Like barbers who favour the shortest of crop cuts, many top chefs pine for a simple bite to eat after long hours creating in the kitchen.
So The Times decided to ask Britain’s culinary superstars what they crave after a hard shift at the hob.
It turns out that Karan Gokani, the co-founder of Hoppers restaurants, loves a Domino’s pizza, while Giovann Attard, the executive chef at Norma in London, plumps for a cheeky Nando’s.
But one Michelin-starred chef chose a very York-themed sandwich from the most York street of all.
Tommy Banks, the driving force behind the Black Swan at Oldstead, Roots York, and now the Abbey Inn, Byland, says Shambles Kitchen is his choice for a top takeaway.
He told Hannah Evans in The Times: “When I’m working at my restaurant Roots in York I’ll nip out at lunchtime and get a takeaway sandwich from Shambles Kitchen, which is a window in the wall selling sandwiches.
“My favourite is called the Dick Turpin. It’s a bit like a reuben and it’s stuffed full of salt beef and big fat pickles.”
The Shambles Kitchen team, led by Simon Long, said they were “over the moon” with the endorsement.
So what do get with a Dick Turpin sandwich that makes it irresistible?
In the words of the Shambles Kitchen website, the Dick Turpin is “a pile of house-smoked beef brisket pastrami, steamed and served in an artisan rye and caraway bun with sauerkraut, pickles, swiss cheese, sweet mustard, shambles mayo”.
It costs £10, and while it may not be the food of kings, it is the food of one of Britain’s best chefs – which is probably even better!
