Lunch in Paris: Sandwiches and Burgers

Paris and sandwiches. A real love story for so many years and still going strong as every year the consumption of sandwiches is growing.

You can buy sandwiches of all kinds, with cheese, salami (Rosette the Lyon is really good), pate but the ABSOLUTE STAR of the sandwiches in France is the world famous ' JAMBON BEURRE', a sandwich of fresh and crispy baguette with good butter from Normandy and high quality lean cooked ham.

My all time favorite. And obviously I am not alone!

I did some research and I learned that in 2016 the French (and the expats and tourists too) consumed 2,350,000,000 sandwiches...yes far more than 2 billion! And 1,200,000,000 of them where 'Jambon Beurre'! If that is not the absolute star!

Because the French are so attracted by their favorite lunch that even MacDonalds in his French restaurants is selling the Jambon Beurre, Says a lot about the popularity isn't it?

But the French are also eating a lot of Big Macs and Whoppers. In 2016 1,340,000,000 burgers were sold in France.

But the good old Jambon Beurre is still going strong.

How is a real Jambon Beurre sandwich prepared? Have a look at this video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA9js8rgDc8 and this one to get an idea of 'lunchtime in Paris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XBvDdNYSTw

Another fantastic sandwich I order many times as my linch, mostly in summertime is the 'Pan Bagnat', the taste of the Provence on a hard crispy bun or a fresh half baguette.

Filled with tuna,fresh lettuce, slices of sunripe tomatoes, fresh basil, red and green bell pepper, some hard boiled egg, olives, finely sliced red onions and anchovies. This all with a vinaigrette of good olive oil.

Close your eyes and imagine yourself at a little table on the sidewalk terrace of a cafe with a Pan Bagnat and a glass off chilled rose wine. I promise you, it's heaven.

Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt1q2CBkXkM and surprise your friends and family with this health sandwich

Vietnam became independent from France after a colonization of more than 100 years. The Vietnamese took over the baguette from the French and created the street food 'par excellence', the Banh Mi. In Paris the Bahn Mi stores are everywhere and offer a good and tasty alternative for the classic sandwich.

There are different Bahn Mi but I prefer the one with the slices of pork, pate and salami. The dressing full of Asian spices. A delight.

Check the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz9r3vNRxPA

Comments

Martino

Every country has their famous ‘national’ sandwich. The Americans have their burgers and hotdogs, the French are very proud on their Croque Monsieur, a baked sandwich with cheese and ham, and their fresh baguettes with ham, the famous 'jambon beurre' , the Italians like their Panini as the Vietnamese have their favorite Banh Mi sandwich. And the Belgians have their Martino sandwich. "Invented" in 1951 by a former soccer player, Albert De Hert, who was running the small sandwich bar named Quick at the famous De Coninckplein in Antwerp. The story goes that one evening another soccer player nicknamed ‘Martino’, came in after drinking obviously a few beers too much and asked for a sandwich with ‘everything’ and it had to be spicy. In the kitchen Albert got a half baguette, spread it with ‘filet americain’ (minced raw beef mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, some capers, pepper and salt) and topped it with minced onion, chopped pickles, tabasco sauce, some ket...

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