WILKES-BARRE — Remember when your mom would ask you what you wanted for lunch and your answer would be, “Just make me a sandwich.”
Just a sandwich?
Hardly.
For many of us, there is something very special about a sandwich — way more than some deli meat and cheese placed between two slices of bread.
I mean, the variations are endless.
And, usually, absolutely delicious.
I got to thinking the other day about where the idea for a sandwich came from — I mean it’s got to be one of humankind’s greatest inventions. Right up there with the television, the automobile and baseball.
So who invented the sandwich? This person ranks at the top of the list with people like the first person who milked a cow — talk about courage. And then, to drink that milk! Thank you to that person.
Well, research took me way back to the year 1762. Get this — a guy named John Montagu, who had the fancy title of the Earl of Sandwich, was playing cards with his pals and he got hungry, so the story goes. John, errr the Earl, didn’t want to leave the card table — I guess he was on a winning streak — but he wanted to eat.
Being an Earl and all that goes with that title, he asked for a serving of roast beef to be placed between two slices of bread so he could eat with his hands.
Genius, right?
So, in 1762, John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, invented the meal that changed dining forever.
And from that humble beginning, born out of a desire to keep playing cards while satisfying hunger pangs, civilization was given a gift that keeps on giving — the sandwich.
Now, I have had my share of sandwiches over the years and I can tell you that I have rarely been disappointed. And I have my favorites, for sure.
I really enjoy a BLT — bacon lettuce and tomato — with mayo and salt and pepper. That’s a sandwich that’s hard to beat. But the homegrown tomato and cheese on rye with mayo and salt and pepper is a close second. And there really is something special about a fried baloney sandwich with some onion and ketchup and melted cheese.
I could go on and talk about the virtues of many sandwiches — club sandwich, tuna, veggie, grilled cheese and tomato, cheesesteak — yes it qualifies — Reuben, French dip, meatball, ham and Swiss cheese, peanut butter and jelly, chicken salad, salami and provolone, oval spiced ham, and turkey — include the Thanksgiving version that includes stuffing, cole slaw, cranberry sauce and gravy — and so many more.
My dad loved sardine sandwiches with onion and ketchup — that is one I will pass on. But I have made myself an onion sandwich, sometimes adding bread and butter pickles and salt and pepper with butter on lightly toasted bread.
That is the essence of sandwiches — they can be constructed any way you like and enjoy.
Now we will go a little hard core. Who among you enjoys dunking your sandwich?
That’s right, dunking — in tomato soup, or in coffee or tea?
I do. Yes, I’m a dunk-a-holic.
I have dunked almost every type of sandwich in any of the three listed above. Yes, I have dunked my tuna sandwich in soup, coffee and tea. And it is always delicious.
I remember many lunches. from my grade school days throughout adulthood, where I have consciously decided that I would make a sandwich and dunk it in tomato soup or coffee or tea. I can see some of you grimacing as you read this. But if you’ve never tried it, then you are denying yourself one of life’s greatest pleasures. Face it, you all have dunked cookies and donuts in coffee or milk, right? So why not dunk your sandwich?
But I am not sure the Earl of Sandwich would have enjoyed dunking at the card table — it could get messy if you’re not careful.
And the sandwich can always be improved by adding whatever you like — tomatoes, lettuce, onion, peppers, pickles, cucumbers, olives, avocado — really, it is up to you. And ketchup, mustard, horseradish sauce, mayo — all work.
Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.
I will also say that a hoagie, a hamburger and a hot dog are sandwiches. And all the rules apply as far as adding whatever you want. But never add peanut butter to a hamburger. I tried that once at a restaurant and I had one bite and that was it. Whoever came up with that could never become the Earl of Sandwich.
Gotta go now, almost time for lunch.
Guess what I’ll be dunking today?