Review of Panera Bread's Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

When I saw the billboard announcing that Panera Bread had added breakfast sandwiches to the menu, I knew that I had to check them out. The first time I went to Panera Bread for breakfast, I tried the Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwich. It was very good, but it made me want to try the one with bacon for added flavor. That's exactly what I did; the next time I got breakfast at Panera Bread, I ordered the Bacon, Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwich. Since then, I've ordered this sandwich several more times.

Panera Bread's Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich: The Presentation

True to its name, Panera Bread's Bacon, Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwich consists of an egg, applewood-smoked bacon, white cheddar cheese, and grilled Ciabatta bread. It is usually served tucked inside a wrapper that makes it easy to eat the sandwich without touching it directly.

The sandwich starts with a chunk of Ciabatta bread that is sliced in half to separate the top and bottom. A half slice of thick sharp white cheddar goes on the bottom half of the bread. This is followed by two slices of bacon, an egg, the other half slice of cheese, and the top piece of Ciabatta bread.

Normally, I expect the egg on a sandwich to be scrambled or fried. That's not how Panera Bread does it. In fact, I wasn't sure how the egg was cooked, so I asked. It is steamed in an egg steamer; for those unfamiliar with this, it is like a boiled egg that has been flattened out. The egg has been lightly peppered; sometimes I'm in the mood to add a little more pepper and some salt, but it's not necessary. The round egg and the two criss-crossed strips of bacon overhang the bread. The cheddar is softened but not melted on the warm bread.

Panera Bread's Bacon, Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich: The Verdict

Panera Bread uses a Vermont white cheddar that is sharp and delicious. The applewood-smoked bacon is good, although somewhat salty. I'm very particular about bacon, and this one passes my test. I wish the cheese would melt a bit more, but that's just an unnecessary personal preference. At 6.75 ounces and 510 calories, this is a hearty breakfast sandwich. Its biggest drawback is the fat content: 24 grams, 10 of which are saturated fat. It also contains 215 mg of cholesterol, but what do you expect? It contains bacon, cheese, and an egg!

Panera Bread's Bacon, Egg & Cheese breakfast sandwich is a delicious alternative to the traditional fast-food breakfast sandwiches. These sandwiches are available every day until supplies run out.

Source:

http://www.panerabread.com