Try Twists on Traditional Sandwiches
July 2017
Thanks to the culinary creativity of chefs and adventurous appetites of consumers, the sandwich category has expanded. It includes new types of sandwiches, featuring a variety of breads and proteins, as well as adaptations of classics, introducing different ingredients.
According to Packaged Facts, 74 percent of quick-service restaurants and 62 percent of fine-dining restaurants offer sandwiches on their menus. It’s important for operators and chefs to examine their offerings and make sure they stand out from the competition’s.
With a few small tweaks, you can prevent the sandwich section of your menu from getting stale. Take a look at the types of dishes being served across the U.S. and try giving them a turkey twist with these recipe ideas:
- Take a dip. Fast-casual restaurant Arby’s has offered a Chicago-Style Beef Dip, a variation of a French dip made with roast beef, Swiss cheese, peppers and Italian seasoning, and served with au jus. This Philly Roasted Turkey Sandwich offers a lighter protein in roasted turkey, along with provolone cheese and sautéed broccoli rabe, and a side of au jus.
- Press to impress. Paninis can provide a refreshing change of pace from classically prepared sandwiches. MAD Greens, a salad eatery based in Colorado, combines sourdough bread, Swiss cheese, roasted chicken, avocado and bacon in the Annie Oakley panini. Use paninis as a platform for fruity flavors with the mild taste of oven roasted turkey breast in this Turkey & Fig Panini.
- Rebuild your BLT. The Corner Bakery Cafe, a chain founded in Chicago, adds cracked pepper balsamic mayonnaise to bacon, lettuce and tomato in its BBLT. Supplement the three base ingredients to make your BLT stand out—this BLT Mega Turkey Burger incorporates turkey burgers, cheese, chipotle mayonnaise and more to add extra spice.
Visit our Culinary Center to find even more sandwiches to showcase in your establishment.
SOURCES
Hume, Scott. 50 Twists on Iconic Sandwiches, Restaurant Business, April 2017.
Spencer, Joanie. Foodservice sandwich trends, Baking Business, August 2016.
Sandwiches Increasingly Proving Their Versatility, Convenience Store News, August 2015.
Carlos, Angela. The BLT: A Classic Reinvented 12 Delicious Ways, April 2016.
