Our new home is nestled in a small village at the foothills of Mt. Tamalpais. The village is charming and quaint. Full of cafés, antique shops, the sweetest little 80-year-old, family owned grocery store, boutiques, restaurants, a village square with pick-up chess matches year round, an outdoor creekside florist, and the ever important, gelateria (they know me well). I love stepping off our front porch early Saturday morning, when the sun is quiet and the streets are muted, stroll less than 100 feet, and return home with an armful of fresh flowers, a glass bottle of old-fashioned, cream-topped milk and a fresh baguette from the village baker. A morning that’s hard to top.
Unless, it’s followed up that evening by a trip to our old historic village movie theater. My love for good movies runs as deep as my love for good food, so you can imagine my excitement the night we left the house at 9:30pm and walked to catch the 9:35pm show, with 3 minutes to spare and Milk Duds to boot. I sat on Cloud 9. The Kids Are All Right was playing. Have you seen it? It’s one of those films you never, ever want to end. The kind where you wish you could follow the lives of the characters for the next 50 years — become their friends, invite them over for supper. One of my favorite scenes involved Annette Bening and heirloom tomatoes. I won’t give it away, so you’ll have to see the movie for yourself, but ever since, I’m not able to buy, look or even think of an heirloom tomato the same.
So, as I stood at the farmer’s market this weekend, chuckling to myself as I replayed the scene in my head, I nearly forgot what beautiful specimens I had in my possession. BLT sandwiches are only made during the summertime tomato season in our house, so we take the small window of opportunity pretty seriously. This year, the volume is turned up – way up. This is the mother of all BLT’s. This is none other than the B.E.L.T. Sandwich. Bacon, Egg, Lettuce and Tomato. Thick-cut, Free-Range, Bibb and Heirloom. Go, Now, Make and Eat.
B.E.L.T. SANDWICH, serves 2
Inspired by the sandwich at Milk Bar in Chelsea Market
I love using Bibb or Butter lettuce for this sandwich because it has great flavor and the leaves are much more delicate and tender than most standard lettuces. The garlic, herbs and maple syrup are a MUST. Do not, under any circumstances, skip over these seemingly innocuous components as they are key to taking this sandwich from good to great.
Music Pairing: Joni Mitchell, All I Want (from the soundtrack of The Kids Are All Right)
Ingredients
- 4 slices sourdough bread, sliced 1/2-3/4 inch thick
- 4-6 slices good quality thick-cut bacon
- Real maple syrup
- 1 large heirloom tomato
- Lettuce leaves from Bibb lettuce
- 2 free range organic eggs
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 large garlic clove, sliced in half
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- Fresh parsley and oregano leaves
- Fleur de sel or kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Preparing the Bacon
Cook bacon in a skillet over low heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. While still warm, brush lightly with maple syrup. Set aside.
Frying the Eggs
Crack each egg into its own small bowl to check that the yolks aren’t broken. In two, 6-inch non-stick skillets, melt half of butter over medium-high heat until it starts to bubble. Pour 1 egg into each pan, being careful not to break the yolks. Add a teaspoon of water to each pan and sprinkle with fleur de sel. Cook eggs for 3 minutes for a soft-cooked egg and 5-6 minutes for a firmer egg.
Assembling the Sandwiches
Lightly toast bread and rub with garlic clove while warm. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on each toasted slice. Carefully stack the lettuce, herbs, tomato, bacon and cooked egg onto one slice. Sprinkle with freshly crack black pepper. Top with second slice and cut in half. Enjoy immediately.
It’s only August, but finally good tomatoes are coming into the market! Your sandwich looks wonderful. Have a great week!
oh man… half cooked fried egg with yoke oozing out is EXACTLY what i’m talking about!!!! i love that… fully cooked fried egg is like… a sin. i’ll take two plz. my summer is going cookless… so sad.
I love BELTS (using tempeh as a bacon substitute), and I can’t wait to try your subtle details, which I’m sure make quite a difference! Although I’m not a mayo-hater, I like to sub it out for mashed avocado. Mmm, summer.
Wow, this sounds delicious! Just want to bite into that sandwich immediately. It’s so simple and therefore so good. Will try it soon, thanks for the recipe/idea.
