From Wikipedia:
…named after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, an 18th-century English aristocrat. It is said that he ordered his valet to bring him meat tucked between two pieces of bread, and others began to order “the same as Sandwich!”[6][7] It is commonly said that Lord Sandwich was fond of this form of food because it allowed him to continue playing cards, particularly cribbage, while eating, without using a fork, and without getting his cards greasy from eating meat with his bare hands.[6]
…Before being known as sandwiches, this food combination seems to simply have been known as “bread and meat” or “bread and cheese”.
I love sandwiches. I could make a sandwich out of almost anything I eat. I count wrapped items as sandwiches too. I always have a package of tortillas/wraps on hand and am always stuffing leftovers into them for the perfect lunch. I have been known to put Chinese food on a wrap for lunch the next day. Don’t judge me!
My grandma started me on this road, because she used to do the same thing. We would be out to dinner, or at home on a Sunday and she’d grab a big piece of Italian bread, slice one side, and slide whatever she was eating into it. At this time, I was still eating red meat, so I bounded around the world (virtually) sampling all types of sandwiches and all types of food plopped onto bread. I was limited only by the dietary restrictions I had at the time, which were and still are, no fish and no mayonnaise. So, everyone’s favorite tuna fish is out. I’ve never tasted it in my life, though I feel as if I have, because the smell is so strong, and I could just imagine. Blurgh!
Now that I no longer eat red meat, and I still refuse to eat fish (how could you eat something so cute and swimmy?), and I still worship at the altar of “Hold the Mayo”, my sandwich opportunities are slightly more limited. When I go into some of our delicious local Salumerias (intense Italian delis full of hanging meat and gourmet delicacies) nowadays, I order a nice veggie option, or a chicken cutlet, or some oven-roasted turkey. I still look longingly at the Prosciutto, as it is the one thing I still miss after 25 years of no meat. I’d probably vomit if I ate it. I have done so after ingesting beef by accident, because after a certain amount of time your stomach treats it almost like a toxin. The thought of puking right onto my deli paper and sandwich has kept me away thus far.
I love sandwiches so much that my favorite cookies are Oreo sandwich cookies. My favorite breakfast is French Toast with Turkey Sausage Patties. My second favorite breakfast is Egg and Cheese on a sesame bagel. Sometimes I call lunch “Sandwich Time”, and I totally identify with all quotes referring to Joey’s sandwiches on Friends. My favorite is below:
How about you, dear readers… what’s your favorite sandwich?
Living La Vida Mitten 