“But it’s just a sandwich!” social media cried when it emerged that Harrods, the luxury retailer, is selling one for £28 – making it the most expensive butty in Britain.
Seen out of context – or rather in the context of “just” being a sandwich – the price boggles. Yet, in Harrods’ defence, there is nothing “just” about two slices of fresh sourdough ensconcing truffle butter, “gold” mustard mayo, mushrooms and seared steak sourced from Japan. These ingredients don’t come cheap: wagyu beef can only come from three breeds of cattle from Japan’s Kasai region and is sometimes referred to as the Rolls-Royce of beef on account of its luxuriant texture and high price tag; black truffle usually costs about £1.50 to £3 a gram, and even the bread takes days to ferment and prove and is baked on site.
