The countdown to Christmas is well and truly on and coffee shops, takeaways and supermarkets definitely aren't short of festive spirit.
The decorations are up, the red cups are Instagram-ready and the shelves are filled with everyones favourite lunchtime treats - Christmas sandwiches.
The pandemic meant many of us missed out on our favourite turkey-stuffed treat last year, which of course means everyone must eat double their normal intake this year - right?
But long gone are the days of just having a turkey and cranberry sandwich, and for 2021 some of the high street's biggest names have really upped their game with other festive fillings - including pigs in blankets, bacon and brie and mac & cheese.
There's also a great selection of vegetarian and veggie options, as well as dairy and gluten free.
We've tasted what's on the market this year to find the best Christmas sandwich of 2021.
Pret
Pret's Christmas Lunch
What's in it? British turkey with port & orange cranberry sauce, herby pork stuffing and baby spinach leaves. Finished with a dab of mayo and crispy onions.
Taste - 10 /10
Look - 8/10
Festive factor - 10/10
A Christmas classic done perfectly. The biggest fear with festive sandwich is that the turkey may be dry, but Pret's offering is spot on. The addition of port and orange flavours to the cranberry sauce makes it that bit more special and while I was sceptical about the onions they give it a good crunch. I loved the spinach and it made the whole thing fresh and made me feel like I was eating something vaguely healthy.
Vegan Christmas Nut Roast
What's in it? Roasted herby butternut squash, rocket and Christmas pesto made with pine nuts, chestnuts, pumpkin seeds, parsley & rosemary. Served with a spoonful of vegan sage mayo, caramelised pecans and our famous crispy onions.
Taste - 6/10
Look - 7/10
Festive factor - 8/10
This is a sandwich with a lot going on - there's butternut squash, pesto, salad and nuts making it look very appealing to the eye and it certainly stands out. However, when it comes to the taste test, maybe it's just a bit too much in one go - although its nutty texture is certainly something different to other sandwiches.
Vegan Christmas Flatbread
What's in it? Vegan sage mayo, port & orange cranberry sauce topped with Christmas pesto, roasted herby butternut squash, sweet potato falafel, pickled cabbage & carrot. Finished a handful of baby leaf spinach and all wrapped in a wholemeal flat bread.
Taste - 8/10
Look - 7/10
Festive factor - 6/10
This flatbread definitely passes the taste test - the falafel is delicious and goes perfectly with the filling butternut squash and the moreish wholemeal flatbread. However, despite the great taste, when looking at it, Christmas doesn't immediately spring to mind - and the filling could have been a little more generous.
Brie, Pistachio & Cranberry Baguette
What's in it? Creamy French brie with port & orange cranberry sauce, mayo, toasted pistachios and a handful of peppery rocket.
Taste - 6/10
Look - 7/10
Festive factor - 7/10
I love a brie and cranberry sandwich and eat them all round, but the addition of the pistachios made this extra special. However I would haver preferred them chopped up, as you ended up getting a few in a mouthful which was a bit too much - although at least it was a decent portion of them.
Pret's Christmas Baguette
What's in it? British turkey with port & orange cranberry sauce, herby pork stuffing and rocket. Finished with a dab of mayo and crispy onions, served on a white baguette.
Taste - 9/10
Look - 9/10
Festive factor - 10/10
Another classic done very, very well. All your festive favourites in there and the addition of rocket gives it a bit of a fresh kick. My only criticism is that there was a LOT of mayo, which I'm not a big fan of, and I would rather the extra moistness came from some extra cranberry sauce.
Christmas Stuffing Mac & Cheese
What's in it? Herby pork stuffing covered with tubetti rigati pasta with a mature cheddar béchamel sauce and parsley. Topped with a sprinkling of breadcrumbs and Italian mature cheese.
Taste - 9/10
Look - 9/10
Festive factor - 8/10
Who doesn't love mac & cheese? And the addition of the stuffing makes it even more delicious. The breadcrumbs give it an extra crunch and there is the perfect pasta to cheese ratio - which is rare. It's a very filling dish and would be the perfect antidote to any festive hangovers.
