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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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Tapas
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Tapas has had a rapid rise in popularity over the last 5 years due to the sociability of eating in groups in a casual way. Lots of small dishes are provided as ‘taster’ type delights, consisting of food such as ham and cheese croquettes (croquetas), garlic prawns (gambas ajillo), patatas bravas (spiced potato, garlic and tomato baked dish), tortilla (Spanish omelette) and many others. Usually eaten with a good bottle of Spanish wine.
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Spanish
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Chorizo
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A spicy hard sausage that is used in many dishes, or served on its own as part of a tapas. When fried, the deep red colour seeps into the pan (the colour comes from the smoked paprika from which the sausage is made). Can be served sliced in baguettes or included in other dishes, including potato dishes, it adds a different texture and warmth to whichever meal you have.
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Spanish
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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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Gazpacho
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A summery cold soup, very traditional but also made in several different ways in restaurants. The base of the soup is tomato and pepper which as been blitzed from raw, and with the addition of cucumber, onions, tarragon and garlic. A dish of diced cucumber, capsicum and avocado in salsa-style is served to the side to sprinkle over your soup, along with garlic croutons. A very delicious appetiser
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Spanish
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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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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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Spanish Omelette
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There are many varieties of the spanish omelette but the true variation only consists of eggs with potato and onions with a hint of garlic. Nowadays restaurants also serve them with capsicum and they are frequently part of a tapas platter. Usually sliced into wedges and served with bread, the Spanish often make this dish into a sandwich!
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Spanish
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Paella
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Paella is served in huge circular pans, set in the middle of the table for sharing. Originating in Valencia in the l9th Century, when it was essentially a rice dish with vegetables and seafood or meat, most paellas are now mixed and include chicken, squid, vegetables, rice, saffron and white wine, with heaps of garlic! The rice is often left to ‘crisp’ up on the base of the pan and needs scraping to remove – very delicious.
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Spanish
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Lamb
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‘Chuletillas de Cordero – beautiful little tender lamb chops are cooked with a garlic and salt crust. Can be served as a tapas hot or cold, but usually served with a side dish of crispy potato cubes, marinated in herbs and garlic and fried. Very tasty.
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Spanish
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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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Sangria
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This is a lovely refreshing ‘punch’ style drink, served in big pitchers or jugs and set on the table for everyone to share. Alcohol content varies, as some restaurants make it the traditional way with red wine, chopped fruit and brandy, while others make it a cooler, longer drink with red wine and soda or lemonade, but still with copious amount of fruit. Called Sangria due to its deep red colour (sangria means ‘blood’ in Spanish) it is served in restaurants and pubs in Australia in the summer months, with lots of ice. Fruit often includes apples, oranges, melon, pears and nectarines, more or less any fruit available.
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Spanish
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Naranja
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The Spanish are very proud of their oranges, so much so that they make a big thing out of serving fresh juice ‘presse’ style, which means the oranges are freshly pressed only when the drink is ordered. The oranges tend to be very sweet and are often used in cocktail style beverages, particularly with a touch of Grenadine and a green liquer such as crème de menthe or Chartreuse. Whichever way, the drink is a kick of sunshine.
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Spanish
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Rioja Wine
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The most prolific Spanish wine served, Rioja is popular with red wine drinkers, whether amateurs or connoisseurs. Deep and fruity from the Rioja region of Spain, it comes in many varieties, but a good example should be smooth and velvety. Varies in price, but a good one can be purchased at a relatively cheap price.
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Spanish
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