Dish of the week: Pan con pollo from Xinia's Bakery

"Growing up in west Contra Costa County alongside my Salvadoran friends, Panes con Pavo became a staple of the Thanksgiving season. Panes con Pavo is an opened-face sandwich that typically features slow-cooked turkey on a breadroll with a combination of tomato, cucumber, radish and curtido - a type of vinegar slaw often seen atop pupusas. Everytime I eat it I'm transported to those large family-and-friends holiday gatherings and, as Thanksgiving quickly approaches, I often find myself longing for those flavors."

"Xinia's Bakery, tucked into the Plaza Sobrante along San Pablo Dam Road in El Sobrante, has always been my go-to spot to satisfy those cravings. Though not turkey, Xinia's serves an all-year round chicken version of Panes con Pavo, called Pan con Pollo, for $13.13 that always takes me back to my time as a youth. Before you dive in, you must make sure to drown your sandwich in the savory, non-spicy sauce that incorporates tomatoes, chiles and pumpkin seeds among a host of other spices."

Panes con Pavo evokes Thanksgiving memories and family gatherings in west Contra Costa County. It is an opened-face sandwich featuring slow-cooked turkey on a bolillo or bread roll with tomato, cucumber, radish and curtido, a vinegar slaw often seen atop pupusas. Xinia's Bakery in Plaza Sobrante in El Sobrante serves a year-round chicken version called Pan con Pollo for $13.13. The sandwich is served with a savory, non-spicy sauce made with tomatoes, chiles and pumpkin seeds and should be poured generously. First bites combine the soft roll, tender roasted chicken and the crunch of cucumbers, radishes and curtido. Xinia's also offers sweet Salvadoran breads and coffee throughout the day.

Read at The Oaklandside