a peek inside the fishbowl

I needed some extra fuel at lunch today so I decided to head down to Westboro Village to check out the sandwich offerings at Piggy Market. The menu looked so GOOD I was completely incapable of making a decision. It was a four-way tie between these menu items:

• Turkey Sandwich – Olive Tapenade/Double Smoked Bacon/Tomatoes/Cheddar/Mustard Roulade/Arugula
• Bacon Sandwich – House Made Ketchup/HP Sauce/Tomato/Spinach/Lime & Black Pepper Ricotta
• Chicken Sandwich – Grilled Halloumi/Red Cabbage/Pomegranate/Mint/Harissa & Sesame Dressing/Bulger wheat Salad/Pickled Chillies
• Ham Sandwich – Riopelle Cheese/Tomato/Bacon/Jalapeno Salsa/Cinnamon Bun

I hemmed and hawed and took too much time. Feeling deflated and hungry I chose the ham sandwich as a default. As soon as I placed my order I felt a pang of regret. Fer chrissakes Andrea! You came all the way down here for a HAM sandwich? You don’t even like ham that much!

I guess I didn’t read the menu properly because while I was waiting, the fellow behind the counter said something about a cinnamon bun. Er, ok. I kept quiet even though I was puzzled over this sudden development.

I chatted about cheese with Dave, the owner, grabbed my sandwich, paid up, and left. I didn’t get far. I decided to sit outside in Winston Square and enjoy the sunshine for a bit while I ate. I unwrapped my package and this is what I found inside:

It is indeed a ham sandwich on a cinnamon bun, but to call it a mere HAM SANDWICH is doing this a very big disservice. (Dave, you need a more descriptive menu IMO).

It was an explosion of flavour. There is something about the combination of cheese and jalapeno salsa and yes, sticky cinnamon bun, that truly thrills the taste buds. And the ham! This is not the sad watery ham that is made in a factory and so heavily processed it barely resembles meat. This was something else. That slice of tomato and bacon in there? This is the stuff lunchtime legends are made out of.

Worth noting: I seriously regretted only grabbing one paper napkin and was also secretly grateful that I was eating alone, because omg, it was a challenge to eat. It was kind of a nibble around the edges/eat out of the paper/lick your fingers kind of ordeal. (But very very worth it.)

If you’re reading this and live in the area, I urge you to run down to Piggy Market as soon as you can because tomorrow may be the last day you’ll ever see this sandwich. Their lunch menu rotates every week and you never know when it’ll make a return. If ever!