Beyond ham and cheese

LONDON – I have been in London for five weeks, and my memory of lunch has already been filled with an array of sandwiches.

On one of the first grocery store experiences I had here, I remember thinking that I should pick up essentials to hold me over: ham and cheese.

That was easier said than done. I’ve learned that just because a label said it’s “cheddar” doesn’t mean it’s true. That ended my at-home sandwich-making experiments.

With it looking like I couldn’t make my own to satisfy my taste buds, I decided to begin exploring store-bought sandwiches.

At first I tried out chains that seemed like safe and reasonable places to eat sandwiches.

One of the first places that I went to was Pret A Manger, a chain that has been serving London since 1986.

Pret doesn’t sell your ordinary sandwiches. I purchased two, Italian prosciutto on artisan bread and another with goat cheese and vegetable.

Although I like to think of myself as an open-minded individual, I like to stick to the norm when it comes to food. So I was intimidated by the exotic sandwiches.

However, once I got past the names of the ingredients I normally stay away from, the store-bought sandwich was a pretty decent meal. Although it isn’t the cheapest sandwich, getting a smaller portion saved me money.

I knew I couldn’t rely on these expensive sandwiches for my entire trip. I decided to go to a local grocery store to see what kind of sandwich deals I could find.

At one of the local grocery stores, there was a deal that included chips and a drink, which I thought was perfect.

However, the sandwiches were less than ideal. Though they were bigger portions, the taste was horrible. The sandwich was soggy, and it seems like they had made obvious sacrifices in the ingredients.

What does a girl have to do to get a good sandwich in this city?

My answer came in the name of ECCo: Express Coffee Co. It is a small restaurant that is ideal for take-out and specializes in pizzas.

Luckily for me, they also sell sandwiches that are served on fresh bread with tasty ingredients.

There are a variety of sandwiches that you can choose from, but I decided to go for one that had cheese and basil in it. It was delicious. I also tried a spicy sandwich that included hot peppers and pepperoni.

I might not find the classic ham-and-cheese sandwich while I am in London, but I’ve learned to appreciate the substitutes.