There’s nothing better than a decent sandwich.

I’m not talking about one of those ‘artisanal’ things you pick up on Bree Street, which is usually some rocket, a pretentiously named mayo, and a smidge of prosciutto stuffed into a rock-hard, loaf-sized ciabatta.

I’m talking about a good old sarmie, like mom used to make.

While we’re on the topic of ‘artisanal’ (read: hard to eat)  sandwiches, though,  I’d like to point out that they have some competition from Japan.

These small, easy to manage Japanese beef sarmies will set you back at least R2 750, and are a firm favourite of folks like David Beckham and Ed Sheeran – AKA folks who can afford to drop almost three grand on a sandwich.

CNN talks about why they’re so damn expensive.

Hisato Hamada is the 42-year-old co-founder of Tokyo’s white-hot Wagyumafia restaurant brand, which serves the world’s finest cuts of Kobe beef.

Wagyumafia currently has five restaurants. These include a special outlet for their $180 “sando” Chateaubriand sandwich, a new spot for yakiniku where you cook your own beef on a grill, and their flagship space in swanky Akasaka.

They also have one outpost in Hong Kong and another soon to launch in Manila — with more to come.

Kobe is the world’s most exclusive and expensive cut of beef. It’s Wagyu beef from the Tajima strain of Japanese Black cattle, that raised in Japan’s Hyōgo Prefecture according to rules set out by the Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association.

Only 3 000 cattle qualify as authentic Kobe each year, which is why you’ll pay a fortune to eat one.

Tastewise, people often remark on the sweetness of the meat, with vanilla one of the flavour profiles most frequently mentioned. As for texture — well, you barely need a knife to cut it.

You might have heard some of the rumours surrounding the rare cattle, including that they’re massaged, fed beer, and listen to classical music.

Unfortunately, this is not necessarily true.

The best and most popular way to enjoy the beef is a “Katsu Sando”, a Japanese take on the steak sandwich.

While you can choose your cut of Kobe at different price points, it’s the Chateaubriand cut at 20,000 yen ($185) that has set Instagram alight.

Before frying, the meat is coated in a breadcrumb mix known as “panko” in Japanese, which is made from five different breads. Milk bread is lightly toasted and their very special steak sauce — made from ingredients including 20-year aged Kamebishi soy sauce and Fuji vinegar from Kyoto — is smeared just so, to give a tangy counterpoint.

The final flourish? That unique and very Instagram-friendly way it is served, thrust towards you on a plate, the server staring intently behind it.

Imagine having to make this face every time you give someone a sandwich:

Blue steel.

I encourage anyone who can’t afford the world’s priciest sandwich to adopt this presentation in your everyday sandwich making.

Next time you give your partner or kid a sarmie, make sure to stand behind it staring intently.

Take that cheese and tomato on white to the next level.

You’re worth it.

[source:cnn]