Aldi
Turkey Feast on Malted Bread - £1.69
What's in it? Turkey breast, pork, sage and onion stuffing, cranberry chutney, mayonnaise, cooked smoked bacon and fried onion on malted bread
Taste - 8/10
Look - 7/10
Festive factor - 8/10
This is essentially your average meat and stuffing butty that you’ll get any year round in a meal deal, with the added bonus of bacon and cranberry sauce. It could certainly benefit from slightly more cranberry, but it's packed well with turkey and stuffing and overall is a very tasty sandwich. You can't ask for much more at that price.
Butter Basted Turkey with Pigs under Blanket on Malted Bloomer - £2.29
What's in it? Butter basted cooked turkey breast with cooked Lincolnshire pork sausage, pork, chestnut & thyme stuffing, cranberry and port sauce, smoked streaky bacon with sage and onion mayonnaise, fried onions and parsley on malted bloomer bread
Taste - 9/10
Look - 9/10
Festive factor - 9/10
This sandwich is pretty much the same as the turkey feast, but with the added bonus of sausage and fancier packaging. There’s actually less cranberry on this one, but the stuffing is moister and tastier, which makes for an overall better bite.
Smoked Salmon and Soft Cheese - £1.69
What's in it? Smoked salmon with seasoned reduced fat soft cheese, lemon juice, and single cream in wholemeal bread
Taste - 10/10
Look - 7/10
Festive factor - 6/10
Although this sandwich didn't quite fit the same festive theme as the rest of the collection, it was a personal favourite of mine; simple and delicious.
Brie and Spiced Cranberry Chutney on Malted Bread - £1.69
What's in it? Mould ripened brie cheese with cranberry, orange and ginger chutney, mayonnaise and spinach on malted bread
Taste - 5/10
Look - 5/10
Festive factor - 7/10
This was definitely my least favourite of all Aldi's festive sandwich offerings. The mould on the brie was off-putting to me, but having said that, a seasoned brie-lover would most likely love this flavour-filled sandwich.
Vegan Festive Feast - £1.69
What's in it? Parsnip fritter with cranberry chutney, shredded apple, sliced cabbage and sultanas with vegan sage and onion mayonnaise, fried onions and spinach on cranberry and poppy seed bread
Taste - 6/10
Look - 7/10
Festive factor - 3/10
I really wanted to like this more than I did, but without a protein filling, the cranberry chutney felt overwhelmingly sweet. Having said that, the colourful filling did make this vegan offering very visually appealing.
Turkey Feast Wrap with Cranberry and Port Sauce - £1.99
What's in it? Butter basted cooked turkey breast with mayonnaise, pork, sage and onion stuffing, cranberry and port sauce, cooked diced beechwood smoked streaky bacon and fried onions with spinach on a plain wheat tortilla wrap
Taste - 10/10
Look - 8/10
Festive factor - 9/10
Filling-wise this was pretty similar to the turkey feast sandwich, but somehow the wrap casing gave it such a delicious and fresh taste. The cranberry and port sauce provided a lovely sweet, but not over powering edge.
Morrisons
Christmas Lunch - £2.50
What's in it? Turkey, bacon, stuffing and cranberry chutney on malted bread
Taste - 8/10
Look - 6/10
Festive factor - 10/10
Stacked to the brim with all sorts of succulent meat, it feels like a full Christmas dinner in your mouth with lashings of cranberry chutney to keep it moist. There's a good amount of turkey but more stuffing would be the only request.
Festive Cheeseboard - £2.50
What's in it? Wensleydale extra mature cheddar, Blue cheese and chutney on cranberry and poppy seed bread
Taste - 6/10
Look - 6/10
Festive factor - 5/10
One for cheese lovers, this is an entire cheeseboard in-between two slices of delicious poppy seed bread. The cheeses pack a punch and the chutney gives it a nice tang. But this sandwich is just too small and can be eaten within seconds.
