I’ve always liked sandwiches, but here lately, I’ve been really fascinated by them. By fascinated, I mean I’ve been eating them a lot … and enjoying them. So, to even appreciate my sandwiches more, I’ve decided to create a new section on my site about sandwiches I’ve eaten. To display my super creativity, I’m calling it “Sandwiches I’ve Eaten.” Amazing, isn’t it?
Anyway, I did a little Google searching about the history of sandwiches and there’s a bunch of stuff out there. Apparently, sandwiches started sometime BC when a Rabbi put nuts, apples, spices and wine between some matzah to go along with the bitter herbs during Passover. But they weren’t called sandwiches until a lot later. Throughout time, people ate bread, meat and cheese and stuff together without giving it much thought … it was just bread and cheese or bread and meat … or bread, meat, cheese, vegetables, sauces, etc. As you can see, it wasn’t the most efficient in the name department, but I suppose people were too busy fighting each other, avoiding getting beheaded by kings and queens and hiding from bubonic plagues and such.
Then, as legend goes, one fateful night John Montague, the 4th Earl of Sandwich was on a card playing streak (gambling) and wanted an easy way to eat his meat and bread, since he needed one hand to hold the cards, so the cook brought out a piece of meat between two pieces of bread. Everyone was like, “Oh, awesome! Why didn’t we think of that?! Hey, woman, make me a “sandwich!”” Thus the “sandwich” now known as the “sandwich” was born. Then rich people started eating them and everyone wanted one and acted like no such thing had ever been invented before.
Then sandwiches started making it into cookbooks. Here’s one of the first recipes: http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/cookbooks/display.cfm?TitleNo=24&PageNum=129
Now we have sandwich shops all over and you have to pay about ten bucks for one at little place with limited seating and overpriced water. No matter, sandwiches are still awesome, so this is where I shall pay tribute to the sandwiches in my life. I hope you’ll join me on this journey and possibly contribute some sandwich experiences of your own.
For starters, I’m going to go down memory lane and revisit the post I did about the Kingsman Restaurant. I had a cheesesteak sandwich that was wonderful—tender meat, gooey cheese, sautéed vegetables, all on a crispy on the outside, soft on the inside roll. Basic sandwich greatness.
Mmmmmm ... so good!