As I said, we just made two of them yesterday evening! They were delicious, although we didn’t had any mayonnaise. But that’s okay, since I don’t like that store-bought stuff. But we really really liked the maple-glazed bacon! What an experience :)!
I love LOVE these photos! I could just look at this post for hours!
This furthers my belief that all sandwiches can be made better with a runny egg in the middle.
And the maple-glazed bacon… be still my heart!
Beautiful pics!
Incredibly delicious looking photos, and this is one of the best breakfasts/lunches anywhere. Yum!
My mouth is watering. I LOVE the photos of the sandwich. Any sandwich with a fried egg is a winner in my book. I am obsessed with farm fresh eggs and have been using them as a topper on SO many of my meals. I’ve stuck them on veggie burgers, salads, millet, sweet potatoes, etc. YUM. Also, the Milk Bar is amazing. I was there a few years ago and fell in love. Their chocolate milk and choco chip cookies were to die for :)
nomnomnomnomnomnommmmmm….. my mouth is watering. That sounds so absolutely crunchy, runny, yummy and delicious…. must try soon!!
looks like the perfect summer sandwich!
Oh my goodness. Just when I think the BLT is the most perfect sandwich, you take it to the next level. Cannot wait to try this, especially with the maple syrup, yum!! Your new home sounds amazing, congratulations! I have not seen The Kids Are Alright, but I’m very much looking forward to it. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
This is one of those post that I just kept reading and nodding my head to…gelataria – uh huh…good movies – yep…heirloom tomatoes – double yep…bacon – yum…joni mitchell – hell yes. Have I mentioned yet that it is nice to have you back? Well it is. xoxo
Wow, how good does that sandwich look! Your home sounds absolutely wonderful–I love spending time in the North Bay on the weekends–it’s just magic.
Oh me. Oh my. So good!
Love this BELT! So the movie is worth it? Great! I love those actresses.
I just have to say that: I love the unique perspective of your blog… not only related to food but to little pieces of your life. I am a terrible cook but I feel sooo compelled to try again every time I visit this space of yours! Beatiful pictures, charming posts! Thank you for sharing them!
Oh wow. I love a B.E.L.T. And you had to go and brush your bacon with maple syrup! Now we are really talking . Great picture of your sandwich with the yolk running down!
So, I read this post on the metro coming home and instantly had an extremely intense craving, to the point where I went out as soon as I got home, bought the few missing ingredients, and made it for dinner. It was SPECTACULAR! I haven’t eaten meat in a year and a half but boy was this worth it! :)
This is a classically beautiful and comforting sandwich.
Hi all! So happy there’s such a coalition of runny egg and maple glazed bacon lovers. We are now bound for life! :)
Thea – It’s so nice to BE back!
Ana Lucia – You are so sweet and I hope you give yourself a whirl in the kitchen.
Sarah – So, so happy you enjoyed it!! And I can’t believe after 1.5 yrs, this was your first bite of meat! Woo-hoo!! I’m celebrating for you.
Have a good night!
I’m on an early train to work, reading this post on an empty stomach.this sandwich looks seriously delicious.the type that would keep me going till lunch time. Wow, a less-than-five-min walk to the local art house movie theatre. So jealous. You seem to live in a God damn special place. : @)
I definitely want to see that movie, now more so after you’re rave review! your tomatoes in this post are so pretty, the sliced one reminds me of a flower.
I love your take and addition to this classic recipe! Fabulous.
:-) Mandy
OH DEAR! You are making me so hungry and i do not have ANY of the ingrediants required for this sandwhich…. Looks AMAZING! Right i am off to the shops…. Im literally salivating.
Wow – to the pictures, to your new home and to the recipe!
What I wouldn’t give to have one of these right now! Oh runny eggs, how I love you.
Beautiful sandwich and photographs> I haven’t seen the movie but based on your recommendation, I’ll check it out!
This blows my mind. I want it right now!
Looks fabulous! I love your photos ~ ;)
Oh, how I love eggs. I could eat it on anything. Gorgeous photos, btw. (:
Thanks so much for visiting my blog! You have no idea what a great treat that was. I am such a huge fan of your gorgeous, gorgeous photography and beautiful words.
that looks too delicious to eat. there’s nothing like vibrant orange runny yoke. yum…
I haven’t seen the movie yet, sounds like a must movie to see. Lovely sandwich, simple yet delicious. Of course, through your lens the sandwich look even more appetizing.
