Cherries and duck are usually paired on menus at white-tablecloth restaurants, but here we layer them in a crusty baguette with peppery greens and sweet cheese for a more relaxed, portable version.
What to buy: Smoked duck can be found at the meat or deli counter of most gourmet markets and butchers. If you’re having a hard time finding it, your favorite smoked and/or cured meat would substitute beautifully.
Game plan: This is a somewhat messy sandwich to eat because the cherries tend to fall out. We like the bursts of flavor that come from halving the cherries, but you could chop them finely if you’d like to lower the mess factor.
This recipe was featured as part of our Most Delicious Sandwiches photo gallery.
Beverage pairing: Benton Lane Pinot Noir, Oregon. Duck and cherries could call for no other grape than Pinot Noir. The Pinot could come from almost anywhere, but the sweet cherries can find their counterpart especially in a new-world version. This wine from Oregon has bright fruit but also a dusty, leafy edge that will pick up the arugula nicely.