Pigs Under Blanket - £2.50
Taste - 8/10
Look - 6/10
Festive factor - 8/10
While the pigs are under the blanket rather than actually in it, the effect is just as good. Supermarket sandwiches have an annoying tendency of having terrible bacon but this is crispy. These are proper sausages as well and there is a surprisingly good amount of them.
Merry Vegan Vegetable - £2.50
What's in it? Winter veg fritter, white bean and parsnip humous and spiced braised red cabbage on sage and onion bread.
Taste - 4/10
Look - 8/10
Festive factor - 5/10
This vegan option looks amazing with colourful layers but it flatters to deceive. You know you're in trouble when the bread is the tastiest part. There's just too much cabbage which overpowers the sandwich, although the vegetable fritter is a bright spark.
Boxing Day Turkey Curry Wrap - £2.50
What's in it? Spiced turkey breast in coronation mayo, pink pickled onions, slaw and spinach in soft tortilla wrap
Taste - 9/10
Look - 7/10
Festive factor - 6/10
Surprisingly the tastiest helping from this range is not a sandwich but in fact this wrap. The bright yellow Coronation mayo is sensational, but with most of the filling at the top of the wrap it gets slightly less impressive with each bite.
Tesco
Smoked Ham and Wensleydale
What's in it? Smoked ham and Wensleydale cheese, with pear and fig chutney and spinach on brown bread
Taste - 7/10
Look - 7/10
Festive factor - 6/10
A nice upgrade from your average supermarket ham and cheese sandwich but not overly festive in terms of flavour. The chutney adds a much-needed bit of sweetness to the tangy cheese, which alone might be a bit sharp. The balance of ingredients is a little off though, could do with a bit more chutney, but overall it was enjoyable.
Roast Beef Dinner
What's in it? British beef, rosemary gravy mayonnaise, roasted root vegetables and spinach in a soft rosemary and thyme sub roll
Taste - 7/10
Look - 5/10
Festive factor - 7/10
This has a real taste of a Boxing Day sandwich stuffed with Christmas dinner. A strong rosemary taste, what with the rosemary and thyme roll and rosemary gravy mayo. The roasted veg inside was a nice touch. It’s a bit of an unusual sandwich, but that’s the fun of festive leftovers.
Yule Hog Wrap - £2.75
What's in it? Pulled pork in a hickory style marinade, rosemary and turkey gravy mayonnaise, Kentish cider apple sauce, lettuce, sage and onion stuffing and fried onions in a plain tortilla wrap
Taste - 3/10
Look - 2/10
Festive factor - 0/10
Not particularly appealing to look at, the filling looks a lot like tuna mayonnaise. In terms of taste, it felt a bit like they’d tried to make something Christmassy when it just shouldn’t have been. This didn’t really work for me, was a bit like a hog roast pork and apple wrap, but quite bland.
Plant Chef Roasted Root Veg and Chestnut Wrap - £2.75
What's in it? Roasted root vegetables and chestnuts with braised red cabbage, cranberry sauce, a pea protein alternative to mayonnaise, sage and onion stuffing and spinach in a beetroot and chia tortilla wrap.
Taste - 8/10
Look - 10/10
Festive factor - 7/10
Very jolly in terms of appearance, with lots of bright colours from the beetroot wrap and veg inside. Has a nice festive taste and a good amount of filling. I was surprised to like this vegan offering much more than some of Tesco’s meat sandwiches. A good option if you want to feel a little healthier at Christmas time.
Wicked Kitchen California Inspired Christmas Wrap
What's in it? Smoky marinated pea and wheat protein, pickled red onions, pesto vegan mayo and lettuce in a tomato tortilla
Taste - 1/10
Look - 2/10
Festive factor - 0/10
Didn't make me think of California or Christmas, so this one was a bit of a disappointment. I thought the flavours could have been stronger, with the mayonnaise giving the strongest kick. But it should have been pesto mayo, and you'd never have known. The tomato tortilla was probably the best thing about it.
