by Elise Van Dam
I grew up eating a variation of grilled cheese sandwiches and soups. Still to this day I have a reminiscent craving of that meal on chilly winter days. After searching places like college dinning halls and various restaurants I finally found the place that serves a home-style meal of grilled cheese and tomato basil soup with a gourmet twist: Mommy G’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese.
In June 2011 Jessica Rapp and her mother had an idea of opening up a small business as a family investment. After looking at various options, Rapp saw a food trailer for sale, bought it and transformed it into Mommy G’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese.
“I love being able to make food people really like,” Rapp said regarding her passion for starting a food cart.
Mother and daughter started selling their sandwiches in a parking lot at the corner of East Sprague Avenue and North Washington Street in downtown Spokane. After five months at that location they decided it was time to move a little farther north and ended up in the Staples parking lot at the corner of East North Foothills Drive and North Division Street. Now Mommy G’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Throughout the lunchtime rush Rapp serves both regular and new customers, but her primary customers are people on their lunch breaks. She feels that could be because of the stamp cards that gives customers a free sandwich on the 10th visit or because her customers just love the sandwiches, Rapp said.
Presently Rapp is the sole owner of the business and said she hopes to one day open another Mommy G’s food trailer.
“I think what is cool about this food trailer is it has taken some fear out of food trucks for people,” Rapp said.
The menu consists of 10 sandwiches that cost around $7. The Turkey Bacon Melt consists of smoked turkey, bacon crumbles, havarti cheese and ranch dressing.
Mommy G’s also serves three vegetarian options such as the French Onion Melt that includes gruyère cheese, caramelized onion and sautéed mushrooms on white bread. While there are not many vegetarian options, Rapp said she hopes to add more vegetarian sandwiches to the menu in the future.
Along with the sandwiches, customers can also purchase sides such as chips, drinks and tomato basil soup. The soup is sold in two different sizes: an 8-ounce cup for $3 and a 2-ounce “dunk” cup for $1.
“It tasted like being home with your mom,” customer and Whitworth junior Jourdyn McClain said about her experience of eating a classic grilled cheese and tomato basil soup.
Conrad’s Favorite is the sandwich I ate on my visit to Mommy G’s. It was filled with turkey, havarti cheese, roasted red pepper aioli and spinach on wheat bread. It was a wonderful combination of crunchy, cheesy and savory all at the same time. The bread was not too grilled or greasy; it had the right amount of butter. The arrangement of turkey, cheese, spinach and aioli was just right; nothing was overpowering.
Not only are the sandwiches good but the customer service is also great. Rapp took my order with a smile and seemed genuinely excited that it was my first time trying one of her sandwiches. She also was quick to deliver the sandwich to my car. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a meal that is fast, convenient, less than $10, but also has a classic home-style feel.
Contact Elise Van Dam at evandam13@my.whitworth.edu.