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Sunday, 15 May 2011

Shooter's Sandwich


"The wise, 'at least among the children of this world', to use one of Walter Pater's careful qualifying phrases, travel with a flask of whisky-and-water and what I call a 'Shooter's Sandwich'. This last is made thus: Take a large, thick, excellent rump steak. Do not season it, for that would cause the juice to run out, and in grilling it keep it markedly underdone. Have ready a sandwich loaf one end of which has been cut off and an adequate portion of the contents of which has been removed. Put the steak, hot from the grill, and - but only then - somewhat highly seasoned, into the loaf; add a few grilled mushrooms; replace the deleted end of the loaf; wrap the loaf in a double sheet of clean white blotting paper, tie with twine both ways, superimpose a sheet of grease-proof paper, and more twine. Place a moderate weight on top, and after a while add other weights. Let the thing endure pressure for at least six hours. Do not carve it until and as each slice is required.

With this 'sandwich' a man may travel from Land's End to Quaker Oats, and snap his fingers at both." T. Earle Welby, The Dinner Knell, 1932, quoted in Elizabeth David, Summer Cooking, 1955.

I made this one with a couple of venison tail fillets and a potato and rosemary loaf. Absolutely divine. Definitely one for Deb's Souper (soup, salad and sammie) Sunday, don't you think? SouperSundays


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21 comments:

  1. Caroline15 May 2011 at 10:41

    Wow, that looks fabulous. I love the idea of stuffing a whole loaf like that, and your potato and rosemary loaf looks delicious in its own right.

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  2. leaf (the indolent cook)15 May 2011 at 12:20

    I am completely loving that cross section shot. What a superb sandwich!

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  3. Alicia Foodycat15 May 2011 at 12:51

    C - thank you SO MUCH for thinking that I could make a loaf of bread that looks that good! I didn't - that's a bought one.

    Leaf - it's amazing. The weighting makes it cut so beautifully!

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  4. Su-Lin15 May 2011 at 20:42

    Wow - that is a serious sandwich! It looks amazing!

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  5. wildtomato15 May 2011 at 22:53

    While I've had Boston clam chowder in a bread bowl, never have I seen a bread bowl stuffed with meat. It looks interesting.

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  6. Heather S-G16 May 2011 at 00:12

    I am flabbergasted...this looks amazing! I really, REALLY must try making this. I will have my flask at the read and will totally want to embark on some sort of journey once it is finished. Seriously, it's a thing of beauty.

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  7. Deb in Hawaii16 May 2011 at 02:45

    That is one gorgeous sandwich--love the pairing of the venison with the potato-rosemary bread. Yum! Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays.
    ;-)

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  8. Alicia Foodycat16 May 2011 at 09:38

    Su-Lin - thank you!

    Wild tomato - one day I will have a proper clam chowder.

    Heather - It really does cry out for some adventuring, doesn't it?

    Deb - it was a brilliant flavour combination!

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  9. kat16 May 2011 at 14:57

    Are you serious!!!! How awesome is that

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  10. Anonymous16 May 2011 at 16:12

    I'm thinking a little horseradish once you slice it ... although that would make it harder to eat while you drive down Route 66 with the windows down and classic 70s rock blasting on the tinny in-door speakers. Cheers!

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  11. Mary Bergfeld16 May 2011 at 17:06

    That really does look fabulous and I'm sure it must be delicious. I love to visit here. You always have something interesting to share. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  12. Simona16 May 2011 at 22:56

    I love that photo! Very interesting recipe and great rendition.

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  13. Alicia Foodycat17 May 2011 at 09:50

    Kat - thanks!

    Highplainsdrifter - actually, a little schmear of horseradish before you assemple the sandwich would be amazing!

    Mary - thank you! Have a lovely day yourself!

    Simona - thank you!

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  14. mscrankypants17 May 2011 at 10:27

    Definitely the food of choice for a person travelling on foot. While I don't eat steak, there's an allure for a meal that can be snacked on for so long!

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  15. Barbara17 May 2011 at 11:41

    I saw The Two Fat Ladies make this ages ago in one of their TV shows. It was intriguing at the time and more so when I see your post today!
    The potato and rosemary loaf sounds delish too.

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  16. Alicia Foodycat17 May 2011 at 12:08

    Cranky - you could definitely make it with layers of portobello mushrooms.

    Barbara - that episode of Two Fat Ladies was wonderful!

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  17. Angie's Recipes17 May 2011 at 15:37

    This sandwich looks really cool!

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  18. aforkfulofspaghetti18 May 2011 at 15:05

    I don't know why I've never made one of these. Heaven knows I'm greedy enough ;)

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  19. Alicia Foodycat18 May 2011 at 15:55

    Angie - thanks!

    Forkful - I don't know why you haven't, either!

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  20. n25 May 2011 at 12:31

    We made this when we went for a hike in Yorkshire! Man, it was quite the hefty lunch but just what we needed for walking 16k

    Nice blog, btw.

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  21. Alicia Foodycat25 May 2011 at 17:56

    Nancy - thanks for visiting! I definitely think a 16k walk deserves a good sandwich.

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