In episode seven of the sandwich series, the host explores French sandwiches with his guest Alex from French Guy Cooking. They focus on crafting the perfect Jambon-Beurre (ham and butter sandwich) using quality ingredients like good butter, moist cooked ham, and a traditional baguette. The host also experiments with making truffle butter and sourdough baguettes to elevate the classic sandwich. The episode emphasizes the importance of ingredient quality over quantity in creating a delicious Jambon-Beurre.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The speaker is on a mission to find the best sandwiches from around the world and make every element from scratch.
2. The speaker is collaborating with Alex from French Guy Cooking to make a French sandwich.
3. The most popular French sandwich is the Jambon-Beurre, which consists of ham and butter on a baguette.
4. The traditional French ham used in a Jambon-Beurre is a slow-cooked ham, not a cured ham.
5. The ham is typically sliced thinly, but the speaker is having trouble achieving paper-thin slices with a knife.
6. The speaker is using a sourdough starter to make a rustic-style baguette for the sandwich.
7. The recipe for the baguette involves mixing equal parts white flour and whole wheat flour with water, then adding sourdough starter and salt.
8. The dough is bulk risen for 2 hours, then shaped and proofed for another 2 hours before baking.
9. The speaker is using a sous-vide machine to cook the ham, which is a French technique that involves sealing food in a bag and cooking it in a water bath.
10. The ham is cooked at 142°F (61°C) for 20 hours to achieve tender and juicy results.
11. The speaker is using a brine to add extra flavor to the ham, which involves soaking the ham in a mixture of water, salt, and spices.
12. The brine is made by heating up water, salt, and spices, then cooling it down before adding the ham.
13. The ham is brined for 24 hours before being cooked in the sous-vide machine.
14. The speaker is using a glaze made from honey, mustard, and apple cider vinegar to add extra flavor to the ham.
15. The sandwich is assembled by spreading truffle butter on the bread, adding sliced ham, and topping with grated cheese and pickles.
16. The speaker and Alex taste the sandwich and agree that it is delicious, with the truffle butter and pickles adding a nice balance of flavors.