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Sandwiches
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Amazing selections of fillings are now available, including continental meats and cheeses, vegetable mixes. Traditional sandwich fillings such as cheese and pickle, ham salad etc no longer take priority as more people are going for more ‘exotic’ fillings with a continental theme. A variety of breads such as ciabatta, olive bread, walnut bread etc. now makes any ordinary sandwich no longer boring but enjoyable to eat.
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Sandwich Bar
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Baguettes
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Becoming more popular are the variety of baguettes available, not just the fillings but the bread itself – white, wholemeal, rustic, walnut, olive – you name it! Fillings have become more exotic too, using continental meats and cheeses, chicken mixes such as Coronation chicken. But still the bacon and egg breakfast baguette or hot sausage baguette remains supreme in choice for that early morning ‘snack’.
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Sandwich Bar
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Hot Soup
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A variety of hot soups are normal sold, served from large barrel shaped tureens or soup kettles placed on the counter. Soups are usually simple such as tomato and basil, mushroom or vegetable. Normal served in polystyrene cups to take away.
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Sandwich Bar
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Fruit
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You will usually find a selection of standard fresh fruit available such as apples, bananas, oranges – but also there will frequently be a large bowl of fresh fruit salad with yoghurts. The fruit salad is put into a plastic or polystyrene container to take away, with a carton of yoghurt of your choice and a plastic spoon.
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Health Bar, Sandwich Bar
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Fruit
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You will usually find a selection of standard fresh fruit available such as apples, bananas, oranges – but also there will frequently be a large bowl of fresh fruit salad with yoghurts. The fruit salad is put into a plastic or polystyrene container to take away, with a carton of yoghurt of your choice and a plastic spoon.
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Health Bar, Sandwich Bar
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Spaghetti and Meatballs
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Traditional Italian dish, with meatballs made of minced pork and beef, herbs and minced onion and garlic, and served in a rich thick tomato based ragu sauce. Can be served sometimes with shredded fresh basil or oregano and shavings of parmesan. As with carbonara, it tends to be served with garlic bread and side salad.
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Italian
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Vegetable Sushi
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These are sold to promote a healthy meal or snack to customers and are usually the prewrapped selection. Matchstick and julienned vegetables are wrapped sometimes with beanshoots and other times with sticky rice and served with a choice of dips such as raw honey and soy, sweet chilli or a simple low fat mayonnaise. A variety of seaweeds are also used.
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Health Bar
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Lamb cutlets with garlic and rosemary
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Usually on every Italian menu, small trimmed lamb chops or cutlets are served steeped in fresh rosemary and garlic and pan fried or grilled. Served with sauté potatoes and vegetables, it is a hearty plate of food and delicious flavours. Tender pink lamb is enhanced by the earthy rosemary and garlic.
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Italian
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Minestrone Soup
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The classic and renowned Italian soup, comprising small pasta shapes, a rich chicken stock and finely diced vegetables such as celery, onions, tomatoes, carrots beans and herbs. Created in Ancient Roman times this soup is now served in many different ways, some finely and others much more chunky and hearty. A sprinkling of parmesan and a good basket of bread makes this really filling.
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Italian
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Salad Bar
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Predominant in most health bars, there is normally a large array of salads available from plain ones to more unusual or exotic mixes. Displayed in front of you in a cool cabinet, you can pick and choose what you want, generally for a fixed price. You can also add cold meats, fish and low calorie items such as cottage cheese. Coleslaw, potato salad and caesar salad are among some of the normal choices, along with a selection of low fat dressings.
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Health Bar
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Wraps
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Probably one of the most popular choices for a quick lunch or snack are the selection of wraps normally available. Fresh ingredients are always used consisting of prawn, chicken, crab, lobster and totally vegetarian. Always with a crisp salad garnish, the wraps are usually available in white, rye or wholewheat.
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Health Bar
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Napoletana pasta sauce
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An amazing vegetarian italian option. Crushed tomato, onion, garlic, basil and parmesan. Sounds simple but bursting with lots of flavour.
