Today's link roundup tries to answer the question "where do we go for lunch". It will be quick, because I'm hungry, and I already know the answer to what I'm eating: a fried egg sandwich.

My favorite annual restaurant roundup comes from my friend and former coworker John Hritz, who writes the Hruminations weblog. His 2009 annual best of Ann Arbor food is organized alphabetically, and any restaurant he's willing to put on the list is best at something. His recommendations include "Cafe Zola - Best Weekday Lunch Spot" and "Ray's Red Hots previously Red Hot Lovers - Best Hotdogs (try a Serious Dog, Best Comeback)".

One thing missing from John Hritz's list is a nomination for "best fried egg sandwich." Noted are some reviews of that old-fashioned menu item.

Diner sandwiches

Every proper diner is capable of serving a fried egg sandwich. In downtown Ann Arbor, places like Frank's and the Cloverleaf serve it up classic style.

You know that you are at a place where the menu hasn't changed for a while if they also serve a Denver sandwich. Lynne Olver's The Food Timeline traces its origin to the Basque "piperade." A specialty of the Basque country which is sort of supercharged scrambled eggs. To make it you stew tomatoes and peppers in olive oil or goose fat, then mix them with beaten eggs and scramble the whole.

Fried egg as burger topping, minus the burger

The Blimpy Burger page on Arborwiki has precise instructions on how to order; if you follow them closely, you can order a fried egg sandwich without being admonished by the cook. "Don't order the cheese when you order the burger". This LTH Forum (a Chicago area foodie hub) post has more Blimpy love.

Our own Jessica Webster on the Grange Kitchen and Bar: "Next time - and believe me, there will be a next time - I'm going to order the fried egg sandwich."

Bagger Dave's, reviewed on Yelp by Karen Z: "They've got sandwiches on the menu, too - including a fried egg sandwich, which I haven't seen on a menu in ages and am definitely ordering on a future visit."

Egg sandwich as simple sandwich

On Chowhound, a suggestion for Momo Tea by Michigan Mishuganer: "Momo tea (Taiwanese snacks) on S. University has some cheap tasty food you can get tea eggs or some simple sandwiches - fried egg , ham & cucumber toasted sandwich for $2.95."

Middle eastern style

Ali Baba's menu includes an "Egg Sandwich. Pan-fried eggs on a pita bread with french fries and tomatoes."

Don't skimp on ingredients

Zingerman's Ari Weinzweig writes for The Atlantic on Fried Eggs, Spanish Style: "Good eggs + good olive oil + a sprinkling of good coarse sea salt + a good grind of good Telicherry black pepper = really, really good Spanish-style fried eggs. Stick a couple of these babies on toasted good bread with more good olive oil and...it's a 5-minute meal that's hard to beat. Remember it's all in the oil and the eggs so don't try this with low grade versions of either."

Caribbean style

Metromix Detroit reviews Jamaican Jerk Pit: "Try the dread sandwich with fried egg, onion, tomato and cheese on toasted garlic cocoa bread."

Eat local

The Ann Arbor Farmer's Market has local eggs year-round on Saturday morning. Get there early for your best selection.

Edward Vielmetti organizes lunch. You can see him in action at Eastern Accents every Thursday for the a2b3 lunch meeting, now in its fifth year, or write to edwardvielmetti@annarbor.com.