After reading the responses to The Art of the Ultimate Sandwich in which people shared their favourite sandwich fillings, I decided that someone's sandwich preference can reveal a lot about their personality type. Those who liked uncomplicated combinations such as cheese-and-pickle, roast-beef-and-plum-jam, vegemite-and-aged-cheddar, roast-pork-and-apple-sauce or peanut-butter-and-cucumber - not to mention fish-fingers, tinned spaghetti or cold lamb curry - would be straightforward folk.
But people who fancied "sliced medium rare steak, crushed roast potatoes, Tabasco, gherkins, rocket" on homemade flatbread or "ciabatta stuffed with grilled courgette slices, brie, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and rocket" would be high maintenance and difficult to please. And anyway, once the number of ingredients passes a certain number it sounds more like a burger than a sandwich to me.
So is a burger a sandwich? How all-encompassing is the definition of a sandwich?
Does a tortilla wrap, stuffed pita pocket or panini qualify? Regardless, freshness is crucial.
In my book sandwiches must be served immediately after assembly. Ready-made sandwiches on display in a cafe's cabinet are seldom appealing. I quite understand my daughter's reluctance to take sandwiches to school; they're not nearly so tasty once they've been festering in a lunchbox all morning.
