Sandwich is an English variation of all-known bread and butter. However, the stuffing in a sandwich is held between two slices of bread. Things put in the stuffing depend on the region. It may be meat, cheese, sausage, vegetables etc.

The idea of wrapping food up in bread is as old as the universe itself. According to the legend, ancient Judea catechist Gillele wrapped the meat of easter lamb in matzoth. In the Medieval Europe it was common sense to use pieces of stale bread as tableware. Sandwiches in their modern look have originated from Europe around the 18^th century. In 1762,  an English historian Edward Hibbon in his diary mentioned his fellow club members, “the tops of the kingdom”, eating “little pieces of cold meat, a.k.a. Sandwich” for supper».

There’s also a widespread comic theory about the origin of sandwiches. It says that John Montague, count Sandwich the Fourth, was a gambler and he could spend days and nights by the card table. The count had a hard time using knife and fork, and he didn’t want to be distracted from the game, so he asked the cook to make roast beef and put it in between two slices of bread so he could hold it in one hand while holding cards in another. It’s proven comfortable, so sandwich has become popular around the world very fast.

It is, of course, a fairy tale. Actually, count John Montague Sandwich (1718-1792 г.) was a member of English parliament as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Naval Warfare of the British Empire, and he considered cards senseless and stupid waste of time. John Montague Sandwich managed the preparations of the captain Cook’s world tour which resulted in discovery of Hawaii islands that were primarily named Sandwich archipelago in his honor. But it really was him who invented sandwich in its modern look. The count needed fast and cheap food so he could have dinners during his tiring job over big projects

Sandwiches entered the food culture of many countries relatively fast. There are many sandwiches-selling companies present in England. Huge fast-food chains have also took these “closed bread and butter” home. It’s become popular in the 90-s around the former Soviet Union countries.

There’s a huge amount of sandwiches recipes which vary from region to region in relation to the ethnic traditions and cooks’ fantasy. For example, Italian beef sandwiches are popular in Chicago, sausage and sauerkraut sandwiches are popular in Milwaukie. In Los Angeles they always add French sauce to the sandwiches, while in New Orlean a sandwich with ham, salami,  mortadella(Bolognese sausage), provolone cheese, olives and garlic called “muffaletta” is preferred by the Italian part of the townsfolk. Club sandwich, also popular in the US, represents a triangular sandwich which is, essentially, a regular sandwich cut diagonally.

In “The White Whale” coffee shop we’re happy to offer you our ham and chicken sandwich, which is served with ketchup and mustard, or a club sandwich with chicken and ham that we usually serve along with potato cream soup. Bon appetit!

Liked the article? Share it wtih your friends via the social media!