National Sausage Roll Day 2023

National Sausage Roll Day is a celebration of a glorious snack and a cultural institution. Like Brexit, lockdown parties and bathtubs full of baked beans, sausage rolls are a common feature of life in Britain. You’ll find them at birthdays, funerals, work events and stag dos and they’re everywhere because they’re cheap, delicious and easy to source. The ubiquitousness of sausage rolls is matched only by their deliciousness and these baked treats bring smiles, as well as crumbs, to the faces of millions.

Doms Club & This Spicy D Dom’s Subs Sandwich Review

I went to London for work today and getting out of bed felt arduous. The cold outside of the covers was oppressive and I took no joy from leaving the flat to step into darkness. Trudging up the hill to the station made me sweaty and sitting amidst coughing commuters on the packed train, convinced me that I’d catch Covid again before too long. Dealing with such hardships convinced me that lunchtime needed to be epic and so at 12:30 I left the office to walk down to Dom’s Subs.

Tinned Mackerel Toasted Sandwich Recipe

Tinned mackerel is a staple of my diet. I like it because it’s cheap, delicious and versatile. With food prices rising at a rapid rate and the cost-of-living biting hard, it’s nice to make simple and healthy meals that don’t break the bank. Like anchovies or sardines, I keep a few tins of mackerel in the cupboard at all times and use them to make pasta or on toast with eggs.

Today at lunchtime, I wanted something quick and simple. After last week, I didn’t want another fish finger sandwich and so instead threw something together with some tinned mackerel and other bits in the fridge.

Fish Finger Sandwich Recipe

Few lunches compare to a fish finger sandwich and making them at home is one of the many reasons that I enjoy remote working. When working from home, I can enjoy the comfort and predictability of routine and total control over what and when I eat. When heading to the office, I often get overwhelmed by the abundant choice on offer in Aldgate. Mostly, I end up spending more than I’d like, even if what I have is delicious.

Popeye’s Fried Chicken Review

Judging by the queues, there’d been a lot of excitement about Popeye’s opening in Brighton. Fried chicken isn’t as abundant on the coast as in other places that I’ve lived and it certainly isn’t as readily available as it was in Tottenham. Back when I lived in Bruce Grove, fried chicken was a large part of my diet and having so much of it on my doorstep proved difficult to resist. That in part explains when I was fatter back then.

The Kitchen Window Killearn Lunch Review

I miss living in Scotland and was delighted to get the chance to spend New Year’s Eve back there, staying with my in-laws in Killearn. My wife’s sister and family recently moved there from Balham and the two places couldn’t be more different. Killearn is quiet and picturesque, whereas Balham is buzzy. Somehow though, the Kitchen Window felt familiar, serving just the type of food we’d eaten when visiting them for brunch in South London.

Tapatio Hot Sauce Review

The older I get, the less Christmas presents I receive but I’m alright with that; it’s nice to live with less fuss and wrapping paper. This year, my wife and I set a budget of £10 for each other’s gifts and with that £10 she bought me a selection of hot sauces. I love sauce and hot sauce in particular. I’ve often thought that I might prefer sauce to food and I particularly like the way that some sauces pair perfectly with some dishes. Tapatio wasn’t a hot sauce I’d tried before, but since Christmas I’ve been putting it on everything, trying to find the perfect pairing. Whilst not the hottest, Tapatio has a lovely flavour and enough warmth to be noticeable.

Mila’s Cafe, Hove Brunch Review

Hove is densely populated with places to eat and it can be tough to distinguish the good from the bad. I always think that about Grubbs, how the casual passerby might not know or expect the wonders that lie within. Looks can deceive. During the dead time between Christmas and New Year, when out walking on a drizzly day, I went for lunch at Mila’s Cafe on Portland Road.

Dom’s Subs 2 Cold 2 Cuts Sandwich Review

Yesterday in London, I went to Dom’s Subs and ate the best sandwich of my life. I’d been meaning to visit for a while, upon the recommendation of a colleague, but what I ate exceeded expectations. I’m often dubious when a food spot gets recommended, taste is such a subjective thing but yesterday showed that I shouldn’t be so cynical. Taking risks feels great and the payoff can be enormous.

