Lunch at Crema: A Two Sandwich Review

"I'm too busy" is never a good excuse to skimp on exciting and delicious food escapades. In this new series, explore the culinary scene of Boston and Cambridge with Jane, your Crimson foodie who may be picky, but will still try anything on the plate at least once (except maybe chicken feet).

At the height of lunchtime, it is nearly impossible to snag a seat at Crema Café. The menu of this coffee shop boasts everything from lattes decorated with swirled foam art to delectable cupcakes recently featured on the Food Network's "Cupcake Wars."

In addition to drinks and baked goods, Crema Café offers an extensive food menu that includes sandwiches, salads, soups, and quiches.

One of Crema's top selling items is the Spinach Artichoke Chicken Sandwich ($6.95), made with grilled chicken breast, artichoke spread, and wilted spinach pressed on homemade focaccia. Seasoned with plenty of herbs, the focaccia had beautiful grill marks and a crispy exterior thanks to the panini machine. The big chunks of chicken breast were slightly dry, but the creaminess of the artichoke spread helped to balance out the overall texture.

Turkey & Jicama Slaw Sandwich ($7.50) packed generous slices of house roasted turkey, jicama slaw, avocado, bacon, and ancho chile vinaigrette in between a toasted homemade baguette. The turkey slices looked and tasted like they were carved right off an oven-roasted turkey on Thanksgiving. Although the jicama slaw added nice crunchiness to the sandwich, it spilled out all over and made the sandwich really messy to eat. The pieces of avocado could have been chunkier and bigger. Still, a very delicious sandwich.