You Say Sandwich, We Say Yeah!

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.

I must be British now as these BLT's in the greenhouse were dished up with a heavy dose of homemade raisin chutney. A great acidic accompaniment to the greasy salty bacon and the blandess of the spinach (playing substitute here for lettuce) and chunky tomato slices. I added a dollop to the inside of the sandwich, and I must say it's actually better as a dipper than a spread. Thanks to R.G. for this very hearty breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

The Chip Butty is an institution I am not sure I want to admit membership of, but in support of true scientific research, I shall admit - though, only once - to consuming this monochromatic staple of British diet. You would think Britain, with its history of Sandwiches (think "The Earl of...") would be more inventive with their bread-based food products, but therein lies the genius of the Chip Butty - it is so classically simple, understated and unexpected: who would have thought that you could get so much starch and empty carbohydrates into such a small, compact space? That its nutritional content hovers somewhere between zero and minus 20 makes the perfect base (or cap) of a night's heavy drinking, and this is part of its success, particularly in Scotland and working class cities across the UK. Its single colour and single taste could only be described as "unexpected" - in that when you eat something, you would expect it to taste of something...

Having poked my head into see their assortment of organic and gluten free fare, as well as a fair stock of Scottish treats like wild nettle cordial and real Scottish oats, I tried out their deli section with fresh ready when ordered sandwiches. Accompanying a mighty good parsnip soup, I went for the smoked ham, which I had plain with the grainy mustard as when prompted if I wanted "salad", I declined, thinking it was a side order. What they meant was all the fillings of lettuce, tomatoes and cheese that goes inside the sandwich. I don't regret my choice. It was a mighty tasty smoked ham, and while I have no sweet tooth, I was intrigued by Dovers Farm Organic ginger and brazil nut cookies made with stem ginger, and made without gluten, wheat, milk, salt, buckwheat, soya, eggs or hydrongenated fat. But like most gluten free products, they crumble in your mouth like dust, but albiet, a gingery tasting dust.

A classic Scottish fare, the toastie is basically a sandwich consisting of toasted white bread filled with some sort of mayonnaise-heavy melody. Ordering the cheese and tuna toastie one Saturday morning before I went to explore the river, my curiosity is satisfied, and need not be reminded again. The hot rolls, on the other hand, will be for another day, and probably another blog.