Better Off Bread
“Bread is the king of the table and all else is merely the court that surrounds the king. The countries are the soup, the meat, the vegetables, the salad but bread is king.”
Louis Bromfield, American novelist (1896-1956)
“I am proud to be an American. Because an American can eat anything on the face of this earth as long as he has two pieces of bread.”
Bill Cosby, American comedian
James Beard observed that “America is a confirmed sandwich nation. Everywhere you go you find sandwich stands, sandwich shops.” (It should be noted that the sandwich is a decidedly un-American invention. It was first conceived in Sandwich, England by the 18th century English nobleman, John Montagu, better known as the 4th Earl of Sandwich for whom the dish is named.) Industry wide, sandwiches are menued in full- and limited-service restaurants more than any other type of entrée. Additionally, the Hamburger and Other Sandwich menu categories alone account for nearly half of the total LSR industry revenue.
Chefs.com estimates that Americans eat 300 million sandwiches a day (According to Technomic’s 2010 Sandwich Consumer Trend Report, 93% of consumers say they eat at least one sandwich each week.) This means that 600 million slices (give or take) of bread are consumed as well.
Technomic’s 2010 Sandwich Consumer Trend Report shows that consumers prefer Italian, whole-wheat and French bread more than other bread varieties for sandwiches eaten at lunch and dinner.
However, some operators have decided, that when it comes to sandwiches, that man indeed cannot live by bread alone.
Take for example KFC’s Double Down, a “sandwich” which eschews bread altogether. KFC describes the Double Down as a “one-of-a-kind sandwich” featuring two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (Original Recipe® or Grilled), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel’s Sauce:
For those with dietary concerns, the crispy version weighs in at a robust 540 calories with 32 grams of fat and 1,380 milligrams of sodium. However, the DD is a veritable tea sandwich compared with McDonald’s Angus Bacon & Cheese Burger which tops the scales at 790 calories, 39 grams of fat and 2,070 milligrams of sodium. Who said fried foods were bad for you?
The Gateway Grizzlies, a independent Frontier League baseball team by way of Sauget, IL , set the culinary world on it’s ear in 2006 when they offered fans a unique sandwich made with a hamburger, cheese and bacon, all sandwiched between a Krispy Kreme doughnut:
It was rumored to pack a trencherman like 1,000 calories per serving.
The Mossy Creek Café (“Located in Fishersville (VA) near the train underpass and across from the Library) offers the “Chubby Melt” ($9.00), described on their menu as “Our Big Mossy Burger topped w/ mushrooms, onions, Thousand Island dressing served between 2 grilled cheese sandwiches.” Yes, 2 grilled cheese sandwiches:
Jerry’s Famous Deli keeps alive Bennigan’s legacy alive with their Golden Monte Cristo, a Ham, Turkey, Bacon, Swiss Cheese, Deep Fried Egg Bread Sandwich with Preserves and Fruit or Apple Sauce:
So, though bread may be the king of the table, when it comes to sandwiches, it’s clear that virtually anything (or nothing) goes. To learn more about trends and opportunities for foodservice operators when it comes to sandwiches, be sure to check out the Technomic’s 2010 Sandwich Consumer Trend Report.