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Italian
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Osso Buco
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A dish invented in Ancient Roman Times and perfected over the years to a more sophisticated Italian meal, consisting of cross-cut veal shanks, braised in red wine, onions, celery and carrots and served with a gremolata on the top (optional).
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Italian
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Bruschetta
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Delicious slices of bread, rubbed with garlic and tomato and seasoned before grilling. Various toppings are served, the most popular being diced tomatoes and red onion with finely chopped garlic and basil. Can also be served with a pesto topping, and sometimes with roasted aubergine and mushrooms. Usually a starter, but can be purchased as a main course.
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Italian
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Seafood Platter
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Seafood platters are regularly served in health bars and consist of prawns, lobster, smoked salmon, tuna with salad garnish Commonly served on a bed of ice with parsley and lemon and a finger bowl or wet wipe to clean up afterwards!
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Health Bar
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Grilled Chicken
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Always a favourite in health bars, due to its low fat content and versatility. Generally served with a mixed salad (or a helping from the salad bar) it is usually cooked oil-free on a grill, sometimes with seasoning, sometimes as a Cajun version. It is often ‘butterflied’ and cooked with a fresh herb marinade. Dry baked slices of potatoes can also be an accompaniment.
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Health Bar
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Toasted Sandwiches
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Probably a big favourite in most sandwich bars and cooked either on a grill or in a Panini press, Italian style. You can pick your fillings and they will make it in front of you. Croque Monsieur is very popular (gruyere cheese and ham French style) as this is also buttered on the outside before grilling or sometimes frying. Croque Madame includes a fried egg as well.
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Sandwich Bar
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Packet Snacks
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Many varieties of potato chips of all flavours are sold, along with chocolate bars, cereal bars and other sweets. Muffins such as chocolate and blueberry in packets are also readily available. Vegetarian options on snacks have increased over the last five to 10 years, including vegetable crisps and vegetable chews.
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Sandwich Bar
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Chianti
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In rustic Italian restaurants, you can still see empty bottles of Chianti grouped together and hanging around the bar or ceiling! Old Chianti bottles used to be covered in a basket weave, and often used to house a candle on your table, so that the wax dripped down the outside of the bottle! The wine itself is red and relatively light in comparison to heavier Italian wines such as Barolo. Chianti is produced primarily in the beautiful region of Tuscany, and is eminently drinkable!
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Italian
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Soave
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Another popular wine, this white wine is produced in the Veneto region of Italy, around the city of Verona, home to many Shakespeare plays! It is comparatively dry and was once the ‘in’ drink in the 1970’s but was overtaken by Pinot Grigiot towards the 1980’s
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Italian
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Peroni
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The most popular of beers served in Italian restaurants, it is not the cheapest one around but still sells more than any other. 5% alcohol, a slightly ‘hoppy’ taste but very refreshing when served in iced cold frosted glasses.
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Italian
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Smoothies
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Every health bar has a big selection of smoothies available, and some use alternative milks, such as almond milk to produce healthier drinks. Always served with copious fruit content, they tend to be the softer fruits such as berries, bananas, peaches etc.
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Health Bar
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Fresh Juices
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Some health bars have up to 50 juices available which are sometimes made in front of you at the counter using a large juicing machine. Not just fruit, but vegetables and protein powders are often included, or nuts and seeds as well as wheatgerm. There are also, of course, the usual plain traditional juices such as orange readily available.
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Health Bar
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Fizzy Drinks
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Great selection of the popular fizzy canned drinks are sold, including Coke, Sprite, Fanta, and also energy drinks have increased in popularity in the last few years. Natural and carbonated spring waters are also available in the cold cabinets as are plenty of fruit juices in plastic bottles and cartons with straws.
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Sandwich Bar
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Coffee
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All sandwich bars normally have an elaborate coffee machine, serving cappuccino, mocha, latte, Americanos and macchiatos. Plain black or white coffee, as well as tea, are always available – if you are really lucky, you may find frappaccino as well!
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Sandwich Bar
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