The sandwiches around here have been getting far bigger, bossier and much more eccentric for some time now, so it’s hard to imagine how the Earl of Sarnie’s staple can be reimagined again. But this is London and when there’s a will there’s a way. This latest glow up? Dipping your bread- filled-with-things into, well, a dip. No, this is hardly the first time anyone has done such a thing (cheese sarnie submerged in tomato soup, anyone?) but it looks like delightfully soggy baguettes and rolls are on the up.
At the Oliver Conquest pub in Aldgate, the team behind kitchen residency Drip are having a ball experimenting with hoagies and po’ boys served with a side of consommeÌ. Our favourite? Try their take on the classic cajun shrimp po’ boy, stacked with spiced buttermilk fried shrimp, traditional Creole remoulade (a tangy, creamy sauce usually made with mustard, mayonnaise, horseradish and herbs), lettuce, pickled onion and salsa verde, and served with roasted tomatillo consommeÌ. They have an £8 lunch special, but good luck getting back to your desk after that.
Meanwhile, Lea Sednaoui behind Brunette Brisket is bringing back the French dip. Originally created in LA in the early 1900s, the chef’s massive version of the crusty white baguette is stuffed with juicy, organic, grass-fed pulled brisket with shallot butter and Gubbeen cheese, and served with a side of her famous beef jus. Finally, head to Kerb in Cowcross Yards for It’s All Gravy’s beef dip sandwich, overflowing with slow-cooked beef, crispy onions, Swiss cheese, confit garlic mayo and mustard, accompanied by a pot of gravy and chips. Beach body, what?
