Components
-Scallops, of dubious provenance but reasonable freshness, pan-seared in butter
-Kabocha squash, roasted until outrageously creamy
-Roasted asparagus mayo
-Toasted Napoli baguette
Remarks
Weirdly, this sandwich may have been better without the scallops. Kabocha squash is incredible once it’s been roasted for a while and sprinkled with sea salt (it’s amazing in other guises, as well, but I think roasting works best), and it could’ve anchored the sandwich. Next time.
Components
-Squid, dredged in flour, then egg, then corn meal, fried in shallow oil.
-Leftover crushed tomatoes, leftover amaranth greens, garlic, simmered.
-Mayo
-Toasted Napoli baguette
Remarks
There is no way this sandwich wasn’t going to be delicious. I knew it the second I saw how the calamari were (was?) crisping up: the flour/egg/corn meal process really makes for a thick and crunchy batter, which cooks well even when there’s not much oil. Oh—and this isn’t really an experimental sandwich.
Components
-Mackerel, rubbed with cajun spices, sauteed, and finished with lemon juice
-Onions, garlic, and amaranth greens, sauteed with a little bit of beer
-Silken tofu blended with Sriracha
-Sliced round loaf from Napoli
Remarks
Good sandwich, although wasabi mayo would have been better than silken tofu and Sriracha. Mackerel is my favorite fish, and from what I understand it’s more sustainable than most. It also works quite well for sandwiches, being oily, tough, and kind of pungent (in a good way).
Presenting a new feature of the Caine Blog: Experimental Sandwiches.
I frequently assemble strange sandwiches with whatever ingredients are lying around the apartment. Starting today, I’ll attempt to document them for posterity. First up is a “Korean Banh Mi,” in quotes because it’s absolutely not a banh mi. It does, however, have some things in common with the legendary Vietnamese sandwich.
Components
-Ground beef, onions, and garlic simmered with soy sauce and chili oil and finished with toasted sesame oil
-Kimchi mayo (kimchi is homemade; it features in many sandwiches)
-Cucumbers, lazily sliced with the peeler
-Napoli baguette—the best there is
Remarks
Good sandwich, but the kimchi needs to be more fully drained and dry before mixing with the mayo.
