple, yet timelessly delightful. What happens when it’s dressed up with global influences and local ingredients?
The Kimchi Egg Sandwich ($5.75) at Exo Roast Co. is born. It features kimchi, chile oil, egg, spinach, chèvre, and an English muffin.
While the locally made and sold Bajo Tierra kimchi provides the addictive savory funk, the chile oil adds a touch of extra heat to tingle the tongue with spinach for a cooling counterpoint. The toasted muffin from Small Batch Bakery warms up the chèvre enough for a combo of crisp and creamy and a hint of tang.
The egg from Beck’s Best Eggs is a lovely deep shade of orange and somewhere between over-easy and over-medium. Since the runny yolk essentially forms its own sauce coating the sandwich, it’s best eaten on a plate to savor the drippings. To eat it on the go, request over-medium.
The breakfast menu was designed by Exo manager and owner Amy Smith, chef Lia Griesser, and Erik Stanford from Pivot Produce. Don’t hesitate to check out the rest of the breakfast menu with dishes that also feature ingredients from Pivot Produce.
For another source of morning piquancy, order a glass of the Chiltepin Cold Brew.
Exo Roast Co. is located at 403 N. 6th Ave. For more information, call (520) 777-4709 or visit exocoffee.com.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
