You Say Sandwich, We Say Yeah!

Many a baguette and salad did I consume from EAT, the cheap on the go food store whose eponymous name I never really saw until it was pointed out to me. After dipping into a restaurant near the Southbank on a chilly rainy afternoon, and inquiring about any soup specials, the haughty maitre'd suggested I try EAT, which was just a stone's throw away, as they do soups on the daily. His haughty-ness paid off, as while they had sold out soup by then, their baguettes like this solid chicken, avocado and bacon satiated me daily during a nearby film festival. Never soggy a baguette, which is an impressive feat given it plastic wrapping, and substantial fillings, I was really sad to leave the EAT at Heathrow not knowing when I shall return again. 

I work a lot. I know this about myself. I live to work. Things I do not know include why I only eat bagels on the road. The same bagel. The everything bagel BELT. I can't resist it. But if that was the option at the downstairs cafe, would I get it over this homestyle bacon and egger? They fry the egg up fresh so it's that it's the last thing to be slipped into the sandwich before they wrap it up for my trip upstairs. It would be nice to have options beyond eating at the office or eating on the road. Maybe one day.

  St. John's, Newfoundland has really good food. I don't know why I was so surprised by this, but I was. But most of it was very expensive, and the sandwich options were limited. Above here is a smoked Atlantic char number as The Fixed Coffee 's daily bagel special. I don't remember much about it, except that it was toasted, and that the cream cheese was prepared with pickles or dill or some blend of both. Taking it to go, I walked a few blocks in the cold August rain before I got to eating this proper, and I mostly wolfed it down before teaching a workshop. I unfortunately don't remember much of this, except that the char was really fresh, and I could have ate another one. I personally can't wait for the St. John's airport to expand as right now, the food options are terrible. Of the four options, I have tried 3 of them, and one of them is a Timmy's without a sandwich counter. This is a pre-prepared Chicken Ceasar sub, which most...

I had this exact same sandwich 2 years ago at Marco Polo airport in Venice. It's from the gift shop which is basically an over priced Italian deli, but that doesn't stop me from getting dry pasta and oils and a sandwich every time. Even if it's an airport sandwich, it's my last bites of a great Italian sandwich filled with young mozzarella and delicate prosciutto on a fresh crusty roll before I land somewhere in North America where the ingredients will just fall short. This is somewhere in Amsterdam en route to Germany en route to what became the longest train ride of my life. What should have been a simple 2 hour train ride became a hellish 6 + hour journey that led us to the border of Germany and back and then south and then over and then through the German city line where I had to follow a young student who kindly made small talk with me on her way home for a summer break who found America fascinating. Thank goodness I ate this weird tuna melt from Starbucks (w...

I have yet to make it to a Caplansky's in Toronto, not even its food truck, but having an extra 45 minutes at the airport, I decided to stop in for a pastrami and matzoh ball soup dinner before I boarded a red eye to Amsterdam. Not as rich as its New York counterparts, but decent flavour and reasonably proportioned. The matzoh ball itself I've had better, but in a pinch, I would go back as there is nothing that quite satisfies when you're craving a matzoh ball. The coleslaw was oily which apparently is a thing here and the pickle I expected better, but I will factor in the airport experience and one day hit the lunch counter on a slow afternoon and see if it compares.

You try to plan ahead for travel by buying a nice sandwich/salad combo from a fancy place downtown, then arrive at the airport, catch one whiff of thai express and the possibility of enjoying that sandwich evaporates.  Like delays, travel moods and cashew chicken cravings cannot always be anticipated. What I'm doing at the airport with a vegetarian white bean ragout sandwich I can't say. Regardless, today downtown does no better than Pearson's food services, so I'll propose some cranky renovations. First, apply Nigela Lawson's chickpea recipe to the white beans. Delete all the small chunks of filler veggies (carrots? really?) and eliminate or drastically cut the salad greens, then substitute long strips of grilled zucchini seasoned with lemon. Throw in some fresh mint or dill, and feta. Or whateva. Just an ingredient , I don't even care what. Look at what's beside this thing: more salad greens. I want to shout, what's the poi...

At first, not salty enough, though the curried creaminess dotted with mango and raisins builds in flavour and eventually, I don’t question it anymore. Still, the logic of tomato and lettuce on this sandwich escapes me. A crispy green apple might work better, but at the end of the day I've got no complaints because "The Potrero Hill" (as it's called at Klein's) ranks as the best airport sandwich in recent memory.

Young Elvis reporting with more of a photo essay here, as I got some time on my hands. I'm stuck in the airport with $20 travel delay voucher from the airline and Starbucks seems to be the best option. Hidden under huge poofy bread -- the kind that one quickly grows weary of chewing -- is a pretty decent piece of grilled chicken, and quite a few leaves of slimy lettuce. Not bad.