I’m absolutely in love with your photos!! Wow! So beautiful and inspiring and welcoming. :-)
The way your words flow so eloquently and then a sudden command of “GO NOW EAT followed by the visual euphoria of beautiful food and photography??? I instantly jumped out of my chair to make this delicious sandwich only to realize it’s 10:09PM here and nothing is open…
bummer. -_- if only I lived in a wonderful village with a 24 hour farmer’s market!
G – I lived in Marin, and miss it dearly, I could cry just thinking about it. I love hearing that you appreciate the charming slower pace of life, and that you are building relationships with the mom and pop stores in town. The movie sounds like a must. btw, I’ll be in SF mid-Sept. let me know if you want to grab coffee, lunch or visit the farmer’s market with me. :)
Intrigued. I cannot think of a better or nicer saturday lunch sandwich. Your village sounds like a very nice place to live.
Sounds like such a great place where you live. So nice that you can walk to all of these places. Stunning pictures.
You’ve seen my recent post, so you know how much this sandwich would appeal to me. Divine.
It’s the perfect breakfast, lunch or dinner.
First, I love Mount Tam! We used to go there when I was a wee one. Lovely spot to live. You’re so lucky! Second, bacon lured me back to meat a few years ago. And, most certainly, a BLT sandwich had a lot to do with that. Love this!
I am DYING to see The Kids Are All Right. I’ve heard nothing but raves.
I was just at Milk Bar a few weeks ago and am now bitter that I didn’t try that sandwich–it looks amazing. I love what a runny egg yolk can do to just about anything.
I feel like I have short changed myself all these years only having BLTs and no BELTs – I must remedy that immediately especially with an incredible batch of heirloom tomatoes acquired in my CSA box. You’ve introduced the secret to perfection with the addition of maple syrup and herbs.
I have not seen the movie but now you have me so intrigued. Cannot wait.
Enjoy this incredible weather and incredible bounty we’ve been so fortunate to get our hands on – I’m loving it!
sooooo goood… great for a brunch with friends! have a nice one!
How could I have never thought (or heard) of adding an egg to this classic? How? How?! Ah, the lost BELTs I now have to make up for…. Hard work, but someone’s got to do it.
the egg is a great addition, and not only because BELT is more awesome than BLT. more awesome than both of those, however, is the BLAT–avocado and splatter-like words rock my world. :)
Haven’t heard about the movie – hope it starts screening near me some time soon. And it goes without saying that the sandwich looks fantastic, especially with that oozy egg. Perfect Sunday snack material.
This sandwich looks fantastic. I can’t wait to try it!
Awesome, just awesome. I love the sound of your new neighbourhood. I’d like to do just the same… And the BELT sandwich? Bloody gorgeous. I’m only too happy that I bought some bacon back home today.
“Go, Now, Make and Eat.”
Goodness, you said it. That’s gorgeous.
one of our favorites!! we also like it with avocado!
I’ve never seen a sandwich look so pretty:)
I, too, love butter lettuce. This sandwich is perfect anytime of the day!
i recently saw that movie and that scene? my roommate turned to me and said that Annette Bening just did a perfect immitation of me when i’ve eaten something so delicious, so perfect that words fail me and all is left are the sounds i make and the general dancing in my seat at the dinner table.
fab movie. and beautiful sandwich.
When I saw that “E.” in the title, I was hoping it was for “egg!” Brilliant. Annette Bening and heirloom tomatoes are two of my favorite things, so I have a feeling that the movie you recommend is just the movie for me. I’ll check it out!
sigh…Mt. Tam is such a beautiful, inspiring place. I am so envious and happy for you. One of my fondest memories of that area is a drive I took with an old boyfriend. We stopped by a quaint sandwich shop along the windy road and had excellent, excellent, liverwurst sandwiches. It was picturesque although we were seated on the hood of the car having our delicious lunch. Your sandwich reminds me of that shop. If I only I could remember what the name is and where exactly it was. Thanks for taking me to memory lane for a bit.
wow, good!! I love sandwich!! By
Yum! This looks really wonderful. I would eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
what a gorgeous looking sandwich! this looks and sounds REALLY good! will surely try this recipe out!
