Successfor Express

There are daily specials in the baguette and wrap department too — hot roast pork with stuffing and apple sauce, or a four meat feast wrap for example.

It's not all about baguettes and wraps though, homemade fresh soups are made daily, all with lo cally bought ingredients. It was carrot and leek curried soup with coconut on the day I was there, on another it might be chicken and sweetcorn — it's always changing.

There are no less than 11 differ ent salads every day, all made by Kerry and her team who start pre paring in the early hours.

Kerry commented "We want to provide a quick, quality lunch in a bright, friendly, non-smoking at mosphere."

The portions are certainly gener ous and prices range from £2.25 for hummus,roasted peppers, red on ion, avocado, black olives and mixed leaves to £3.25 for smoked salmon, cucumber, mixed leaves and mascarpone. Anything you create yourself is likely to fall within that range.

Bright, sparkling, fast and fresh — those are the words that came to mind as soon as I walked into the new salad and sandwich bar in the ICC at Casemates Mill.

It has a stylish wavy-line bar of varying width with comfortable seats for those who want to eat in, all lit by contemporary lighting.

Freshness and flavour with an exciting menu are factors which motivate Kerry and her team. Kerry is married to Frank, who manages both Cafe Solo and All's Well, and the couple are making their mark in the hospitality indus try here on the Rock. Solo Express was conceived to address the cur rent demand for good quality food.

You might think "yet another sandwich bar", but when you look at what is on offer, you'll see just how different it is. How about ba con,brie,avocado and spic)'tomato salsa? Or three cheese with beet root and apple relish? Some of the growing band of fans choose their own fillings for their baguettes, ciabatta or wraps.

There's a lot more — quiches, Danish pastries, doughnuts, muf fins, jacket potatoes, pannini, gar lic bread and bruschetas. Who could ask for anything more,except a drink? Well, there's a choice of coffees and teas as well as all the usual soft drinks and red/white wine and Becks beer.

"It's all been highly appreciated by the customers, who are gener ally a mixture of office workers,lo cal traders and some tourists — we opened a little late in the year to catch the full tourist season," said Kerry-

She told me that she is planning to install wireless internet facilities soon,and the white wall along the eating counter will have modern artwork. Meanwhile it all looks fine to me.

IOpen Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4pm,Solo Express is next to the ICC's Pizza Hut and can be accessed from Casemates Hill, just a few yards up from the square, or from inside the ICC on the ground floor. The number for enquiries or pre-orders is 48185.