In the 1970s, my very best girlfriend was a lass I had worked with for years, and one of the things I liked about her was that she was just as quirky as me, if not more. We shared a love of food and our lunchtimes turned into 'hunt and gather' adventures of sorts, that included walking miles for whatever flavours took our fancy that day. Sometimes we'd line up for Italian and she would order lasagne, which she always said (loudly) as 'lasarnee' for reasons that still remain a mystery to me. Other days, we'd pick up curried chicken and rice from Chicken Gourmet (which is still on City Walk and, despite the fact that their web site says they've 'been proudly serving Canberra since the 1980s', I can say here without an ounce of doubt that this store was trading in the late 1970s... I know this because I was a very regular customer). Anyway, I digress... having bought the main course, on the way back to the office we'd also hit the Safari Room, which was a trendy cafe in Garema Place which sold THE BEST and BIGGEST chocolate eclairs and cream-filled vanilla slices! Thank heavens we walked everywhere, and also I was playing competition men's basketball a few times a week, otherwise I might have been the size of a house. At the base of the escalators in the Monaro Mall (which is now the Canberra Centre), there was a little takeaway that was happy to indulge out of the ordinary orders for sandwiches and rolls. The man behind the counter didn't bat an eyelid when my bestie ordered a cheese and chicken chip sandwich (yes, you read that correctly... sliced cheese with chicken-flavoured potato crisps). Another of her strange favourites was peanut butter and lettuce on a roll. Weird, huh!? I chose to stick with chicken and avocado sandwiches, reasonably gourmet back then. Every so often I'd ask for a grilled bacon and banana roll - a combination that I learned in home economics class with Miss Ovens (her real name), when she taught us how to make an outstanding 'mixed grill' (complete with grilled tomato and pineapple rings). Now, if you're going to indulge in my grilled bacon and banana on baguette, please use the best bacon you can find. I keep a good stock of award winning Schulz Bacon from the Barossa Valley (smoked 100% Australian pork) in the fridge. Similarly, your baguette must be from a fine quality bakery (or home baked). And the banana should be just ripe, not over, not under. Grill or gently dry pan fry the bacon and the banana and then pop both onto the baguette and eat. For a mixed grill, slice the banana into two down the centre and wrap half a rasher of bacon around it, securing with toothpicks. Grill or BBQ, turning, until the bacon is crisp. And finally, remember that bananas are nature's energy snack, but if you team them with grilled bacon on a baguette, you really should do what my bestie and I did... go for a long walk. So, tell me about your favourite unusual flavour combinations, dear readers.
Nicole
21/5/2013 05:00:38 pm
Looks great Liz, surprised its not drizzled with Heilala Vanilla Syrup for the ultimate delicious indulgence.
Lizzy
21/5/2013 05:43:04 pm
Ah, good point Nicola... adds a modern and delicious twist! 22/5/2013 08:19:24 am
I think if it had mayonnaise it would be similar to Elvis Presley's favorite! I love bacon and I like bananas and I'm game to put them together!
Lizzy
22/5/2013 01:28:18 pm
Ah, yes, Barbara, you may be right there... I should pull my Elvis Presley cookbook off the shelf and refresh my memory. I hope you give this a try ; ) 22/5/2013 12:12:01 pm
what a fun post! i'm sure i had peanut butter and crisp shredded iceberg lettue as a kid! and one of our favourite junky treats as kids was baked beans and potato chips on white bread. the contrast of crunchy chips and mushy bake beans was amazing! however i can't imagine eatign it now as an adult.
Lizzy
22/5/2013 01:28:55 pm
Baked beans and potato crisps, eh... interesting. I wonder what your tastebuds would say if you tried this nowadays? ; ) 22/5/2013 11:52:41 pm
One of my mom's favourites is bacon and banana - usually toasted though.
Lizzy
23/5/2013 04:25:18 am
Toasted is good too.... ; ) xo 23/5/2013 12:37:43 am
I've never eated a sandwich like this but I'm intrigued. Your friend's sandwiches do seem a bit odd. I could use a good plate of larsanee too. :)
Lizzy
23/5/2013 04:26:14 am
Time you tried, perhaps, Maureen? It's delicious. I must say I could never quite get my head around the cheese and chicken chip, nor the peanut butter and lettuce. ; )
Lizzy
24/5/2013 11:26:59 pm
Sure thing ; ) 23/5/2013 07:06:48 pm
What a unique combination! Simple yet indulgent, too.
Lizzy
24/5/2013 11:27:10 pm
Indeed!! ; )
Lizzy
24/5/2013 11:27:21 pm
Why, thank you ; ) 26/5/2013 03:39:17 pm
This flavor combo intrigues me... it just has to be good, right? I'm just wondering how to get the husband to try it...
Lizzy
26/5/2013 03:42:24 pm
Hello there and welcome! Valerie is a gem and we are like minded in our approach to food, and it's good to meet you too. Do give this a try Comments are closed.
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Welcome...Üdvözölöm
Cooking and writing have been a lifelong passion. Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes; postcards and morsels from my travels; conversations with cookery writers and chefs; and news on food, cookbooks and cooking. - Liz Posmyk
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NB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
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