We all know it, we all love it – the humble sandwich. But have you ever stopped to think about its origins? It’s not just a simple stack of fillings between bread, it’s a culinary chameleon, a versatile meal that’s travelled through time and across continents. So, let’s take a little dive into its surprisingly rich history.
The sandwich didn’t just magically appear one day. While the name itself is attributed to John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, in the 18th century, the concept of layering food between bread is much older. Think about the ancient practice of using flatbreads to scoop up and wrap food; it’s a form of early sandwich. Consider, for example, the famous Rabbi Hillel the Elder, who, according to tradition, would eat matzah with bitter herbs and lamb during Passover (around the 1st century BCE). While not a ‘sandwich’ in the modern sense, it shows that the idea of using bread as a edible container is quite ancient (Babylonian Talmud, Pesachim 115a).
Now, back to the Earl. The story goes that he was a dedicated gambler who didn’t want to leave the gaming table to eat. He asked his servant to bring him meat tucked between two slices of bread so he could eat without using utensils (which, let’s face it, is a pretty valid reason). While that’s a great tale, and convenient for the history books, it’s likely that others were already consuming similar handheld meals before he popularised it. The Earl’s sandwich, however, was the one that stuck, and the word ‘sandwich’ began to appear in the English lexicon, notably within a diary entry by Edward Gibbon (the author of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire) in the year 1762.
From the 18th century onward, the sandwich really took off. It wasn’t just a meal for gamblers; it became a staple for workers, travellers, and eventually, pretty much everyone. Think about the Victorian tea sandwich, the po’boys of New Orleans, the banh mi of Vietnam, or the classic BLT. The sandwich is a testament to cultural adaptation and human ingenuity. It’s an easy way to utilise leftovers, create something satisfying and portable, and its universal appeal is a true testament to its simplicity and versatility. Plus, it’s just delicious. Whether you like yours stacked high with all kinds of fillings or kept simply, there is a sandwich out there for everyone. So, the next time you bite into one, take a moment to appreciate its long and fascinating journey through history.