The Grounds, Hove – Fika Pop-up pancakes review

This morning I went for pancakes at The Grounds, the café attached to the workspace inside Hove Town Hall. When walking around Hove last weekend, my wife and I spied a sign out front, advertising pancakes from Fika. Knowing and loving all that Fika are about, we’d spent this week longing to try them.

Eye Falafel Aldgate Falafel Wrap Review

Another day, another wrap. Today I was in London for work and went for a walk at lunchtime along Petticoat Lane. The weather has turned cold and people were out in coats and scarfs. A fair few food stalls were set up to serve the surrounding offices but by far, the longest queue snaked out from Eye Falafel.

The Southern Belle Sausage Roll Review

The Southern Belle is a restaurant, bar and hotel, situated in a beautiful building, close to the sea in Hove. Although I’d walked past it countless times, I recently visited for the first time, on a rare night off from parenthood.

The Skylark Café sausage roll review

In all the years I lived in London, I never visited Wandsworth but I was there last month on a confusingly warm Saturday. My wife’s sister was moving to Scotland the following week and so we drove up from Hove to hang out. Setting off from the flat in Balham, we made the walk across to Wandsworth Common and the Skylark Café. This chaotic little spot has outdoor seating and rather bored looking staff. Most of the patrons had dogs, kids or a combination of the two and so we fit in as we sat outside drinking coffee and eating pastry. Later, I was glad for having had a sausage roll, as we walked for miles and hanger caught up with me.

Tandoori Chicken Baguette Review

We’d planned the journey to coincide with our son’s naps but as soon as we set off, the rain hammered down and my son filled his nappy. Parking up close to Seven Dials, my wife changed him, as I ran to the shops in search of car snacks. Co-op was close and so I went there first, before running across to Ricci’s Deli. I’d previously been to Ricci’s and had tried their sausage rolls, so instead opted for a Tandoori Chicken Baguette, copying the order of the guy in front of me in the queue.

Falafel Wrap Review – Go Falafel, Deansgate

The office was a 20minute walk from the station and I followed the morning crowds, who all seemed to be going the same direction. On the walk, I looked around for a place to go for lunch but didn’t spot anywhere. I needed local knowledge. When lunchtime arrived, none of my colleagues were free but one suggested I go to Go Falafel. After waiting ages for a lift, I left the office and made the short walk along Deansgate, moving amidst the lunchtime crowds.

Sugardough Breakfast Danish Review

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should, would be a good name for a celebrity autobiography, detailing hard-earned reflections following a life of excess. So it was with the Breakfast Danish from Sugardough, a pastry treat that I did not need but most certainly wanted.

Hove Place Pork Belly Roast Dinner Review

Hove is much like Hackney, in the sense that finding a pub for a Sunday roast is a competitive sport. Part of me misses the days of living in east London and traipsing between the Marksman, the Hemingway and the Royal Inn on the Park. These days, I’m far more organised but it’s increasingly vital to book ahead or face disappointment. Today, we went for lunch with a couple that we met at NCT. They, like us are former Londoners, new to the coast and trying to navigate the pitfalls of new parenthood, whilst retaining some sense of normality. We met at Hove Place and 2:30, keen to see what might happen and the dining room was already full of hungry patrons, wearing Carhartt and closely cropped beards.

Fika, Hove – Breakfast Bird Sandwich Review

Fika is a dangerous place to know. Once discovered, it haunts the mind with thoughts of fried egg sandwiches and the best coffee in Hove. On a previous visit, I’d eaten the Hot Chick but I’d promised myself a return visit to try the Breakfast Bird. Since leaving London, my fried chicken intake has dramatically reduced but I eat it every chance I get. Part of me still longs for chicken wings in Bruce Grove but I’m happier that I live on the coast.

Franco’s Osteria Focaccia & Arancini Review

Yesterday morning, after running overdue errands around Hove, I sat on the beach with lunch from Franco’s Osteria. Since moving down to Hove years ago, I’ve visited often. My old flat was closer but I’m still willing to make the walk along the coast, as they sell the best focaccia and fennel salami that I’ve eaten outside of Italy.

