East Coast Sandwich Joint Impresses with Good, Messy Food

When your stomach first starts to grumble and alert you that it's lunch time, what are you thinking? I had a profound sandwich experience Tuesday that I just had to share.

Picture a fresh, crusty roll stuffed full with piping hot slices of tender beef, dipped au jus and then topped with a small heap of sweet peppers.

Now imagine grasping that hearty sandwich with both hands and taking your first bite, the meaty juices running down your chin and fingers as the subtle flavors of the beef meld with the sharp bite of the peppers in your mouth, accented by the hardiness of the bread that has soaked in the flavors of the beef but still maintains that satisfying chewiness that just makes bread good.

Right? It was good for me too.

My mouth-watering sandwich experience came courtesy of Tommy Todorovich and Johnny Adams, owners of Dynamite George Gordon's Famous Pastrami & Chili Dogs located in the small addition adjacent to the Chevron station on Porter Street and McHugh.

The men aren't professional chefs though Todorovich has operated a number of successful food carts in Las Vegas, where he is from. Adams comes originally from Hollywood, Calif., though he's lived in Enumclaw for two years - across the street from the Chevron station, in fact.

They're friends as well as extended family. "My cousin's married to him," Todorovich explained.

Adams has a background in entertainment, going by the moniker "Johnny Ugly." He enjoys good humor and explained he named the business Dynamite George Gordon's in homage to his brother-in-law. "I wanted to name it for someone who excels at what they do," he said.

What's his brother-in-law do?

"Not much," he deadpans.

Humor and business experience aside, the foundation for Dynamite George Gordon's lies in the fact that "we know good food," Todorovich said.

The appeal for the business is its east coast flavor. "We're trying to bring that New York, Chicago style quality junk food," Todorovich said, "and get a sandwich joint out here."

Adams agrees. At present, "there is no food like that here," he said.

We're talking beef and pastrami dips, chili dogs, New York and Chicago-style dogs, tamales, Frito chili boats, beer brats and more.

Dynamite George Gordon's opened last week and to date, all of their advertising has been word-of-mouth. Several diners have already shown themselves to be repeat customers.

That speed with which good news travels is not lost of Adams, who reflects on why he chose to move to Enumclaw: "The coolest thing about Enumclaw is...it's the family style," he said. "Everyone treats you like family. I love Enumclaw's hug -- it's a big hug."