Shadows Snack Review #1 – Toasted Sandwiches
Last Tuesday, the Craccum editorial team (minus those in class) had our first official editorial meeting. So naturally, we ventured up to Shadows to grab a jug of Shadows Draught and review their toasted sandwiches. Shadows’ toasted sandwiches are truly iconic; beginning at just $2 for a cheese toastie and with an extensive range of options, they’re a solid choice for any mid-afternoon snack, and they do the job of accompanying a Shadows Draught quite well.
For the sake of our review – and because there are endless combination options you could choose – we decided to try one of every option with cheese. This left us with Onion, Ham, Bacon, Pineapple, Mushroom, Egg and just plain cheese. Tomato is normally an option, however there appears to be a shortage of tomatoes at Shadows at the moment, which unfortunately caused some dismay. And now, for your informative reading (and in no way to excuse daytime drinking), we have rated these toasties for you:
Cheese and Pineapple
Cheese and Pineapple was a controversial pick for the team. Especially as our team is not a fan of pineapple with savoury food options, nevertheless we persisted for the sake of journalistic integrity. Pineapple as suspected was not well liked and it was the only one that we didn’t finish.
Key Quotes:
Claudia: “it’s like a chutney that’s gone terribly wrong”
Daphne: “it’d be better with some ham to balance it out”
Bailley “It lacks heart”
Rating: 2/10
Value: If it was $2 yeah, but it’s $3 so nah.
Cheese and Ham
Cheese and Ham is a standard classic. However, this ham was diced and not sliced which did cause some contention between our writers. There was also an overwhelming sense that the ham was not quite as tasty as the bacon, although bacon is a hard meat to beat.
Key Quotes:
Lachlan: “The pig didn’t want to die for this…”
Lachlan: “was it a hint of ham? You needed a guide to find it”
Lachlan: “who is this for?’
Rating: 3.75/10
Value: Nope, not at all. Pay the extra $1 for bacon and be happy with your choices.
Cheese and Egg (or just plain Egg?)
Egg appeared on the options as a strange choice, but because we are committed to fair and comprehensive coverage, we decided to give it a go. We did however have some later debate about whether there was actually cheese in the toastie. Ultimately, we do not recommend egg in a toasted sandwich; it just doesn’t feel right, unless you maybe added bacon and then you’ve got some sort of breakfast hybrid.
Key Quotes:
Bailley: “egg carried the team”
Lachlan: “The egg is Batman and the cheese is Robin except it’s the dead Robin”
Claudia: “it’s for the gym bros, you’ve got all your macros there, you can get a whole meal for $3”
Cameron: “butter, cheese, egg and bread is not really a complete meal”
Lachlan: “but is anyone coming to Shadows for a complete meal?”
Rating: 5/10
Value: how much does a single egg cost?
Cheese
Cheese was a standard choice and one that couldn’t be overlooked. At only $2, it was our cheapest toastie of the lot. Cheese went down a treat with no complaints from anyone. It didn’t set out to be a boujee toastie but it did its job well. Ka Pai.
Key Quotes:
Bailley: ‘It did what it set out to do, it didn’t overpromise”
Cameron: “It’s dependable, and in this economy, I need dependable”
Bailley: “it’s a price point I can get behind”
Cameron: “it’s a lifestyle I can get behind”
Rating: 5.25/10
Value: Hell yeah
Cheese and Mushroom
Cheese and Mushroom was only $3, yet the use of Portobello mushrooms added a true touch of class. Our team didn’t dislike this toastie per say, but we can’t say it was the best one of the lot.
Key Quotes:
Claudia: “It was kind of raw but it was okay”
Bailley: “the fact they used Portobello is well worth its money”
Claudia: “adds just that touch of class”
Daphne: “I don’t have anything to say, it’s what it says it is”
Rating: 6/10
Value: Sure thing, definitely
Cheese and Onion
Cheese and Onion was a moderate option, and at only $3 still a bargain – as all of these toasties are. Cheese and Onion’s likeability was truly dependent on everyone’s own personal thoughts about onion. Regardless, still worth a go.
Key Quotes:
Daphne: “The Onion was undercooked, but if you like crunchy onion it’s there for you”
Claudia: “better than pineapple but a low bar”
Cameron: ”it tasted like French onion and I love that”
Rating: 6.5/10
Value: Hell yeah
Cheese and Bacon
Cheese and bacon is a winning combo. I know it, you know it, and Arnotts shapes knows it. Craccum had high expectations for this toastie and they were delivered on. Cheese and Bacon was the Star of the Show and is our supreme winner.
Key Quotes:
Lachlan: “should’ve won best picture”
Cameron: “but who was the Olivia Coleman of this toastie?”
Bailley: “so much better than Ham”
Rating: 8/10
Value: Bacon is an extra $2 so it is more expensive than the rest, however it is also super worth it
Winner: Cheese and Bacon
Loser: Cheese and Pineapple
Honorable Mention: Cheese