Homemade Meatball Sub Sandwich Guide

Last night, after rewatching a couple of episodes of The Sopranos, I felt the urge to make a meatball sub. I was due to do an order at the butchers anyway and so I added a pack of meatballs to the list, promising myself that if nothing else, I’d make myself a sandwich on Saturday morning.

Minted Lamb Pastie Review

It’s taken a week to get around to writing a review of the minted lamb pastie that I bought from Canham and Sons last Saturday. Between a stressful week at work and the sleeplessness brought about by my son teething, time has slipped away.

Fika – Hot Chick Fried Egg Sandwich Review

I ran and swam this morning in the hope of counterbalancing the filthy fried egg sandwich that I was desperately craving. I’ve known about Fika for ages, from when I used to live close by, but I’ve only recently started going. Fika is a tiny place in the middle of Hove, situated across from the Town Hall. An open kitchen churns out food and coffee and there’s more space outside than in. The tables outside get bathed in sunlight and remind me of the coffee shops I used to frequent on Brunswick Street in Melbourne.

The Urchin, Hove – Restaurant Review

Today is my birthday and this morning I was thinking about the past, specifically, how events half a lifetime ago continue to play on my mind. As a child, I remember being told that my eyes were bigger than my belly and that expression seemed strange to me. Whilst I try not to take things literally these days, lunch at The Urchin in Hove proved that when it comes to portion size, I continue to be ambitious.

The Cornish Pantry, Perranporth

Perranporth was the prettiest stretch of coastline that I’d seen since arriving in Cornwall. The beach was long and sandy and the waters were clear, making it ideal for spotting jellyfish. Splashing about in the waves reminded me of the Cornish beaches that I visited as a child and around midday, my stomach starting rumbling. After some deliberation about possible lunch venues, we stopped into the Cornish Pantry, a tiny place with a couple of ladies behind the counter. I opted for the traditional steak variety, figuring it would be good to compare to the one I’d had from Nile’s in Fowey the day before. The pastie from the Cornish Pantry was called traditional steak and cost £4.75. It was similar in size and shape to the one I had in Fowey but the pastry was a little bit more coarse. Inside, the filling was meaty and there was plenty of veg but it lacked the rich gravy that I’d so enjoyed at Nile’s.

Nile’s Bakery Fowey – Cornish Pastie Review

I visited Fowey for the first time today, after spending the morning at a nearby beach. My wife and I parked up in Fowey’s main carpark and then descended into town via steep and narrow roads. Following the steady steam of tourists, I thought about how since arriving in Cornwall, I’d let myself down. We’d been here since Monday afternoon and I’d yet to eat a Cornish Pastie but all that changed when I caught sight of Nile’s Bakery.

Hub Box Exeter – Kim Yum Chicken Burger Review

Exeter is somewhere I’d have liked to have gone to university but until today, I’d never visited. Most of today was spent in the car, as my wife and I drove from Hove to Cornwall. Both places being on the coast should have made the going easy, but the heat was grim and several stops were needed. The longest stop we made was over lunchtime, where we found ourselves in Exeter and happened upon Hub Box.

Passione napoletana Rustica Pizza Review

Last Wednesday, I played tennis for the first time in over a year and afterwards, treated myself to pizza from Passione Napoletana, a food van parked up on Dyke Road. Growing up in the 90s made me somewhat suspicious of food vans. Back then, food vans were a staple of B&Q carparks and mostly sold greasy burgers and hot dogs with fried onions. Passione Napoletana is different and a great example of how fresh and tasty food can be got cheaply.

Grubbs Double Beef Bacon Burger Review

At a certain point in the evening, especially after a couple of beers, I start to think about Grubbs. So it was yesterday when I was out for a drink at the Farm Tavern. All week, I’d been obsessing over the news and it felt delightful to celebrate the demise of Boris Johnson. I like the Farm Tavern for many reasons but lately they’ve started serving Hereford Pale Ale. After a couple of pints of that, the need for a burger began to swell inside me.

Finch, worthing – Reuben Sandwich Review

With house prices in Hove being what they are, I often find myself looking along the coast in the direction of Worthing. I swim at Hove Beach most days and when the weather is clear, Worthing Pier is visible on the horizon. Worthing isn’t a place I’d spent any time in, only somewhere that I’d driven through on driving lessons but lately, my Google news feed has been suggesting me articles about it. Those articles talked about how Worthing gets neglected in comparison to the neighbouring towns along the coast and also how it was sure to be a top destination this summer, with more people holidaying in the UK.