Tired, nay, unwilling to wait in the ridiculously long line up at Tim Horton's after clearing security at Pearson's, I stood in line with all the other early morning commuters until I realized the line had stopped moving some minutes ago. With an express line for those only getting beverages, the cashiers serving us hungry bastards had been a standstill, and I left with only a few minutes until boarding time. This produced a rushed decision, and this egg salad with spinach seemed like the most appropriate alternate option to a breakfast bagel. With a seeded bread, the egg salad was nothing to write home about, and I appreciated the spinach, but I do wonder why only the Brits put watercress in their sandwiches. Can we not follow suit? It's probably the best thing the Brits have ever done, so instead of having the Queen on our money, can we just have watercress in our sandwiches?

How quickly the Winnipeg Airport has risen in its stature as having one of the crummiest food options to one of the best with a Stella's right before security. While locals in know have turned cold to Stella's franchise like empire, I still love visiting any one of their chains, including the one at the airport. I mean, this is an airport sandwich! Freshly made breakfast sandwich with a side of fruit and a cup of Earl Grey. Hate on, haters, but this is still one of the best airport options anywhere. [Since this original post, more information has been shared about Stella's owners and business practices. We have not supported their businesses since at least 2017. We leave this and other related posts up as a reminder that bad behaviour will not be forgotten and will not be supported, no matter how good your sandwiches tasted!

I can't remember which trip this was from, but it was in an airport, I even think the Vancouver airport. Probably this was eaten en route to Edmonton, unless this was the last sandwich I ate before I left the West coast, I can't remember anymore. I do know that this was better than I expected, with the bacon extra crispy and the egg very fluffy. Simply sliced brown bread. If they put it on a foccacia they could have doubled the price. I am glad they didn't.

  After passing up a $30 open-face sandwich toppling with an impressive vertical assortment of dilled shrimpies, caviar, and a generous lemon slice, I opted for this miserably flat $9 boxed sandwich. There’s not much to say here through the tears. So instead, I post a picture of the one that got away, as a reminder to all readers: if in doubt, spring for the real deal. Post Script: thankfully, our correspondent in Norway made good this summer and became well acquainted with the classic Scandi-sammie, the glorious open face piled high with various seafoods.

I'll gladly go on record here to say this is the best sandwich at the Toronto International Airport for under ten bucks. Herein we find everything needed for a decent "falafal" experience, save possibly pickled turnip and a drizzle of olive oil and cumin or other toasted spices to upgrade the presentation of the two dips: hummus and baba ganoush. Hummus seems to have something slightly sweet, perhaps sweet potato or red pepper in the mix. Otherwise, a slice of fresh lemon, sliced cucumber, red pepper, cherry tomatoes, crisp lettuce, kalamata olives and springy pita are all on deck, and there is enough of each to go around. 

It was not quite 5am on a Saturday morning when I ordered my breakfast bagel sandwich from Tim Horton's and noticed a pretzel bagel option. So be it, I thought. I don't ever go near a Tim Horton's unless I'm on the road, but you know what? This was pretty good. I love me a pretzel, and most street vendor pretzels are as dry as hell. This was at least moist and chewy, and came in a sandwich form!

Maybe I am becoming a fan. I just don't know anymore. I am so tired. But this BELT on multigrain with a large Earl Grey tea tasted really freaking good on this early morning flight.

After a five hour flight and before wading into rush hour traffic, we sat down for a bite to eat at Timmy Ho's just out the gate at Pearson. Seeing a new menu item thrown into rotation, even though I don't frequent Tim Horton's very often save for airport visits, I had to try this new crispy chicken sandwich. Being probably the most "fast food" option of their usual fresh fare type deal, I welcomed this addition to their random bland menu. Tasting more like a chicken finger in a sandwich, it was the perfect snack before having a post flight nap and dinner.

Both offerings are quite small.  On first bite, the Porter mini (right) is a clear winner. The Turkey brie features a thick pleasantly creamy piece of brie and absolutely decent shaved turkey, with a festive cranberry studded mini bread. Plus a side of chewy oatmeal cookies? No contest. BB Caprese features rubbery cartoon bread, insubstantial tomato and tasteless mozza. Confession: this is the kind of "research" sandwich purchased only because it epitomizes an excuse to gripe. It doesn’t disappoint in that regard! 

This is round two for Air Canada's veggie option, and it's a much better sandwich this time. Same kinda deal, boring roasted pepper, zucchini, tomato, arugula, and black olive combination, but in equal proportion to one another and more flavourful. The peppers in particular were meaty, not squishy and deflated, and even the arugula looks fresh. I didn't check the best before date, but it seems time was on our side here.

I’d rate this wrap as strange. Its packaging created expectations of a more appetizing experience, which it was not. After a vastly superior egg salad sandwich from London Heathrow, I could not greet this airplane freebie with serious interest, but at least it was hot, and  at least I could review it for this blog. Steaming contents were oozy and largely undistinguishable, but suggested some kind of red pepper or sundried tomato origins.

I feel special when I unpack this sandwich in its little green box from EAT at London Heathrow. The British have really got the watercress thing right.