We all know and probably love a good sandwich. It’s the ultimate convenient meal, whether it’s a quick lunch or a packed picnic treat. But have you ever stopped to think about where this seemingly simple concept came from? It’s not just some random invention; the story of the sandwich is actually quite interesting and spans centuries, evolving in different ways across the globe.
The commonly cited origin story points to John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, in the 18th century. Legend has it that he was so engrossed in gambling that he asked his servants to bring him meat tucked between two slices of bread, so he wouldn’t have to leave the card table. While this tale is catchy, the truth is, people had been doing something similar for centuries before that. Think about it – is this really such a revolutionary idea? People have been combining bread and fillings since, well, bread was invented.
For example, if you travel back in time to the ancient world, you would find people in the Mediterranean eating things like flatbreads layered with meats, cheeses, and olives (kinda like a proto-sandwich). Even the great Jewish sage, Hillel the Elder, who lived in the first century BC, is recorded in the Mishnah as using matzah and bitter herbs in between Passover – definitely sandwich-esque. (Mishnah Pesahim 10:5). Then, we have medieval trencher bread, which were thick slices of bread used as plates and sometimes eaten along with the food placed upon it.
Now, let’s skip forward to today and see how diverse sandwiches are globally. In Vietnam, you have the ‘Banh Mi’, a delightful fusion of French and Vietnamese flavours, using a baguette, pate, pickled vegetables and herbs. It’s a clear indication of the region’s colonial history and local ingredients. Then there’s the ‘Arepa’ from South America, a corn-based bread pocket filled with countless possibilities - cheese, meat, vegetables, you name it. Not to mention the ‘Smørrebrød’ in Denmark, an open-faced masterpiece of buttered rye bread topped with everything from pickled herring to roast beef.
What’s cool is how these versions reflect the culture and resources of their locations. Each sandwich, from a simple peanut butter and jelly to a complex ‘shawarma’ has its own character and tells a story. So, the next time you bite into your sandwich, take a moment to appreciate its journey and its various forms all around the world. It’s more than just lunch; it’s a bit of history, culture, and creativity between two slices of bread.
