Today I’m on an incredibly important mission – and that’s trying Greggs for the first time.
I know, I know, it’s almost sacrilegious to be living in this country and having never tried the British delicacy but please bear with me, as I’m Australian.
Let’s just forget the fact that I’ve lived here for almost four years…
I have heard so much about the Gregg sausage roll and while I have been intrigued, the flaky treat has never passed my lips.
That is, until today.
With strict orders from my editor, I headed to my local Greggs in search of a variety of baked delights.
Some of my colleagues like to say I’m hard to please when it comes to food, so I hope you know that I have taken this task very, very, seriously.
I have to warn you now though that as I’ve been vegan for 10 years, the experience might be slightly different than what you’re expecting.
Thankfully, the bakery chain kindly offers a variety of plant based options so I don’t have to miss out.
The website promises a vegan sausage roll, a bean & cheeze melt, a glazed ring doughnut, a vegan southern fried chicken-free baguette, a sweet potato bhaji and rice and a vegan cheeze and bean toastie.
Some locations even have a vegan sausage breakfast roll and southern fried potato wedges.
My local only had a sausage roll, a doughnut, the baguette and a surprise vegan Mexican chicken-free bake.
Don’t worry though, I promise that is more than enough food for me to understand something that is a core part of British culture.
I obviously had to try the sausage roll first – and went in with high expectations.
The Greggs website states that it includes approximately 96 layers of “deliciously light puff pastry, wrapped around our own bespoke Quorn filling”.
I’m incredibly shocked to say that I loved it so much I devoured it instantly and it didn’t even need sauce.
I’m not joking, I ate it so quickly that I’m sure I still have crumbs on my face.
It was perfectly moist (apologies for using that word) and the pastry was incredibly flaky, in the best way possible.
One bite and I completely understand why people go crazy for it – and it’s only a £1.20! What a bargain.
Next up was the vegan southern fried chicken-free baguette and after the surprise of the sausage roll, I was expecting big things.
I hate to inform you that I almost had to spit it out… it was disgusting. I actually have chills just thinking about it and have to stop myself from gagging.
I see the vision, all of the important components of a crunchy baguette, goujons, mature cheddar cheeze, red onion and chipotle chilli sauce were there, but it was incredibly sweet.
Sadly, the same can be said for the Mexican bake, it was so sweet that I took one bite and felt ill.
In fact, writing this now I still feel ill and that’s not a good sign.
I can only assume someone is a little heavy-handed with the sugar in the chipotle sauce – and where’s the spice?!
Thankfully I didn’t have to end on a sour note, as the glazed doughnut saved the day.
It tastes 10 times better than I remember Krispy Kreme tasting and for only 95p, how could you go past it?
They’re generous with the glazed fondant icing and the doughnut itself is nice and soft.