Sandwich (food item)
A sandwich is a portable food item typically consisting of fillings, such as meats, cheeses, or vegetables, placed between slices of bread or within a split roll. While the concept of food held between bread has existed for centuries globally, the modern sandwich is often linked to the 18th-century Earl of Sandwich, who popularized the idea by requesting a convenient meal while playing cards. This food gained traction in England and later made its way to America, where various regional styles emerged, including the cheesesteak and the hamburger.
The diversity of sandwich styles has led to ongoing debates about what qualifies as a true sandwich, with items like hot dogs and burritos sometimes included or excluded based on personal interpretations. Over time, sandwiches have evolved to incorporate a wide range of ingredients, including vegetarian options and breakfast variants. The rise of different breads, such as baguettes and pitas, has further expanded the possibilities for sandwich creation, making it a versatile choice for meals and snacks. Despite its simplicity, the sandwich remains a cultural staple that reflects culinary innovation and personal preferences.
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Sandwich (food item)
A sandwich is a type of handheld, portable food in which fillings—such as meats, cheeses, or vegetables—are placed between slices of bread or a split roll. Sandwiches have been popular since ancient times but are often associated with the eighteenth-century Earl of Sandwich from England. They come in many forms; however, many people argue about what exactly constitutes a sandwich. The argument over whether foods such as hot dogs, burritos, and wraps are actually sandwiches—regardless of the definition—continues into the twenty-first century.
History
Sandwiches have been in existence for many centuries, but they were not popularized until the eighteenth century in England. The sandwich is named for John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. According to several stories, Montagu was a gambler who spent much time sitting at tables playing poker. During one of these stints in 1762, he asked his cook to make him something that he could eat right at the table with minimal fuss and mess. The cook decided to put meat between two slices of bread, thus creating the sandwich.
While the sandwich may have been a new creation for Europeans, forms of sandwiches have been around for centuries in different parts of the world. Since the creation of unleavened flatbreads, people used these breads to hold their meats and fish. One of the first sandwiches can be traced to the first century BCE in Jerusalem, where a Jewish rabbi made a filling of apples and nuts to eat with bitter herbs between two pieces of flatbread known as matzo during Passover. The food became known as the Hillel sandwich. Years later, travelers and those who worked in fields made sandwiches as portable foods they could take with them on their journeys or during their workdays.
It was surmised that Montague got the idea for the sandwich during a visit to the Eastern Mediterranean. There, he ate canapes, small pieces of bread with various toppings, and sandwiches made with meats stuffed in pita breads. He later recalled this experience when he requested a meal of convenience while playing cards. Montagu helped to popularize the sandwich in English social circles, and the food became so associated with the earl that it was given his name.
During the 1760s, men mostly consumed sandwiches while they were drinking at parties or playing poker. The sandwich did not formally become an acceptable meal in Europe until the end of the eighteenth century. Because it was considered lighter fare, it was typically reserved for dinner, called supper, during which lighter meals were served. Larger meals were eaten at lunchtime. Many people placed the leftover meats from lunch between bread and served it as a sandwich for dinner.
One of the first recipes for a sandwich appeared in a nineteenth-century cookbook. In her recipe, Charlotte Mason suggested cutting off the crusts of the bread before making sandwiches. These types of sandwiches, later called tea sandwiches, became popular in Europe during high tea and at picnics. Sandwiches later became popular at taverns and inns. The sandwich also was seen as a convenience food sold to people on the go, such as travelers at train stations.
The food eventually made its way to the American colonies, with one of the first recipes for sandwiches appearing in the 1837 book Miss Leslie's Directions for Cookery by Eliza Leslie. While the sandwich was late to arrive to the New World, Americans helped to invent many of the sandwiches that remained popular in the twenty-first century, including cheesesteaks, hamburgers, peanut butter and jelly, and sloppy joes.
Overview
The advent of different breads led to the creation of different sandwiches. No longer were meats and fillings sandwiched between two slices of bread. Instead, they were piled high on top of rolls, baguettes, croissants, bagels, pitas, and tortillas. Sandwiches made out of long oblong rolls became known by many names, including hoagies, heroes, grinders, torpedoes, and submarines.
US regions became known for their particular styles of sandwiches. Los Angeles, California, was known for the French dip sandwich that was made from a hard roll piled with roast beef and served with meat juices on the side for dipping. New York City was known for its Reuben, which consisted of pumpernickel or rye bread served hot and layered with pastrami, sauerkraut, and melted cheese. Nevertheless, Omaha, Nebraska, claimed credit for the Reuben's creation. World War II soldiers created peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from their rations and brought home their creations after the war. Over time, people also looked beyond typical sandwich fillings, such as meats and cheeses, and developed meatless sandwiches made with ingredients like chickpeas, vegetables, avocados, and sprouts. Breakfast sandwiches consisting of eggs on bagels or croissants also emerged and rose in popularity.
Any type of bread could be filled with an array of different ingredients and be called a sandwich. However, this led to backlash against some foods being labeled as sandwiches, and a debate over exactly what constituted a sandwich arose. The argument made its way into the court system in Massachusetts in the 2006 case Panera vs. Qdoba, in which a judge ruled that tacos, quesadillas, and burritos were not considered sandwiches. Per the official definition, a tortilla did not meet the standards for sandwich bread, which is split or hinged. A tortilla is one entity that wraps around fillings. Using this definition, open-faced sandwiches that use only one piece of bread are not sandwiches and neither are gyros, which use a single pita to wrap the ingredients. Many people disagreed with this ruling, and the debate over sandwiches continued into the late 2010s.
Bibliography
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Garber, Megan, et. al. "What Is a Sandwich? (No, Seriously, Though)." The Atlantic, 10 Sept. 2014, www.theatlantic.com/video/archive/2014/09/what-is-a-sandwich-no-seriously-though/465114. Accessed 6 July 2017.
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"What Is a Sandwich?" Eater, 8 June 2015, www.eater.com/forums/general-food-and-cooking/2015/6/8/8748147/what-is-a-sandwich. Accessed 6 July 2017.