The Earl of Sandwich certainly got it right when he thought of slapping something tasty between two slices of bread for a quick, tasty snack.  Since then the humble Sandwich has come a long way, with its image delicately flavoured and deliciously crusted around the edges.  One company that certainly knows their sandwich from their baguette is the Soho Sandwich Company (www.sohosandwich.co.uk) Winners of this year’s prestigious Best Sandwich of the Year and Sandwich Designer of the year at the British Sandwich Associations annual gathering, and they certainly deserve the accolade. 

Adam Gilbert, owner of the Soho Sandwich catering company and its well-known café based in Hendon Library, The Burroughs, beat off stiff competition from major commercial food producers at the awards ceremony last Thursday at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel.

Foodie entrepreneur Gilbert, 36, nearly missed the final, due to a hectic work schedule serving his popular gourmet sandwiches to guests at Lords’ Cricket Ground during the international against the West Indies.  On Thursday, there was an extra-special guest to cater for, and Gilbert stayed late to personally prepare sandwiches for HM The Queen, before rushing to the Royal Lancaster with his specially-designed sandwich for the BSA judging.

Arriving at the hotel, seeing the food corporations’ development chefs lined up in their immaculate logo’ed chef’s whites, displaying beautiful sandwich arrangements on elegant stacked platters, Gilbert  worried “I’ve got no chance up against these big players” – and then realised he had forgotten to pack a plate to put his sandwich on.  Dashing to the hotel’s kitchen, he managed to borrow a plate, hastily arranged his sandwich and rushed back for the judging.

Taste will out, though, and Gilbert’s sandwich won the Hot & Spicy category before going into the final against the winners of the Chicken, Turkey, Cheese and Tuna categories. His sandwich was declared the ultimate winner and Gilbert was then named Sandwich Designer of the Year.

Gilbert credits his success to working with the right associates – in particular his production manager Dan Silverston – and the best suppliers. “Obviously in a sandwich business, bread is the key,” he says. “If the bread isn’t right, the filling is irrelevant, because all you remember is the bread.”

And the award winning sandwich in question?  A delicious menagerie of chorizo sausage, salsa, sweet potato and herbs.  Gilbert’s sandwich uses ciabattini piatta, made with olive oil and herbs, from Ticino Bakery in London, where Gilbert says Rita Molinari is making “the best bread I’ve ever worked with”. 

Here’s the recipe for you to try at home, and if you can’t get hold of Gilbert’s recommended bread then a fresh Italian Ciabatta or Focaccia bread will do.

Gilbert’s prize filling is:

100g chorizo spicy Spanish sausage

Spicy tomato salsa

50g sweet potato roasted with olive oil, rosemary and thyme

Alfalfa sprouts

Baby spinach