Sandwich review: M&S Roast Beef & Horseradish Mayo

The official description for this sandwich is:

Rare roast British beef with horseradish mayonnaise and lettuce on white bread

This sandwich has suffered from a classic case of overmayonation; the quality of the beef (as good as you would expect from M&S) is sadly masked by an overpowering layer of creamy mayonnaise, making it difficult to enjoy the other ingredients.  It doesn't help that this is supposed to be 'horseradish mayonnaise', but there is only the merest hint of horseradish – it is so mild, it may as well not really be there at all.

Unfortunately, this results in a sandwich which is bland and unsatisfying.  Personally, I would prefer just horseradish sauce, not a specially flavoured mayonnaise, and I would like it to have a bit more bit to it.

I would not buy this sandwich again.

Sandwich review: Chicken, cheese & bacon club with mustard mayo & salad on white bread by Sainsbury's

The official description for this sandwich is:

"Succulent British chicken breast, maple cured bacon with tangy, mature Cheddar, and served with cucumber, juicy vine-ripened tomatoes & crisp lettuce"

A pleasing recipe, overall, with lots of elements guaranteed to fit right in together.  In particular, the balance between the chicken and the bacon was good, and neither overpowered the other - while the mustard mayonnaise actually did have a mustard flavour to it, and was used sparingly enough not to create the alarming overmayonation we so often see in these situations, and the salad was reasonably crisp and fresh.

However, the age-old problem which afflicts all 'club'-style sandwiches was not absent in this case either… The extra slice of bread in the middle of the sandwich made the balance of textures too doughy overall - and, being surround by filling on both sides instead of just on one side, this central slice of bread (as so often happens) became soggy and unappetising.  Unfortunately, this means that an otherwise excellent sandwich was ruined by an over prevalence of damp bread, and that I would not in fact buy this sandwich again.

I am still waiting to experience the a sandwich where the three-slice 'club sandwich' concept is executed effectively - but I am beginning to despair of this ever actually happening.

Sandwich review: BBQ Pulled Pork by Ginsters

The official description for this sandwich is:

"British pulled pork with BBQ sauce, ranch dressing and fresh spinach leaves on white bread"

'Pulled pork' is the current culinary obsession, so it was only a matter of time before it turned up in sandwiches too.  I gave this limited edition offering from Ginsters a try, and found it to be overall quite pleasant.

The pork meat was tender and flavoursome (something which not all sandwich meat manages), and the BBQ sauce had a nice balance of sweet, yet tangy.  I also enjoyed the inclusion of the spinach leaves, which lived up to description of 'fresh' and added a crunchy salad texture to the sandwich (again, sandwich salad leaves have often reached a 'limp and wilted' state by the time they are consumed - not so, in this case).

The only element of this sandwich which disappointed was the ranch dressing - which I could barely taste at all.  I saw no sign of this as ate the sandwich - this may, however, have been something of a blessing in disguise, as it seemed a somewhat incongruous addition to an otherwise fairly cohesive sandwich recipe, and I am not sure what exactly it would have added, had it been present.

Overall, I enjoyed this sandwich, and I would buy it again.