Rogman Lincolnshire Pork Sausages Review

Rogman is my local butcher, a tiny place on Farm Road, that sits across from a couple of pubs that I like and often frequent. There’s nothing fancy about the shop but that’s the appeal. Prices are listed on up on the wall, music plays from the radio and meat is broken apart on huge chopping blocks. Each time I’ve been there, a steady stream of people have come and gone, whilst the butchers pieced together orders for local restaurants and every day customers alike. Rogman have a website where you can place orders and in person, the staff are friendly and helpful. Since discovering it after moving to a flat close by, I haven’t bought meat from a supermarket and that makes me feel better about the animals I eat.

Apothecary, Shoreditch – Restaurant & Cocktail Bar Review

Sometimes, you can be in a room and know that you’ve been there before. So it was on Wednesday night at Apothecary in Shoreditch. I used to work close by on Leonard Street and years back got taken for lunch in the site that Apothecary now occupies. My boss at the time had wanted to impress a potential hire and we ate steaks and drank nice wine.

Banh Mi Review, Pho Brunch

I went to London yesterday and had a lunch spot in mind. I didn’t know anything about Pho Brunch or the food they served, but I’d walked past them on a previous visit and that day, I’d seen an a-board out front, advertising a lunch deal.

Cheesy Spiced Lamb Kebab Roll Review

The Indians Next Door have a small street food stand outside of Euston station and I found myself there on Friday morning, before boarding a train to Birmingham. My time in the Midlands was made memorable by lunch at Anderson & Hill and dinner at Bonehead, but on the morning of travel, it took me several trains and trip on the tube to get to Euston. I’m rarely in London these days and miss it whilst away but stopping in the capital even briefly makes me feel more stressed than usual. Life is calmer and quieter on the coast but when I step off the train in London, I rush and weave through the crowds.

Bonehead Fried Chicken Review

Bonehead in Birmingham serve the best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. The only problem is the vampiric thirst that follows.

Anderson & Hill Sandwich & Pork Pie Review

Birmingham doesn’t have the landscape or drama of the Cinque Terre but a trip to Anderson and Hill, got me thinking about places and food that I love. I went there this week for lunch, when up in the midlands with work and it’s a deli that I’ll be returning to.

Vegan Spiced Lentil Sausage Roll Review

Today is National Sausage Roll Day but you knew that already. This morning, after setting off early and driving down from Derbyshire, I found myself walking along the backstreets of Hove, pushing the pram and looking for baked goods I’d yet to try. The Real Patisserie on Western Road is a favourite haunt of mine but by the time I arrived, the weekend crowds had cleared the place of pork-based treats. Not wanting to leave the ocassion uncelebrated, I opted for the last Vegan Spiced Lentil Sausage Roll, thinking it was about time that I broadened my pastry horizons and gave the plant-based variety a try.

Cornish Pasty Review

I’m at the in-laws for the Bank Holiday Weekend and all around the village there are signs of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. In the trees, bunting is hanging and posters on bulletin boards advertise the planned activities. It seems busier here than usual and I keep wanting to remind people that tomorrow is National Sausage Roll Day. I don’t because not everyone has the same passion for pastry that I do.

Magic Bean Emporium Vegan Sausage Roll Review

Vegan sausage rolls are a variety of snack that I’ve long neglected. When faced with a pastry counter piled high with baked goods, I find it tough to turn down pork. Thankfully though, I have a man on the ground in the Midlands, willing to partake in the eating, reviewing and rating of plant-based pastry. This dispatch comes from Tristan.

BROR Specialkaffehus Pork & Fennel Sausage Roll Review

Myself and fennel have history. Previously, on a trip to Brod + Wolf, too much of the stuff and not enough pork, left me with the bitter taste of disappointment. In life, as with sausage rolls, you have to be prepared to confront negative experiences, leaving room for reappraisal.