Asda
Ultimate Turkey Dinner
What's in it? Turkey, stuffing, roast carrot and parsnip strips, cranberry chutney and rich gravy in a white floured bap
Taste - 9/10
Look - 8/10
Festive factor - 9/10
This sandwich really does what it says on the tin and tastes just like a Christmas dinner and it had a generous amount of filling. Loved the cranberry chutney and was happy it had no mayo inside. No dry turkey in sight, but sadly the same can’t be said for the choice of bread. The bread really let the sandwich down, stopping it from getting a 10/10 rating here.
Pig in Blanket
What's in it? A giant pig in blanket with cranberry chutney, sage and onion stuffing, fried onions and festive sage mayo in a white sub roll
Taste - 8/10
Look - 8/10
Festive factor - 10/10
If you’re looking for something fun and festive to eat for lunch then look no further. This quirky Christmas sandwich contains one huge pig in a blanket in a sub roll. It’s a bit gimmicky, but that’s what makes it so great. I found the festive sage mayo inside a little bit much, but I don’t think it would stop me from having this again.
Boxing Day Sandwich
What's in it? Turkey breast and oak-smoked ham with a spoonful of coleslaw and spiced chutney on white bread
Taste - 1/10
Look - 1/10
Festive factor - 0/10
This was the worst Christmas sandwich I’ve ever eaten - possibly even the worst sandwich I’ve ever eaten. It’s essentially just a turkey and coleslaw sandwich on very cheap tasting white bread. Not nice at all, I wasn’t willing to take more than one bite.
Festive Feast Sandwich
What's in it? Cumberland sausage pigs under blankets, stuffing and a cranberry and port sauce on malted bread
Taste - 6/10
Look - 4/10
Festive factor - 6/10
A perfectly enjoyable Christmas sandwich, with lots of filling inside. No real complaints about this one, it’s just very similar to a lot of other festive offerings, so isn’t really bringing anything special or different to the market.
Plant-Based Festive Feast
What's in it? Soya protein pieces, roast carrots and parsnips with red cabbage, smothered in sage and onion mayo and spiced fruit chutney
Taste - 3/10
Look - 5/10
Festive factor - 2/10
After trying the superb festive plant-based offering from Tesco, this one was a bit of a letdown. Didn’t look very fun or festive from the outside and didn’t taste great either. Had a strong vinegar after-taste from the braised cabbage inside. Not worth it at all.
Festive Feast
What's in it? Tortilla wrap with turkey breast, pork sausage, cranberry and port sauce, smoked bacon, pork, sage and onion stuffing, spinach, sage and onion mayonnaise and fried onions
Taste - 6/10
Look - 6/10
Festive factor - 7/10
This wrap is impressive, you get three wraps instead of the regular two and all are choker block stuffed with filling. It’s generous and certainly festive. In terms of taste, it's very similar to other pig in blanket sandwiches, so not a standout. The mayo is overpowering, not much in the way of cranberry and I couldn’t get the onions at all.
Pulled Pork and apple stuffing
What's in it? Pulled pork, seasoned mayo and apple sauce, with pork, sage and onion stuffing, fried onions and parsley on white bread
Taste - 4/10
Look - 2/10
Festive factor - 3/10
This one doesn’t look particularly appetising as the filling looks a bit grey. When you bite into it, it’s all a bit too soft and mushy for my taste. Might have been better done in a bap or roll, which would have made it a bit more like a traditional hog roast, but still not very festive either way.
Brie and Cranberry
What's in it? French brie cheese, cranberry and port sauce, spinach and seasoned mayo on malted bread
Taste- 7/10
Look - 6/10
Festive factor - 6/10
This sandwich isn’t groundbreaking, but it was very nice. A generous amount of cheese inside, not too much mayo, so you get the cranberry flavour coming through to make it festive. I also didn’t mind the choice of bread, but it might have been a little better in a baguette or something similar.
Prawn cocktail
What's in it? Oatmeal bread with prawns, cocktail sauce, tomatoes and lettuce
Taste- 1/10
Look - 1/10
Festive factor - 0 /10
Not at all Christmassy and not something anyone would ever think to ask for at Christmas. Though, it was interesting to pair the prawn cocktail with the oatmeal bread, as it’s usually served with white bread - was this the only saving grace? Perhaps.
