I Just Want a Sandwich….

Lunch time always seems to be a big deal. Since first arriving in Berlin I have worked in 3 separate places and lunch time has always played an important part of the day. I am not comparing German lunches to that of the French. I have yet to experience a 2 hour (at least) lunch break with wine and a 3 course (again, at least) meal. Yet when you compare this to lunch in the UK, it is a big deal. It is not the amount of time that is spent on lunch but more to do with what you have for lunch.

Most days I bring a sandwich and salad to the office and most days I receive a response of ‘I don’t know how you can just eat a sandwich for lunch’. Once I have explained (yes, I actually have to explain myself!) that I have my main meal in the evening I am simply greeted with a ‘yeah.. and?’ response. As I have mentioned previously, food in Berlin is cheap. For lunch you can grab a doener, chinese in a box, falafel, pizza, pasta, currywurst for all under 5.00EUR or less. Berlin is also full of bakeries but if you compare the price of a baguette to falafel I can see why most people choose the latter. Besides, who wants a salami and cheese baguette for 3.50EUR? Bakeries are not exciting – you will not find a curry wrap, ciabatta, egg mayo, chicken ceasar or whatever other varieties there are. It is either cheese and salami or cheese and ham .. or just cheese!

The main point of just wanting a sandwich is that it may not be 100% healthy but it is a lot healthier than doener or chinese in a box. It is also quick and easy. Maybe I am being typically British where everyone is overworked and a lot of lunches are spent eating a sandwich over your desk, but I know plenty of people who go to a coffee house during their break and grab a sandwich at least 3 or 4 times a working week. Give me a wholemeal egg mayo sandwich or curry wrap any day …