Your sandwich will never be ‘woke’ enough for Gen Z
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In an unexpected twist, the “woke wars” have shifted their focus to a new target: the country's beloved sandwiches.
A survey conducted by baker Allinson’s reveals that younger people in the UK are moving away from traditional English sandwiches, such as those filled with ham and mustard, and opting instead for more trendy and sophisticated fillings.
But what exactly are these trendy woke fillings, and what makes them "woke"? Is it possible to get an “anti-Trump oatmeal” or a panini that supports trans rights and comes with a side of heightened political awareness? Has the classic BLT been transformed into a BLM?
If we’re going to argue across generations about something as trivial as what you eat for lunch, can we at least have it as part of an underwhelming meal combo?
The transformation of the sandwich into something more adventurous isn't a recent development. I hold middle-class, mainstream M&S responsible for this trend—after all, they're the ones who kicked it off. In 2019, during Pride month, the beloved high-street store took a classic BLT and jazzed it up by adding guacamole. This allowed them to market the combination of lettuce, bacon, tomato, and guac in colorful, rainbow-themed packaging, labeling it as an “LGBT” sandwich.
It was the kind of lunch sandwich that no office worker was eager to eat – certainly not anyone with a palate – and especially not members of the LGBTQ+ community, who were put off by the idea. However, it was all for a noble cause, helping to raise funds for a charity supporting homeless LGBTQ+ youth. As expected, social media erupted with a mix of anger and some amusing jokes (“Hey mom and dad, I have something to share... I’m guacamole”).
The recent critique of "woke sandwiches" is a subtle jab at how millennials and Gen Z supposedly waste their cash on trendy items like avocado toast and pricey £4 coffee, blaming them for their struggles to buy homes. However, this isn't a new phenomenon; comedian Joe Lycett has a great bit about ordering a “feta and avocado smash with a poached egg” at a cafe in Birmingham.
I believe there's a comfortable balance in this situation: prepare your own sandwiches.
Perhaps it’s a Generation X thing, but I genuinely believe that sandwiches were of higher quality back in my day. In my opinion, a straightforward, classic sandwich always seems to have more flavor than a fancy deli creation piled high with oversized ingredients and spreads. There's definitely something special about the simplicity that resonates more, as young people would put it, "they hit different."
As a child, I was a big fan of tomato sandwiches. Not the kind made with carefully sliced heirloom tomatoes and topped with some fancy, zesty spread from a fancy jar – you know, like how Nigel Slater suggests pairing a Green Zebra tomato with coriander paste (naturally). No, my preference was simply ketchup. Just ketchup.
Another beloved product was Heinz Sandwich Spread, a classic from the '80s that was basically salad cream mixed with finely chopped veggies. I found myself torn between thinking my parents were odd or just ahead of their time, especially since they often had banana sandwiches with a sprinkle of sugar for lunch, which I found quite shocking. However, when I discovered that Elvis Presley’s favorite sandwich included peanut butter, bacon, and banana, I started to see that my parents weren't so unusual after all.
Many of us treat ourselves to a fancy sandwich on the weekend. With the rise of street food in the UK, bread has taken on a greater significance. Typically, this includes enjoying pulled pork while strolling through a deserted parking lot in the rain. Using two thick, artisan slices of bread to hold your food means it won't spill down your arm, making the experience a bit more pleasant. And it definitely should be enjoyable, considering these delicious sandwiches are not exactly budget-friendly!
You can expect to spend about ten pounds for a truly excellent option, but you'll definitely enjoy it, and it will look amazing on social media. However, with those prices, it’s not something that many of us can treat ourselves to every day at lunch.
Life can be challenging, so let's not allow our food preferences to create divisions among us. Enjoying cheese and pickles doesn’t make you more of a loyal citizen, and opting for an elaborate six-inch thick sandwich doesn’t make you overly progressive. Choose whatever you enjoy, but just make sure it doesn’t leave you so uncomfortably full that it leads to a tragic bathroom incident like what happened to Elvis.