Co-op
Irresistible Posh Prawn Cocktail Sandwich
What's in it? King prawns and Atlantic prawns with a slow roast tomato cocktail sauce and iceburg lettuce on brown bread.
Taste - 10/10
Look - 9/10
Festive factor - 7/10
A bold statement, but this was one of the best prawn cocktail sandwiches I've ever tried. It earns the 'posh' in its title, thanks to the huge, juicy prawns and creamy sauce. It was head and shoulders above the rest of the sandwiches in the range. I'll definitely be tucking into lots during the festive period.
Irresistible Ultimate Christmas Dinner Roll
What's in it? Roasted hot pulled turkey with gravy mayonnaise, pork, sage and onion stuffing, a winter spiced red cabbage and Brussel sprout slaw with cranberry chutney. Packed into a glazed white roll and topped with a pigs in blanket skewer.
Taste - 9/10
Look - 9/10
Festive factor - 10/10
Another great offering from the lovely people at Co-op. The presentation was brilliant, with the pigs in blanket skewer giving it that special Christmassy feel. I wasn't overly excited to read about the sprout slaw but it was a great addition and made the whole roll nice and moist.
Free From Turkey Feast Wrap
What's in it? Turkey, Pork, sage and onion stuffing with seasoned mayonnaise and chunky cranberry chutney in a gluten-free wrap.
Taste - 7/10
Look - 7/10
Festive factor? 9/10
Great to see Co-op offering a delicious free-from option, meaning everyone can enjoy Christmas sandwiches this year. While it's wasn't quite at tasty as the Christmas Dinner Roll, it was still really lovely. The cranberry chutney was the perfect accompaniment to the generous filling.
Sainsbury's
Beef Wellington Special - £3.50
What's in it? Medium rare British beef, roast seasoned mushrooms and chestnuts with black truffle, pickled red cabbage, seasoned gravy mayonnaise and spinach in a croissant roll.
Taste - 8/10
Look - 8/10
Festive factor - 6/10
If you're looking for a roast dinner in a sandwich then this go for this. The traditional beef combines well with the sweet cabbage and it's stuffed in a croissant roll, which tastes similar to a Yorkshire pudding. It tastes great but without any turkey, cranberries or other Christmas-related fare, it's maybe not as festive as it could be.
Rudolph's Christmas Feast - £3
What's in it? Root vegetable patty, sage and onion vegan mayonnaise, umani carrot ribbons, caramelised carrot chutney, roasted seasoned and sweetened pumpkin and sunflower seeds in a star-shaped roll.
Taste - 7/10
Look - 8/10
Festive factor - 8/10
This vegan offering is packed with festive flavour from the tasty root vegetable patty to the delicious carrot ribbons and the crunchy seeds, however it is very sweet.
Its clever star-shaped roll gives it a real Christmas look and it's surprisingly filling - despite essentially being a sandwich filled with just vegetables and seeds.
PAUL
The PAUL Christmas Turkey Sandwich - £4.95
What's in it? Turkey, smoky bacon, fresh spinach, oatly crème fraiche and mayonnaise and horseradish sauce in a PAUL sage, onion & cranberry baguette
Look - 8/10
Festive factor - 10/10
Taste - 9/10
This is certainly what Christmas is all about. One of the best parts of this whopper of an offering, which is full of succulent turkey, is the heavenly cranberry infused baguette. If the bacon was a tad crispier this would be getting full marks
Boxing Day Ham Hock Sandwich - £4.45
What's in it? Ham hock, cheddar cheese, piccalilli and batavia in a PAUL turmeric baguette
Look - 7/10
Taste - 7/10
Festive factor - 5/10
Perhaps not the most festive sandwich going, but the visually striking yellow turmeric baguette certainly stands out from the crowd. The ingredients work well together, particularly the spicy piccalilli, which is why it was a shame they were laid out in distinctive sections and not mixed in together.
