by Megan Wiskus

In search of fresh foothill air and tasty mountain grub, my plus one and I headed up to Auburn for a “Sunday Funday.” After a jaunt through Hidden Falls Regional Park, we’d mustered up quite the appetite and made our way to Little Belgium Deli and Beer Bar. A true Gold Country gem, this delicatessen not only serves quality fare but pours pints from across the pond and West Coast craft breweries, too. I opted for a draft of Black Butte Porter and, to soak it all up, one of their claim-to-fame subs: The Firefighter. The breezy, laid-back atmosphere and bevy of board games begs patrons to sit back and relax. We helped ourselves to a seat and started a competitive Monopoly match. But before either of us passed “GO,” my lunch had landed. Prior to taking a bite, I knew my taste buds were in for a treat. Stacked between two pieces of panini-pressed sourdough was a hefty helping of turkey breast, cream cheese, avocado, jalapeños, red onions and pepper-jack cheese. The kick from the fresh, thinly sliced jalapeños added just-enough fire to warm my mouth without needing an extinguisher, while a swig of the frosty, cocoa-flavored beer provided the perfect cooldown. Upon exiting, my mate and I looked at one another and simultaneously agreed: Sunday Funday success!

Little Belgium Deli and Beer Bar - Auburn, CA