Bacon on test
Posted on 18. Feb, 2010 by phaedrus in Fun stuff, Health, People
As someone who often resorts to the easy, timesaving and gratifying (if unhealthy) breakfast solution of the local cafe fried bacon and egg sandwich, I have decided to justify this little vice by turning it into a scientific study designed to improve public welfare. If, at the very least, I make myself sick of this greasy, cholesterol-filled meal option, I may have achieved something.
So, convincing myself that I am a servant of the community, I have conducted a prospective, randomised, multi-centred clinical trial of the various egg and bacon sandwiches available in the locality of our Camden-based office. (In actual fact, no such methodological rigour was employed and I just noted down a brief review of each sandwich).
But before we get into the statistical analysis of the data set, let’s look at the effects on the body of eating that most tempting of meaty treats; the humble rasher of succulent, delicious, fill-your-nostrils-with-the-smell-of-heaven bacon: Well, it raises your cholesterol, clogs your arteries, gives you heart disease and heart attacks and strokes at a young age, gives you diabetes, bowel cancer, stomach cancer and it will destroy your lungs and give you chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and bronchitis (and that’s without smoking it).
Of course, all of this is strictly not true but scientific truth is a tough concept to wield. Being more ‘diplomatic’, I should say processed or cured meats such as bacon may increase strain on your heart, have been linked with gastrointestinal cancers and one study has shown that eating them every other day makes you 14 times more likely to have COPD.
Anyway, the results of the test are as follows:
Orange Cafe (Bayham Street NW1)
Their bacon and fried egg baguette is highly satisfying but heavily buttered which adds to an already very greasy sarnie. When I remember, I request that my baguette is left unbuttered. They are also a bit stingy with the ketchup and if you ask for more, it gets drenched. Crucially, however, generous portions of egg and bacon are served making this a generally fulfilling £2.50 spend. ♥♥♥♥
Caffe 43 (Pratt Street NW1)
This bacon and fried egg sandwich on decent brown bread is lighter than the Orange Cafe’s offering, giving it a healthier but less filling feel. Of course the extra roughage in the bread makes for a more wholesome snack and provides essential nutrients and fibre, which is a plus. At £2.40 though, I’d rather spend the extra 10p for the more substantial baguette. ♥♥♥
Camden Cafe (Pratt Street NW1)
The bread used is of the cheap, white variety but good, thick bacon gives a solid fill and the sandwich has a well composed structure. Ketchup is of suitable quantity and the item is good value at £2.20. Maybe it was just my mood, but this one really hit the spot and felt as if it had been well made by an experienced craftsman. ♥♥♥♥
So, no samples have yet hit the five heart mark – the search goes on. Unfortunately, my trousers don’t!
neilcrump
19. Feb, 2010
This picture is making me hungry, despite the fact I have just had my grande latte and a big bowl of porridge with maple syrup and banana. Wonder which is healthier: the porridge or the bacon sanga? Or more precisely: which option is worse for you?
Garry Warburton
03. Mar, 2010
Dear Sir,
I wholeheartedly support your quest to bring sound methodology to the vexing question of where the best bacon +/- egg sarnie can be had. Nevertheless, I am somewhat disappointed by the small sample size in your report. I note from your data points that you did not stray far from the office in making this survey. Whilst I understand the methodological difficulties involved in travelling long distances while digesting the aforementioned sandwich, I must refer you to a recent study I made. In fact, my hypothesis was slightly different from yours. Whilst I accept that the search for the best sarnie must be the holy grail in such inquiries, I limited my study to address the question of whether bacon +/- egg sarnies from the north of England were superior to those from the south of the country, the null hypothesis being that southern sarnies were superior to northern sarnies. This study was conducted in centres in Weymouth, Southampton, Reading, Wimbledon and Luton (south, although I accept that Luton may be regarded as marginal), and in Manchester, Chorley, Blackpool, Kendal and Penrith (north). I refrain from mentioning specific centres for fear of accusations of scientific bias.
After analysis, northern sarnies were found to be significantly superior (p<0.01, one-sided t-test) to those from the south. In addition, although this was only a secondary end-point, they were significantly less poncey (Chi-square value of 15.81 with Bonferroni correction, and stratified for presence of egg or not) than those in your limited sample (baguettes indeed….).
I submit these results to you in the interests of education. Whilst, as stated earlier, they do not address the ultimate question of the best sarnie, the suggestion is that you will have to expand the geographic scope of your current database in order to answer this question.
Respectfully.
NW1er
25. Mar, 2010
Just had one from the Orange Cafe and I can only agree with your analysis – sometimes you want a Ford Cosworth rather than a Ferrari. Funny point this – one of my friends hates the gastro-flair breakfast that the Lord Stanley in Camden offers. I think it is amazing food with high quality ingredients, but he thinks breakfast should be kept simple. What do you reckon?
phaedrus
06. Apr, 2010
Well, to answer all three of you in one fell swoop, I would like to direct you to a follow-up piece on bacon http://www.auroracommsblog.com/bacons-back.
Neil, this piece contains some recent research results into which is healthier – bacon or porridge – with some surprising results and NW1er, your friend may be right that a bit of grease and fat is what you need from a morning fry-up.
Mr Warburton, I appreciate your thoughtful and considered post and commend your own research in this interesting area! I agree my sample size let me down but read my new post and, hopefully, I will be sharing the results of the extension trial very soon.
Cheers all!
Phaedrus
NW1er
22. Apr, 2010
Double bacon sandwich from option 1 above, consumed this morning. Over done bacon, not enough ketchup, nor enough grease to help it slide down. Massively disappointing.
NW1er
04. Jan, 2011
We have now moved office, based in Farringdon, and therefore the bacon hunt has had to broaden. The first I have tried in this area is “The Continental” on Farringdon road, in the direction of King’s X. I had a tasty brown bread bacon sandwich, not too greasy, for less than £3. Pretty good. Yum