Vegan Stuffing Sandwich (VE) - £4.65
What's in it? Sweet potato & chestnut stuffing, vegan pâté, grilled carrots, batavia, and cranberry sauce in a PAUL white baguette
Look - 8/10
Taste - 7/10
Festive factor - 8/10
The stuffing is to die for and doesn't feel too dry thanks to lashings of tangy cranberry sauce. The carrots add a nice crunch, but the only issue is they are tough to bite and end up dragging out a lot of filling. The sheer amount of flavours going on is a pleasant surprise.
Greggs
Pigs Under Blanket baguette - £3.20
What's in it? Pork sausages, sweetcure bacon, pork, sage and onion stuffing with a cranberry and port sauce in a crispy piping-hot baguette
Taste - 8/10
Look - 7/10
Festive factor - 7/10
It's the night after the Christmas party, you're sitting at your desk filled with shame and a vague memory of snogging someone from another department. This is the sandwich that's will sort you out.
While it's not the most festive sandwich, the sweet cranberry sauce elevates the sandwich from a standard breakfast baguette. If the stuffing was more noticeable, this sandwich would be getting another mark.
Starbucks
Starbucks A Toastie To Be Thankful For - from £4.49
What's in it? Shredded ham hock, sliced turkey and a fantastically festive sprout, potato, cabbage and leek hash are stuffed into a sourdough bloomer topped with silky béchamel, mozzarella, melting mature Cheddar and cranberry jewels.
Taste 5/10
Look 4/10
Festive Factor 5/10
I loved the crunch of the toasted bread. It actually felt more like a meal than a festive sandwich - like a dinner in a role. Lacked seasoning and could have done with more filling but turkey and ham hock was pleasant enough. It did however, feel more of a glorified cheese toastie than anything else.
Starbucks Turkee & Trimmings Toastie (plant-based) - from £4.25
What's in it? Soya-based turkee alternative is packed into a sourdough bloomer with ALL the trimmings! Cranberry sauce, a potato, leek, cabbage and sprout hash shred, a coconut oil alternative to Mozzarella and creamy vegan mayo.
Taste 4/10
Look 5/10
Festive Factor 4/10
Good amount of filling - loved the crunch of the sprouts. Tasted a little bland for me and it wasn’t overly festive. I did enjoy the toasted bread though! But yeah, slightly lacked the festive ‘punch in the mouth’ experience I was hoping for. And I wasn’t a fan of the after taste.
Boots
Boots Vegan No Turkey Feast - £3
What's in it?
Taste 9/10
Look 8/10
Festive Factor 10/10
I always look forward to the festive sandwiches from Boots and the vegan version has once again blown me away. It was so tasty and well flavoured - packed with filling too! The bread was super soft and I would buy it over and over again - you wouldn’t even know it was vegan.
Boots Turkey Feast - £2.75
What's in it?
Taste 8/10
Look 9/10
Festive Factor 10/10
Wow - I was really surprised by the amount of filling in this Turkey Feast sandwich from Boots - especially for the price. It was slightly on the dry side and could have done with a little more cranberry sauce, but enjoyable all the same. If you’re looking for a packed sandwich, this is the one for you.
Boots Shapers Turkey, Cranberry & Stuffing - £3
What's in it?
Taste 7/10
Look 8/10
Festive Factor 9/10
This was a little dry for me, but still pretty delicious for a lower calorie version of a festive sandwich. The addition of spinach added a little freshness, colour and crunch which was lovely too. I would purchase this again if I had some extra cranberry sauce to add myself.
Marks and Spencer
M&S Boxing Day Triple - £3.80
What's in it? Made with succulent roast British Turkey breast with pork, sage and onion stuffing, cranberry chutney, mayonnaise on soft malted brown bread and a pulled British ham hock with piccalilli on a white bread and Wensleydale cheese with an orange & carrot chutney with soft cheese on malted brown bread.
Turkey and Stuffing
I didn’t think this was a bad take on the festive sandwich. For me personally, the stuffing was a little overpowering. I really enjoyed the cranberry sauce and freshness of spinach - which was included too. Sadly there was not enough turkey evenly spread around - great flavour when you have a mouthful of all though!
