When I was maybe twelve or thirteen years old, I used to get wheeled out to make sandwiches. My Mum was pretty proud of my sandwiches, and I loved making them. So whenever she had visitors, I made sandwiches. I took it pretty seriously then and I take it pretty seriously to this day!

I think I understood from early on, as a pre-teenager, that you needed the correct amount and combination of fillings, the right amount of moisture, the right ratio of filling to bread…..it just had to be interesting.

Wait. Am I a weirdo? Does this sound like over analysis? It’s just a sandwich…..

I sometimes wonder about my relationship with the humble sarnie. I found myself wondering the other day if anyone else does the (definitely) weird thing I always do when I eat a sandwich, which is this:

Take a bite. Chew slowly. Appreciate the taste and remember it.

Turn the sandwich upside down

Take a second bite. Chew slowly. Appreciate the taste and compare it to the ‘other way up’ memory.

Decide which way up the sandwich tasted better.

Make sure to continue eating sandwich in that same orientation…..

The thing is……it always tastes better one way up, than the other, doesn’t it? Try it (if you don’t do this already….and why wouldn’t you, it’s eminently sensible, isn’t it?)

It is safe to say that I’ve made a LOT of sandwiches in my life. It’s an underrated thing, the sandwich, in my humble view. I also EAT a lot of sandwiches myself, because a lot of the time, if I’ve been on my feet cooking all day for clients and guests, constantly tasting sauces, seasoning things, checking how flavours are developing, for a semi-complicated meal with lots of components…..the last thing I want to do is eat that meal myself. So, after service, I’ll have a sandwich. I’d pretty much have a really well constructed leftover turkey sandwich rather than the turkey dinner.

DELICIOUS.

Like I said, I’m weird. Don’t get me started on toasties right now, that’s a whole separate art form.

All hail the humble sandwich. Don’t take it for granted!