They say as we grow older our palates change – from preferences for sweet, then to savoury and back again. Wow, what an exciting journey for our mouths – and brains!
How we perceive flavour changes as we get older as from our 40’s, in general, tastebuds tend to decline in number and ability to detect subtle flavours. Hence my basic philosophy of ‘eat as much as you can, with as much variety as possible, when you can’, because one day you may not be able to taste or smell. Or, God forbid, perhaps illness will prevent either from being possible or worse, make all foods you eat have a flavour profile akin to that of eating a battery.
And so, in the prime of adulthood, I decided to make a sandwich that would tick most boxes – salt, sweet, savoury, umami and even a hint of bitter – the kind only Prince Andrew can feel when in the company of his extended family.
So, saddle up and head to the supermarket for:
- A loaf of multigrain bread with as many different types of seeds as possible
- A chunk of Roquefort
- The best possible deli roast ham with a hint of glaze
- Mayonnaise
- A jar of caramelised onion chutney (you see now where this is going)
- Your favourite red wine
When you have arrived back home, get changed into your slippers and trackies and fire up the salamander (or grill for some). Butter the bread on both sides and place two slices under the grill. When brown, remove the bread and place the untoasted sides on a board, turn off the gill and turn on the oven to 180 degrees. Generously spread the chutney on both untoasted slices of bread and wedge in as much ham as you can possibly muster. Then in a bowl, mix the Roquefort with a tablespoon of mayo and, using said tablespoon, whip into an airy mousse of pure delight. Next, spread that fantastic cheesy mix onto the ham, close over the sandwich and whack it into the oven.
Now for the important bit; pour yourself a glass of wine and take the time to choose a movie. When you can smell the sandwich caramelising nicely in the oven, remove and leave for a few minutes to cool; then slice and enjoy. Don’t forget to get a large napkin – because you’re going to need it for those fingers!
And there you have it – a salty, sweet, savoury and bits of the rest kinda-sandwich that satisfies all taste preferences and can therefore be enjoyed at any point along this journey that we call life.
Until next time…
Between The BreadSheets 