The Sandwich origin defies the most basic British table etiquette. Find when the sandwich was invented, along with a few facts about sandwich makers.
Who Invented the Sandwich?
The Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, invented the sandwich in 1762 during the 4th century. Montagu was so engrossed in a game of cards that he asked his butler to bring him a serving of two slices of bread filled with roast beef. He later proceeded to eat with his hands even though it was considered barbaric to eat food using one’s hands back then.
Times have changed now, and eating a sandwich with the help of cutlery is considered barbaric. So, let’s see the evolution of the roast beef sandwich and more facts about the Sandwich origin.
Why Is It Called a Sandwich?
- A. After the Duke of Sandwich
- B. After the Earl of Sandwich
- C. After the Duchess of Sandwich
- D. After the Countess of Sandwich
National Sandwich Day is celebrated every year on 3rd November to celebrate the Earl of Sandwich, the first-ever sandwich maker.
Sandwich Origin
Sandwiches became popular in the U.S. only after the 1900s. One of the important reasons behind its popularity was the sale of pre-sliced bread in bakeries. These sandwiches were very similar to hamburgers and had initially attracted school children and workers who would enjoy a light and portable meal.
A Jewish rabbi/leader introduced the oldest sandwich-making tradition. The ‘Hillel Sandwich’ dates back to 100B.C. The rabbi who worked under King Herod in Jerusalem introduced the sandwich to help the citizens consume bitter herbs easily. The herbs were placed in matzo bread for consumption.
How Many Types of Sandwich?
There is no definite answer for the types of sandwiches given the endless possibilities, but the generic criteria for most sandwiches fall under these categories:
Plain
Your daily plain or grilled sandwiches fall under this category. They come with an assortment of fillings, dips, with or without the crust—your typical PB&J, grilled cheese, egg salad, ham, and cheese fall under this.
Pinwheel
This is a sushi-type sandwich. Fresh bread slices are dampened and flattened using a rolling pin. These lengthwise layers are later filled with stuffings and arranged cylindrically on platters.
Closed Tea
A closed tea is a ready-made frozen sandwich. It can be bought from stores or made at home. They are usually removed from the freezer 3 to 4 hours before consumption.
Ribbon
A ribbon sandwich is just any other sandwich that has multiple layers. They typically don’t have a crust and are always cut into 1×1 sections. Diners may opt for colored bread slices to make the difference prominent.
Mosaic or Checkerboard
These sandwiches can be made in two different ways. The first way is to choose contrasting layers of flat fillings and place them in bite-sized bread slices. The other way is to do the same in different colored bread and arrange them to resemble a checkerboard.
Open or Open-Faced
These sandwiches don’t have a bread slice on the top to cover the fillings on the inside. The bottom layer of the sandwich may have a coating of butter, cheese, or a choice of spread, depending on personal choices. Though the dictionary considered only food with two layers of bread with a filling as a sandwich, this is the only odd variety.
Sandwich Makers
Charles Champion invented the very first sandwich makers in 1920. Thomas Alva Edison invented the first-ever electric sandwich maker. He named it a panini press. It consisted of two metal plates hinged together that can heat up with electricity. The toaster, on the other hand, was invented by John O’Brien. Dr. Ernest Smithers invented the Australian jaffle maker or the jaffle iron from Bondi in NSW.
Play a fun quiz now to find out more about sandwiches.