Club Level

As I jumped off the tube train at Alperton on the way home today - I raced down the stairs and through the barrier in order to jump onto the Route79 bus waiting at the bus stop. Only this was no ordinary 2002 version of the bus - this was a late-2003 version. As near as damn-it brand new, state-of-the-art double-decker bus as you can get in London. I marvelled in the glory of it as I made my way up to the upper deck - which I call the “Club Level” - and proceeded to the very back seat. As I sat there I took in all the finely designed curves, the smell of the brand new upholstery and the smart new LCD TFT flat-panel display at the front of the upper deck:

Later: I decided that tonight was not a night for cooking. Instead - I prepared a Route79 club sandwich:

• A few leaves of fresh, crisp iceberge lettuce
• One large ripe tomato, sliced thinly
• Quarter of cucumber sliced thinly
• Four cooked chicken thighs (skin-removed) chopped into half-bite-sized pieces
• One ripe avocado - chopped into pieces same size as chicken
• A few large dollops of mayonnaise
• 6 small pickled gherkins - sliced finely
• Some pre-sliced, smoked ham
• Bread for toasting
• Low-cholesterol margarine
• Ground pepper

Gently stir the chopped chicken, mayonnaise and chopped avocado together in a bowl until thoroughly mixed. Grind some black pepper into the mixture and stir well.

The idea here is to make two sandwiches - comprising three slices of bread each. In other words - two “double-decker” sandwiches.

For each sandwich - take 3 slices of bread, toast them lightly - and spread each slice with margarine whilst still hot. Spread one of the slices with margarine on both sides - this is the slice that will go in the middle - the slice that splits the bottom deck from the top deck!

Then - on the bottom slice - cover with lettuce - then spoon on some of the chicken/avocado mixture. Cover with some more lettuce. Then place the middle (dual-margarined) slice of bread on top. Then add two slices of ham on top. Arrange some slices of tomato - and arrange the cucumber and gherkin slices on top. Sprinkle some more salt and pepper on top - and then add another two slices of ham on top of that. Finally add the top layer of toast. Press it all together firmly using the palm of your hand and cut the double-decker into four quarters using a sharp serrated knife. (Straight - not diagonally.)

Serve on a large plate with a packet of tomato-ketchup (or salt and vinegar) flavoured Walkers Crisps. Voila!

Very tasty.

Posted by jag at February 03, 2004 09:46 PM