So it probably won't come as a surprise that one of my favourite parts of the festive season is the seasonal food and drink. Even though I'm not a coffee fan and tend to avoid their hot chocolate since I found out there are about 400 calories in the small skinny one (I KNOW RIGHT THAT'S DINNER!) I have to admit, the red cups in Starbucks send a little thrill down my spine.
I also get way too excited when Marks & Spencer bring out their Christmas Sandwiches. Their main one is basically as if they made a roast dinner then squished it down so it fit inside a sandwich. IT IS AMAZING. I had it for lunch today and now my arteries hurt. BUT IN A GOOD WAY.
Boots have produced a sandwich called the Boxing Day sandwich and while I love the name (oh my god, how amazing are Boxing Day sandwiches? I always bring a little bit of the cheese board into play, too. YUM.) the content is a tad disappointing. M&S still winning this battle. They've done a low-fat version, though, and it's actually surprisingly nice. Not the decadent stodge-fest that the original and best sandwich is, but nice! Oh, and a soup, which I dutifully tried for the purposes of research. It's like chicken fricassee with stuffing balls in it. Weird.
But the ultimate Christmas food-based tradition for me is the Christmas Panini. My best friend and I schedule in Christmas Panini Day every year - this year we were fretting about the date as she's been on holiday for most of December, but we are determined to make it happen this week as thankfully she hasn't been stranded in Sri Lanka. It will happen. Oh yes.
Anyway. This is the Christmas Panini:
The Christmas Panini comes from a little sandwich shop in St Albans called Palmers. I urge you to visit. It involves: sausage, bacon, turkey, cranberry and stuffing. It does not, officially, involve cheese, but I can't think of anything that isn't improved by the addition of melted cheese, so. With brie, please!
But the ultimate Christmas food-based tradition for me is the Christmas Panini. My best friend and I schedule in Christmas Panini Day every year - this year we were fretting about the date as she's been on holiday for most of December, but we are determined to make it happen this week as thankfully she hasn't been stranded in Sri Lanka. It will happen. Oh yes.
Anyway. This is the Christmas Panini:
There's not much more to say. If the above photographs and accompanying text have not made you start plotting your route to Palmers asap, then I just don't know what to do with you. More for me!
My boyfriend would love that panini! I however, just like boring sandwiches and paninis.
ReplyDeleteTrue story: I once asked my mum what she'd had for lunch and she replied with "a pappini" haha. She genuinely thought that that's what they were called. So cute.
Not a chance of healthy eating for me at this time of the year! I've eaten enough for a small tribe! I love Starbucks :3 My Mum makes the nicest 'Boxing Day sandwiches' ever, I could eat them all year round, which would probably make them lose their appeal, if you can call leftover Turkey appealing! Oooh, gonna have to make a detour trip to St. Albans with the mothership soon. NOM. xx
ReplyDeleteStarbucks red cups are fantastic, fantastic in every way. I look forward to eggnog lattes all year round. It broke my heart a little bit when I discovered that they weren't doing black cherry mochas this year...
ReplyDeleteThat looks amazing! I used to work down the road from Marks and Spencer and the amount of calorific sandwiches I must have eaten scares me. Scrapping the diet is fine anyway, everyone needs an extra layer at Christmas, that's always my excuse.
ReplyDeletePenny x
Amazing post! xx
ReplyDeleteThat panini looks immense! Mince pies are my absolute favourite thing about christmas food, I could scoff so many of them!
ReplyDeleteI've had that Panini from Palmers! Its AMAZING! Now I really fancy one, definitely have to get myself down there pronto! xx
ReplyDeleteI love Palmers!! It sells one hell of a good panini.
ReplyDeleteI buy the M&S sarnies out of them and Boots because they donate proceeds to Shelter.
xx
I used to go to Palmers for lunch when I was at school!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of Christmas food but that panini looks yummy :) x
Ooh these pictures just made my belly rumble.
ReplyDeleteUm, that sandwich needs to be in my life NOW. Nothin' better than a Christmas sandwich!
ReplyDeleteI was going to try the soup until I read the ingredients, it sounded like they had taken an actual christmas dinner and put it in a blender :-/ Would you have it again?
ReplyDeleteI am totally with you on the melted cheese!
ReplyDeleteCould you post me a pannini please?
ReplyDeletemmmm i feel hungry just looking at it!
ReplyDeleteoh god, that panini looks so bloody yummy! Mmm. Now, when can I schedule a trip to St Albans...
ReplyDeleteomfg that panini needs to be in my belleh.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Christmas sandwich fiend too! And although I do my best all year round to avoid them, you can't beat a Gregg's the Bakers Christmas sandwich - nom, nom, nom!
ReplyDeleteGosh, that panini looks incredible! I waaaant it! x
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the m&s christmas food :) and plus every time we buy the red label stuff money goes to Shelter, which is even nicer cause its such a good cause :) that panini looks amazing, I am right with you my friend on the addition of cheese! yes indeedy! xx
ReplyDeleteWhen I used to work in a cafe we used to make christmas paninis with leftovers from the christmas dinners! so so yummy, especially with loads of cranberry sauce. I now really want one, damn you Sarah!
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