Fancy Ideas for Sandwiches

Update a deli-style sandwich by serving it open-faced.

Fancy sandwiches are all about fresh wholesome ingredients combined with visually stunning presentation. Update old favorites by adding new ingredients or present the sandwich in a different way. Display the sandwiches on elegant cake trays for a party or on plain white plates for individual eating. Use napkins, dips and sauces to decorate the plate or the sandwich itself. Sandwiches can be served solo or with soup, salad or fries.

Grilled Cheese

Yes, grilled cheese can be fancy if done right. Start with the bread. Choose a bakery-fresh sourdough or rye. Fill it with white cheddar, apple slices, bacon and a smear of Dijon mustard. Or make a mozzarella, pesto, artichoke heart and tomato grilled cheese. When grilling the sandwich, move it halfway through cooking time to create diamond-shaped grill marks. Cut the sandwich on the diagonal and place one half atop the other. Serve the cheddar grilled cheese with thin slices of apple arranged neatly on the plate and drizzle pesto alongside the mozzarella grilled cheese.

French Toast Sandwich

Update brunch with a French toast sandwich. Make a batch of French toast ahead of time using a loaf of French bread cut into thick slices. Next, create a filling for the sandwiches using cream cheese and confectioners sugar. For an extra kick of flavor add a vanilla or almond extract. Smear the cream cheese mixture between two slices of French toast and top with blueberries, raspberries or thinly sliced strawberries. Arrange the sandwich on a plate and sprinkle with confectioners sugar. Serve the sandwich with warm maple syrup for dipping and slices of starfruit.

Tea Sandwiches

Tea sandwiches adorn the tables of tea parties, baby showers and bridal showers and come in many varieties. Stay away from the standard cucumber sandwiches to come up with a few of your own. Radish flower tea sandwiches are one idea. The radish itself is minced with herbs and butter (or add garlic and cream cheese) and leftover slices of the radish are used to create flowers atop the sandwiches. Complete the look with a length of chive for the stem and a leaf of parsley for the leaf. Remove all crusts and cut the sandwiches in triangles, fingers or use cookie cutters for other shape possibilities.

Deli Sandwich

Create open-face deli sandwiches and serve them with a selection of mustard and pickles. One option is an open-faced turkey and provolone sandwich. Start with a thick slice of pumpernickel bread, pile the meat an inch or two high and top with slices of provolone cheese. For a party set out bowls of different mustard such as Dijon, red pepper Dijon, grainy Dijon, honey mustard and regular yellow mustard. Offer a selection of condiments such as sauerkraut, banana peppers, pickles, pickled peppers and other items the guests can use to customize a fancy deli sandwich.

References

• Razzle Dazzle Recipes: Radish Flower Sandwiches
• Ellen's Kitchen: Tea Sandwiches for 250
• Hugging the Coast: 11 Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich Ideas
• Seduction Meals: Blueberry French Toast Sandwich