We tried a vegan Christmas sandwich with a genius gravy twist at Truro Christmas Market

It's that time of year and for those in Cornwall, its main Christmas market event is now in full swing. Dozens of festive cabins are home to gifts galore and this year there's a really impressive selection of food and drink stalls to keep you satisfied.

But during my first visit to Truro Christmas Market this week, what really struck me was the hunger-inducing food on display at Sloth and Sparrow. The Falmouth-based business is popular in those parts but being from mid-Cornwall myself, I hadn't heard of it before.

I was quickly drawn in by how many people seemed to be lingering around or hovering back and forth. At midday, it was still pretty early to be filling up on grub with some of the food spots not even having opened yet. But the first good sign was a woman telling the chef-stroke-business owner that she didn't know he'd be at the market and 'loves' his food, so would be back with her partner.

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Now this was enough to draw me in. Pondering the menu for a moment, which consists of various hot dogs and the 'Boxing Day sandwich,' I went for the latter.

Imagine this: toasted sourdough bread with a golden crunch, stuffed with plant-based turkey and bacon, smothered in cranberry sauce, sage mayo, and topped with fresh, peppery rocket. As if that weren’t enough, it comes with a cup of rich, savoury dipping gravy on the side.

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At first glance, the sandwich looks stunning. But in my experience that can be either a brilliant sign or just clever trickery. But it did not fail to impress. The crispy sourdough was perfectly toasted and the vibrant cranberry sauce adds that perfect burst of festive flavour.

The fresh rocket adds a welcome pop of green although was made slightly soggy by all the sauces and flavour going on. Biting in, the layers work as you can imagine. The plant-based turkey is impressively meaty, with a lovely flavour. The bacon, well, let's be real, is one of the plant-based meats that just never really quite meet expectations.

It lacks that crispy coating the real stuff has. But it was tasty nonetheless. The cranberry sauce offers a tangy sweetness that cuts through the richness, while the sage mayo adds a creaminess. Who said vegan food had to be boring?! It was anything but.

But that gravy. Oh, that gravy. Dipping the sandwich - and the wonderfully crispy, salted fries - into the warm, velvety broth elevates the experience to a whole new level.

It’s like a comforting hug in liquid form. Andre Joseph, the man behind the creation, told me as he served up my sandwich that he thinks everything should come with a dipping pot of gravy. And he truly might be onto something there. Absolutely genius.

For £10, I also thought it was very reasonable and one of the cheapest eats at the market. Now, unfortunately, if you want to try it out for yourself, Sloth and Sparrow won't be returning to the Truro Christmas Market until December 11, so you'll have to hold off for a little while. In the meantime, you can find Andre elsewhere in Cornwall, and the reviews speak for themselves.