You Say Sandwich, We Say Yeah!

While a roll is a sandwich in the UK, I've never had a sandwich in China, though I've had many tasty meaty morsels tucked between freshly made dough-based pockets. The issue once again of what makes a sandwich reared its ugly head as I ate this western-style (or alternately, "Beijing-influenced") Xin-Jiang cumin beef roll. The sesame covered pan-breads are the best thing about this dish, and they themselves are often ordered to eat, as they are flaky on the inside and crispy on the outside, and go with anything that you put into it. Sounds like a sandwich, but is it? One of the best dining experiences I repeat whenever I visit Hong Kong is at a Beijing restaurant with hands-down the BEST lamb dish ever. They come as separate dishes, but they go together always as you stuff the lamb into these little sesame rolls that comes with a sharp spicy sauce to ladle over the whole mess. I want to buy a plane ticket right now just to have one. Are they sandwiches? No, because th...

I noticed this joint almost immediately as I moved into the neighborhood. In the first few days of settling in, I had an empty fridge and an empty belly, and wandering by with an arm full of bags, I got the "Fat Tony" (two types of prosciutto, marinated peppers, and provolone) along with a cherry soda and some nice olive oil and other small things to go. The bread was just okay, but the fillings were ample, and while it's a place I should love at first sight, there was just something slightly missing for me to order this one again. Their sandwich menu runs a full sheet, offering both hot and cold options, and I do wonder about the muffuletta, so I will probably return.

A quick soujourn through Finland to visit one of their smaller cities for a disappointing art festival had me pass through Helsinki's international airport, a major gateway between Eastern Europe and Asia. Lots of goods were for sale, primarily Finland's seafood delicacies from caviar to smoked fish, with some land rarities like reindeer and bear salami (which, by the way, is damn delicious in its fatty tenderness). Chowing down for this simple smoked salmon on their hard rye, filled with sliced boiled eggs and fresh dill, there was nothing to note, except for how awesomely expensive it all was. By far the most pricey sandwich I've ever had, I cannot justify that it was worth it.

The evergreen backdrop of the Gordon tartan sure offers a contrast to the bright yellow filling of the coronation chicken sandwich wedge. Dined during a private presentation at the Gordon Highlanders Museum a wee while back, this would be my first taste of the extra mayonnaisey chicken filling popularly known as the mixture that celebrated Queen Elizabeth the Second's coronation. A heavy hand of dry curry powder seems to be the base of this concoction, which in a bite, is bland, barbaric, and colonially tasteless.

Yikes. Presentation was never their strong suit, but these clear plastic AND paper bags kept the sandwich visible while it started to sog up as I raced for the train. Those days are now over, but I will never forget that tin foil is still the best sandwich wrapper invented. I believe this was a bacon and brie with cranberry sauce panini.