CLUB SANDWICH WITH A TRANSATLANTIC TWIST

Smith & Wollensky's newest steakhouse: London

Editor’s note: British Airways “Club” magazine publishes as a regular feature a club sandwich recipe contributed by a world class chef.  BA is kind to share the recipe with bloggers.  In its January 2016 edition “Club Magazine” interviewed two chefs from Smith & Wollensky steakhouses (Matthew King/U.S.) and (Sean Marshall/U.K). The chefs took turns sharing their thoughts on what makes a memorable club sandwich.

A tasty transatlantic take on the classic Club Sandwich

What makes a great Club Sandwich?

Matthew King (Corporate executive chef at New York based Smith & Wollensky: It’s all about the bacon. At Smith & Wollensky in New York, I’ve developed an amazing beef bacon for our Club.

Sean Marshall (Executive chef London Smith & Wollensky:  A sandwich is nothing without quality bread and a carefully considered moisture content. Too wet and it all falls apart, too dry and it doesn’t hit the spot.

Where’s the most unexpected place you’ve eaten a Club Sandwich?

Matthew: At Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados. They make it with flying fish, avocado and rum-cured bacon smoked over sugar cane.

Sean:  At a hotel in Jerez in southern Spain where the kitchen used Iberico jamon instead of bacon. It was divine.

How does a UK Club Sandwich differ to one in the U.S.?

Matthew: The Brits have the bread nailed: it’s hard to find a fresh crusty loaf in the US. But Americans know their bacon. The perfect Club would be a mixture of both.

How would you give the sandwich a transatlantic twist?

Sean: Our transatlantic Club recipe (below) combines classic US ingredients, such as pastrami and Monterey Jack cheese, with a very British cognac mustard sauce.

Smith & Wollensky's London-made Transatlantic Club Sandwich

Recipe: The Smith & Wollensky Transatlantic Club Sandwich

Ingredients (makes one sandwich):

3 leaves of iceberg lettuce

1 red onion, sliced

38ml cognac mustard sauce (recipe below)

1 hard-boiled egg

2 tbsp mayonnaise

1 tbsp chopped chives

3 slices of brioche

2 peeled plum tomatoes

80g pastrami

120g turkey, sliced

100g Monterey Jack cheese

Salt and pepper to season

For the cognac mustard sauce (this makes 200ml):

½ tsp Colman’s mustard powder

160ml mayonnaise

300ml Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp Smith & Wollensky steak sauce

20ml semi-skimmed milk

1 tsp kosher salt

3.5ml cognac

Method:

1. Whisk together all the ingredients for the cognac mustard sauce, then combine the lettuce and sliced red onion with a quarter of this sauce and toss in a bowl.

2. Roughly chop together the hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise and chives, and season.

3. Toast the brioche.

4. Put the chopped egg on the first slice of toasted brioche, followed by the tomatoes.

5. Grill the pastrami for 30 seconds, then layer on top of the tomatoes.

6. Add the second slice of brioche, then place on the sliced onion and lettuce, followed by the turkey. Top with the Monterey Jack cheese.

7. Put the third slice of brioche on top and slice sandwich in half. Serve with french fries.

ABOUT SMITH & WOLENSKY:

S&Ws signature green and white building was established in 1977 in New York. Today, with nine different locations, it continues to symbolize the timeless luxury of Prime USDA steaks, premium seafood, signature cocktails and award-winning wines. S&W dry ages and butchers on site; flys in fresh lobster daily and makes sides and pastries by hand.

ABOUT BRITISH AIRWAYS:

With BA offering up to 17 daily flights between London and New York, the route is one of the airline’s most iconic.