No book has impacted my opinions on breakfast food like Felicity Cloake’s “Red Sauce, Brown Sauce”. I’ve visited a few places featured in her epic ride exploring British breakfasts. They’ve never disappointed. One of these is Phil You Up, a food truck specializing in sandwiches just outside of London. In true Felicity fashion, I used a recent cycle packing trip as an excuse to finally make the pilgrimage to this sandwich Mecca.

We rolled up to the B and Q parking lot where the truck is parked on a crisp October morning. It was exactly 8:51am when we arrived. Much to the dismay of my travel companion, we quickly worked out that the advertised opening time of 830 was slightly off. So while she marched off (somewhat annoyed) to take advantage of the bathroom in B and Q, I anxiously waited the 9 long minutes until opening. Any skepticism I had about a sandwich served in a hardware store parking lot evaporated with the first bite. The sausage, bacon, egg sandwich lived up to the hype.

The Sandwich

Overall: 8.8/10

Overall, top notch sandwich. While the sausage was solid and perfectly respectable in its own right, the back bacon stole the show. Perfectly charred like you’d want from food truck, it was somehow simultaneously crispy and a bit chewy (satisfying both my travel partner and I’s differing opinions on the matter). The egg was perfectly cooked, just enough yolk to seep out and give the sandwich some moisture and texture but not enough to cause a mess. A slightly toasted classic white roll feels like the only bread that can correctly complement the charred flavors and egg yolk so was an excellent choice. The mayo and ketchup on top may seem a bit basic but fit the vibe perfectly and let the flavor of the meat shine through. It’s a hearty sandwich that sets the mood perfectly for a long day out on the bike.