Marks & Spencer Mini Cocktail Sausage Roll Review

Train journeys, much like road trips are better with snacks. So it was today, as I travelled from London to Brighton. My train pulled into St Pancras and there was six minutes before my next. I could have run and caught the connection but opted instead to take a leisurely stroll to the platform via Marks and Spencer. Perhaps it’s the unfamiliarity but I’ve always found shopping in M&S to be thrilling. Inside, the shelves are stacked with everyday items that seem somehow exotic. These days, with prices rising and the cost-of-living biting hard, money matters but with work paying for lunch, it felt wrong to forgo an opportunity to try the Marks and Spencer Mini Cocktail Sausage Rolls.

Pork, Maple & Bacon Sausage roll Review

iving second chances can be rewarding and so it was this morning, as I walked around Hove in the spring sunshine. I pushed my young son in his pram and delighted in the quiet that the streets were missing all of yesterday. As I walked, I felt lucky to have escaped the hangovers that marked the long weekends of yesteryear. In the past, I’d have been returning home whilst others got their coffee. Now, I had an excuse to go to bed early and be more responsible.

The Sussex Peasant Sausage ROLL rEVIEW

The Sussex Peasant is farm shop that pitches up in parks around Brighton and beyond. They sell a wide array of delicious produce, the kind that makes you feel good for shopping locally. I had no intention of eating a sausage roll today but felt the urge, as I pushed my young son around the park in his pram. My desire to walk was spurred on in part by a hangover and also by the results of a BMI calculation that told me I’m overweight.

Gwydyr Hairdressing Saloon Sausage roll Review

Getting a haircut should be relaxing and I needed that after a stressful few days. Gwydyr Hairdressing Saloon is a calm little place close to my flat and this week saw them open their long-planned munch bar. I love efficiency almost as much as pastry and so being able to get a sausage roll and a haircut in the same place was the ideal antidote to my worries. Now I just have to hope my hair keeps growing as the same rate.

Wikinger hot Dogs Review

I don’t often eat sausages from a jar but for Superbowl Sunday, I was willing to make an exception. The Superbowl is something that I look forward to each year. It’s an excuse to stay up late and gorge myself on snacks, whilst revelling in the spectacle of gross excess. I love how ludicrous it is and how protracted the evening can become. Watching it can feel like an endurance exercise and one that requires plenty of fuel.This year, alongside the light beers, pretzels, popcorn, M&Ms and selection of maize-based snacks, I bought some Wikinger Hot Dogs. Sausages in a jar were a far cry from the meat that I buy at the fancy butcher in Hove and through eating them, I confirmed something that I knew all along, that sausages in a roll are not the same as a sausage roll.

Coffeetzar Kemptown sausage roll review

Are the people behind Coffeetzar mad men or are they innovators? I’m still not quite sure but my visit there was memorable. After a stressful morning, I’d gone for a coffee and a slice of cake but couldn’t help but try the sausage rolls, if only to find out if the flavour matched the appearance. The sausage rolls on offer stood out because the meat filling was dark and poked out beyond the end of the pastry. There was something unsettling, even ominous about them but they may have just been my mood.

Chilli Scotch Egg Review

With plentiful pastry available around Hove, I find myself mostly drawn to sausage rolls. The problem here is that I neglect the humble Scotch egg and I shouldn’t. When done properly, there’s something deeply satisfying about them. The crunchy outside and the meaty filling can be an utter delight, especially on days when the coastal wind whips through the many layers of clothes that you’re wearing. Having been out in that wind to complete Parkrun first thing, I felt in need of a treat. Thankfully, Canham & Sons were close by and open for business.

Flint Owl Bakery Sausage Roll Review

Sometimes, decisions get taken out of your hands and you’re forced to act. Today was such a day. I was walking around Brighton when the rain began to fall. Thankfully, the Flint Owl Bakery was beside me and so I went inside for coffee. I hadn’t planned to eat a sausage roll today but the baked goods looked appealing, waiting expectantly in their display case. It’s important in life to try and make the best of any situation. When rain starts falling, pastry comes calling.

Truffles Bakery, Uckfield Sausage Roll Review

Truffles Bakery, Uckfield was a welcome sight on a rainy Saturday. After a morning spent shopping, I felt hungry and tired and in need of somewhere to sit and recover. Being unfamiliar with Uckfield, I’d walked a while in the rain, looking for a sandwich shop but was relieved to spot a branch of Truffles Bakery.