StreetSmart Toastie by Jeremy Lee
Chef Jeremy Lee's
festive toastie awaits!
This Christmas season, we are thrilled to be working with StreetSmart, a charity that supports homeless people, to create a toastie that’s not only absolutely delicious, but every purchase can contribute to the great work StreetSmart do.
In our quest to find the most delectable toastie in all the land, StreetSmart reached out to five leading chefs with a brief no more prescriptive than to create their perfect toastie. After a friendly cook-off, one winner was chosen, and to rapturous applause, Chef Jeremy Lee - and his delicious Mozzarella in Carrozza Toastie - was crowned the winner, capturing hearts and tasebuds with its simplicity, bold flavours and nostalgic roots. Inspired by the ham and cheese toasties served at Harry’s Bar in Venice, Jeremy’s version brings an Italian twist: molten mozzarella and delicate prosciutto in carrozza - meaning "in a carriage" - with aromatic sage.
Scottish born Jeremy Lee is proprietor of Quo Vardis, passionate about the finest regional ingredients from Britain and further afield, and one of the best-liked chefs in London. It’s safe to say that this toastie is well worth a trip to Piccadilly for a little lunchtime indulgence and you can choose to add £1 to your bill of which 100% will go directly to StreetSmart.
“At StreetSmart, we’re dedicated to supporting people experiencing homelessness by providing vital resources, raising awareness, and uniting communities for lasting change. Through trusted partners across the UK, we help ensure vulnerable individuals gain access to shelter, support, and a path to a brighter future - because everyone deserves safety and dignity.”
Jeremy’s toastie is available to enjoy from 2nd - 18th December from the Food To Go counters on the Lower Ground Floor of our Piccadilly lodgings. What's more, all food counters in our Food Hall will be adding an optional £1 to bills as a way of supporting the charity and in celebration of our 10 year partnership - we are extremely proud to have raised £308k for StreetSmart over the last decade.
In the meantime, we caught up with Jeremy on all things toastie and he kindly shared his winning recipe so that this joyful creation can be made and enjoyed at home...
2 x slices of bread
Soup spoon of olive oil
2 leaves of sage
2 thinnest slices of prosciutto
2 thick slices of buffalo mozzarella
Sea salt and pepper
Brush each half of bread with olive oil
On each lay one layer of prosciutto to evenly cover bread
1 or 2 leaves of sage
Slice or tear mozzarella evenly spread over one slice
Season with salt and pepper
Place other half on top
Place on the grill for 3 – 4 minutes on moderate grill until golden and crusted
Then flip and repeat
A great toastie is, in my mind, an elegant balance of bread, ham and cheese and, in this instance, delightfully perfumed with sage. You bite through a thin, delicate crust of bread to a soft, yielding centre, served piping hot from the grill - job's a good'n. The only company required is some chips or crisps and a bright green salad.
What inspired your toastie recipe?
I first encountered mozzarella in carrozza when cooking with Simon Hopkinson at Bibendum. It was a very posh version of the ham and cheese toasties served at Harry's Bar in Venice, which accompanied a martini with great verve. Utterly delicious.
What is the hero ingredient and why?
Rather than one standout ingredient, it's a very harmonious assembly of beautiful things. The delicacy of the thinly sliced prosciutto with the lovely, yielding mozzarella and the perfumed sage is kind of irresistible.
What's the best toastie you've ever eaten?
The aforementioned mozzarella in carrozza, or the ham and cheese toastie at Harry's Bar on the Giudecca in Venice.
What's your favourite Fortnum's product?
A toss-up between honey or biscuits and Darjeeling or Ceylon tea, but preferably all four.
Inspiration
Discover The Journal, home to a host of our most delicious stories.