Taste 7/10
Look 8/10
Festive Factor 8/10
Ham Hock and Piccalilli
Taste 7/10
Look 7/10
Festive Factor 7/10
Wow - really lovely fresh bread! I find that’s always guaranteed with a M&S sandwich - though would have preferred brown or granary bread over white bread, and in keeping with the rest of the triple. It was really ell seasoned too, with a generous filling.
Wensleydale with Carrot and Orange Chutney
Taste 8/10
Look 6/10
Festive Factor 7/10
What a nice surprise this was - really, very good. I couldn’t taste much of the carrot, the Wensleydale cheese was very powerful - though when is too much cheese a bad thing at Christmas? It was also a very delicious, creamy cheese too.
M&S Pigs in Blanket - £3.50
What's in it? On soft malted brown bread, outdoor bred pork sausage, gravy style mayonnaise with sage, ruby port & red onion chutney and caramelised onions.
Taste 8/10
Look 9/10
Festive Factor 10/10
OMG the sausage is fantastic! I didn’t think there was an even amount of ‘blanket’ in comparison, and some of the bacon was a little stringy. It would have been a 9/10 should the bacon have been trimmed better. Personally the mayonnaise was’t really complimenting the sandwich as much as I’d hoped.
M&S Naughty and Spice Turkey Feast Roll - £4
What's in it? M ade with delicious sliced piri-piri turkey on a buttery brioche roll with spicy chilli cranberry sauce, chorizo-style stuffing, Christmas cabbage slaw and mayonnaise.
Taste 8/10
Look 7/10
Festive Factor 5/10
This was an interesting take on a festive sandwich for sure, and I really liked the amount of flavours - though personally, it was not festive at all. If you want something other than turkey or classic festive flavours, this is the one for you. Overall it was nice, but a bit too spicy. Brioche was an interesting choice and added some sweetness, but maybe brown roll or baguette would have been better.
M&S Plant Kitchen No-Beef Welly - £4
What's in it? No-beef pea & wheat protein slices, miso mushroom duxelle, pickled carrot ribbons and red cabbage with a vegan mustard mayonnaise.
Taste 3/10
Look 5/10
Festive Factor 4/10
This was far too doughy for me, and seriously lacked flavour. Sadly I found this sandwich quite underwhelming. The added vegetables are fantastic for crunch though - really enjoyed the ribbons of carrot especially. Personally there was a little too much mayonnaise - but at least it wasn’t dry. Sadly I found the meat substitute a little rubbery in texture. I feel that even if you’re not a vegan, and fancied trying something different, it was still a little underwhelming.
M&S Turkey Feast - £3.50
What's in it? Roast British turkey breast with pork, sage and onion stuffing, cranberry chutney, an onion and turkey stock mayonnaise and smoked British bacon on malted brown bread
Taste 9/10
Look 9/10
Festive Factor 10/10
Hallelujah! I finally found a sandwich that makes me want to put up my Christmas tree and listen to all the festive hits! The bread for me was a real hit, so soft and tasty. The filling really packed a punch and had loads of delicious flavour too. The stuffing was also a big thumbs up from me - and it was generously filled, which made it good value for money. The ratio of flavour, meat, stuffing and sauce was evenly balanced in every mouthful. You can really taste the turkey, and the cranberry isn’t overpowering either.
Costa
Costa Pigs in Blankets Panini
What's in it? British maple cured smoked bacon & pork sausage with cranberry sauce, pork sage & onion stuffing with a cheesy bechamel sauce in a stonebaked sourdough panini.
Taste 6/10
Look 3/10
Festive Factor 3/10
Less a Christmas sandwich more a sausage bap, Costa’s Pigs in Blankets panini lacked festive flavour. Whilst the sausages were juicy and the addition of cranberry jam was the sugary sauce that prevented it from being too dry even when toasted it lacked full festive magic. This Christmas contender was more reminiscent of a roadside burger van bap than anything else.
