National Sandwich Day

Weird Sandwiches for National Sandwich Day

November 3rd is National Sandwich Day, which gives us a good excuse to celebrate the ubiquitous quick lunch that has fueled the country for so long. Sandwiches became popular among the American working class because they were easy to make and clean to eat, so you could have lunch and get back to work without needing to scrub your hands clean of grease or spend time doing dishes. Now, the average American eats around 200 sandwiches a year1.

The History of the Sandwich

One often-shared anecdote about the origin of the sandwich refers more accurately to the name Sandwich. John Montagu, fourth Earl of Sandwich, was enjoying a marathon cribbage session – as English nobles in the 1700s apparently did – and needed something to eat that wouldn't mar his playing cards or require him to take a 10-minute break to eat. He ordered his servants to bring him beef between two slices of toasted bread; from there the construction swept the country, and then the world.

Of course, this wasn't the first time humans considered mixing bread and toppings into one meal. Before the Earl of Sandwich, Europeans ate their meals on trenchers – large flat chunks of bread that could then be eaten after absorbing the grease or gravy of the main course. Long before that, we have record of ancient Israelites eating bitter herbs inside unleavened bread, which might be similar to a pita or wrap today. The etymology of "sandwich," though, can be attributed to one card-playing (or hardworking, depending on the story) British nobleman – and, fittingly, National Sandwich Day falls on the Earl of Sandwich's birthday.

Weird Sandwiches

Every part of the country and every cultural tradition has created its own take on the sandwich, leading to a wonderful variety of "stuff between pieces of bread." Different regions have their own unique sandwiches, some of which take off and get wildly popular; others remain localized specialties that mostly just appeal to their lifelong fans. To those who love them, the combinations found in these four sandwiches are anything but unexpected.

The Fool's Gold Loaf

Variations on a peanut butter sandwich are always popular, with ingredients that either contrast or complement the comfort food, but the Fool's Gold Loaf is not for the faint of heart or small of stomach. Hailing from Denver, Colorado and popularized by Elvis Presley, this 4-pound behemoth has only four ingredients: peanut butter, blueberry preserves, and bacon, all on a sourdough loaf. A variation on the classic PB&J, bacon and sourdough bread balance out the sweetness with savory notes. This exercise in indulgence is typically split amongst multiple people, unless you happen to be the King.

The Greasy Chip Butty

I'll be honest with you, I chose this one because of the name and the song. That's right, the Greasy Chip Butty song2. This particular sandwich comes from the home country of the sandwich, Britain, and is part of the official anthem of the soccer team Sheffield United. "Butty" is local slang for a buttered sandwich, and chips are how the Brits refer to french fries. Made with sliced white bread or a sandwich roll, a chip butty is filled with french fries and paired with some form of condiment: mayo, ketchup, malt vinegar, or brown sauce, which is a regional favorite that Americans might recognize in A1 Sauce (formerly A1 Steak Sauce).

The Chow Mein Sandwich

The chow mein sandwich3 comes from Fall River, Massachusetts, and started as a way to introduce Chinese chow mein to reluctant American workers. Filling and exceptionally cheap, the chow mein sandwich was a ribsticking meal that would keep factory workers on their feet. This northeast standout is made with a plate of crispy, fried chow mein noodles placed between an all-American hamburger bun and ladled over with gravy. You can't pick this sandwich up, and it definitely isn't the right choice if you're looking for something easy to eat while playing cards, but it's a tasty fusion of American-Chinese cuisine.

The Luther Burger

Hamburgers are one of the most popular sandwiches in America and around the world – so much so that most people think of them as their own category, rather than a variation of a sandwich. The Luther Burger4 is the next step in hamburger evolution, and perhaps of all sandwiches everywhere (or maybe not). In place of a traditional hamburger bun, the Luther Burger utilizes glazed donuts, which can be toasted, grilled, sliced, or used straight out of the box. Named for singer and producer Luther Vandross, the Luther Burger has become popular as a diet-busting indulgence, complete with imitators trying to see how many calories they can stack into one menu item.

Other variations on this theme include the funnel cake burger, the apple pie grilled cheese, and the ramen burger. Basically, the hamburger is so good that you can replace the bun with nearly any other edible product, and it'll still be at least decent.

Resources

  1. Discover the History of the Sandwich. Avey, Tori. PBS. Accessed July 2021.
  2. Greasy Chip Butty Song - Video. YouTube. Accessed July 2021.
  3. How The Chow Mein Sandwich Claimed A Small Slice Of New England History. NPR. Accessed July 2021.
  4. Luther Burger. Snopes. Accessed July 2021.