Wow- that looks totally delicious! Have you ever tried a muffaletta? It’s a New Orleans style sandwich and it’s my absolute favorite!
i’m a vegi but if anything was to convince me to eat meat again it would be a blt whoza it looks scrummy!!
The.Absolut.Best.BLT.Ever.
Thanks so much for sharing these, I wanna have this for lunch everyday for the rest of my life. And chocolate chip cookies for dessert please. Thanks.
Also..I just wanted you to know that I’ve visited a lot (a LOT) of bake blogs and this is my number 1° favorite. So beautifully written, so gorgeously photographed and so easy and simple. I hope some day I can have a blog like this, you were my inspiration to finally have my own. Many thanks again.
-Amalia.
http://www.buttersweetmelody.wordpress.com
YUM! Egg, why of course! I go hiking in Mt. Tam about once a week. I can’t quite figure out which little village it is, but I guess it should be obvious to a relative local like me. :) Your blog, as always, is a delight to read and look at.
HI! I just want to say I love your site. You are such a talented cook and photographer!
Syrup, mayo and butter…I’m in!
This looks ridiculously delicious. Beautiful photos!
[...] read this entry, http://kissmyspatula.com/2010/08/17/b-e-l-t-sandwich/ , on Kiss My Spatula and I’ve been in love with these sandwiches in recent days. I’ve changed [...]
that looks like the “perfect bite”. Juicy, salty, umame, crispy, fresh…just perfect!!!
We are considering moving to California (northern area, berkley, napa, SF areas) and would love to hear your take on this region. Especially where is the best small town living with GREAT schools…
Hello! I just want to say I really love your site. Worldclass picture!!
What amazing photos-this sandwich look fantastic!
Just wanted to say, saw this browsing through tastespotting last night and just had to make it for lunch today – absolutely delicious!! such an oomph-up on your regular old blt : )
I was just saying to someone that I really miss Egg McMuffins! This actually looks like a grown-up, much tastier Egg McMuffin! Yum!
This is one of my go-to recipes. I LOVE me a BELT sammich. So good. So easy. <3
ah, it must be mill valley. or possibly larkspur.
how wonderful for you. i have loved living in marin county. it’s a great place.
all the best to you!
Love crunchy bacon and combination of the fresh lettuce yum. Beautiful pictures!!
I Love your blog! I have to say… My dad would make the best B.E.L.T.’s while I was growing up and I have hung on to that tradition! Instead of frying… Hard boiled eggs are used! YUM! It is funny that more people don’t use egg! it is the only way I have ever made them!
Thank You!
amazing colors, beautiful pics!
Hi,
I love your blog! Can you please tell me what kind of camera you use for pictures? Thanks
So glad to have found your blog on Amuse-Bouche for Twos links. I love the musical pairings, half of the salty pear is a classical guitarist, and there’s nothing like listening to her play while I stand over the stove.
I’ve never see a BLT look so good.
your photography is amazing!!..xx
Looking foward to trying this! Sounds good!
I love your photography, you are doing a really great job. I think it is super hard to take nice pictures of food, but you really succeeded!!! keep up the good work!!
take care,
julia / http://letthemeatcake.de
I just came across your blog yesterday and even though tomatos are totally out of season, I could not get this sandwich out of my head. I braved the pre-Thanksgiving crowd at the market and I’m glad I did. It was purely out of this world! Thank you so much for sharing! Your details are what made it over the top. It was worth searching for a decent tomato in November. I’m going tomato hunting again this afternoon so I can have another one! Although, I’ll have to be careful or I’ll end up calling it the “I Need a New BELT Sandwich.” ;)
Times like these, I wish I weren’t a vegetarian! The fake bacon just doesn’t taste like the real stuff (I know….sigh).
I love this recipe… Thank you for sharing!
I just want to say a) this looks delicious. and b) I grew up in Mill Valley, and yes it is amazing!
[...] is really the only time of year you can make this sandwich. I found the original recipe way back in January when all of the East coast was getting raped by snow. And as amazing as it [...]
[...] B.E.L.T (Bacon, Egg, Lettuce, and Tomato) — Kiss My Spatula [...]
And… we have a winner! Oh my, this sandwich is so great! I’m making it again tonight, my brother didn’t have the chance to taste it since he was in Mexico :)
I love your description of where you live! And it took a few minutes to realize that I live there too. A truly wonderful place.