The History of the Sandwich

by Peter Bentley
Ever since humans in early post hunting-gathering communities figured out how to bake bread, they have been combining other ingredients to accompany their crusty, baked creations. It is the most basic meal; meat, cheese, vegetables or nuts--almost anything works between two slices of bread. But how did we get here?

According to Linda Stradley and her site What's Cooking America; long before there were hoagie’s, subs, grinders, panini’s, gyro’s and torta’s, there was a Rabbi, who, during the 1st century, made a practice of sandwiching a mixture of chopped nuts, apples, spices, and wine between two pieces of matzohs to eat with bitter herbs. The filling served as a reminder of the suffering of the Jews before their deliverance from Egypt, Passover. Because he was the first known person to do this, and because of his influence, this practice was added to the Seder and the Hillel Sandwich was named after him.

He went on to form a successful chain of roadside sandwich stands from Jericho to Rome, before being bought out by a group of private equity Romans… ha ha ha!

Seriously, combining meat or vegetables between slices of bread or folded into wraps of flat bread, has long been a means of creating unique, if not a convenient and portable food. In the middle ages thick slabs of coarse bread were often used as plates or as a means of soaking up juices of meats heaped upon them, creating what is known today as the open faced sandwich.

But history points to John Montague (1718-1792) as the real namesake of the sandwich. John Montague was the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, He became First Lord of the Admiralty and was patron to Capt. James Cook (who explored New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, and Polynesia.). Capt. Cook named the Hawaiian Islands after him, calling them the Sandwich Islands. Montague was a gambler and usually gambled for hours at a time, sometimes refusing to get up even for meals, oten ordering hiss valet to bring him meat tucked between two pieces of bread. Because Montague also happened to be The Earl of Sandwich, others in the parlor began to order "the same as Sandwich!" The original Montague sandwich was, in fact, a piece of salt beef between two slices of toasted bread.

Over the ages the sandwich has evolved into regional, local and personal delicacies- from the Hot Brown in Kentucky to the Fluffernutter in Massachusetts to the Muffaletta in New Orleans. Today’s sandwich is as varied as people that eat them. From the classic’s like PB&J and Ham & Cheese to complex trendy variations, like a grilled roasted red pepper, fontina and arugula Panini, no matter your preference for fillings, the sandwich is arguably a fun and nutritious cross cultural favorite for all ages.

Send us your favorite sandwiches and creative ideas.  Here are some of our favorite sandwich combinations.