The Town Of Sandwich Celebrates!
Fancy a PBJ or a grilled cheese or a ham and cheese? From Subways, to Quiznos and delicious mom-and-pop eateries, stores and supermarkets serve up these delicious sandwiches. Quick food on the go, or an appetizer or a tea-time snack, they are eaten at all times of the day, and in every country around the world. The word is even used in place of a verb - "to sandwich" means to squeeze in between two people or things.
But did you know, the ubiquitous sandwich has its humble origins in a gambling parlor in 18th century England! On Saturday May 12, the medieval town of Sandwich celebrated the 250th anniversary of the sandwich with a huge festival and sandwich-making competitions. They even re-enact the exact moment when the sandwich was born!
No sticky fingers, please..
As you can imagine, 18th century England was a time of proper etiquette and manners, especially among the nobility and royalty. John Montagu, an English nobleman and the 4th Earl of Sandwich was an impulsive gambler and a man with a fiery temper. He lived from 1718 to 1792.
As the legend goes... in one such game in 1762, when hunger took the better of him, Montagu asked the waiter to bring him a slice of beef between two slices of bread. He did not want his hands to get sticky, and he could eat while continuing his game of cards. His friends asked to "have the same as Sandwich" and the name caught on!
Apparently, the First Earl, Edward Montagu, originally intended to take the title of the Earl of Portsmouth —this was later changed to honor the town of Sandwich where he was commanding a fleet in 1660. Imagine if he had indeed taken the title of Portsmouth -- we may all be eating a Portsmouth now! Coincidentally, the current Earl of Sandwich is also named John Montagu.
Caesar Salad -- the Roman Emperor?
Contrary to popular belief, the Caesar salad was not named after Julius Caesar. It was, however, named after its creator, chef Caesar Cardini, who invented it on the Fourth of July, 1924, when his San Diego restaurant was low on food and he had to make do with what he had on hand.
The salad began appearing on California menus in the 1940s. The original Caesar Salad consisted of whole romaine lettuce leaves, eggs, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and Italian olive oil, with no anchovies. The Cardinis trademarked the Caesar salad name in 1948.
Did you know these are some other popular foods that owe their names to a person?
- Clementines -- the little oranges were named after Père Clément Rodier, a French monk living in North Africa at the beginning of the 20th century
- Graham crackers were named for Sylvester Graham, a 19th-century American Presbyterian minister
- Pizza Margherita was so named after Queen Margherita of Savoy, who was presented with this pizza in the colors of the Italian flag on a trip to Naples in 1889.
- Dr. Pepper was invented by pharmacist Charles Atherton in 1885 at a Waco, Texas drugstore owned by Wade Morrison. The drink is said to be named for Morrison's first employer, Charles T. Pepper, who owned a pharmacy in Virginia.
i didnt know thats what sandwhiches are named after!
reading this article made me soo hungry now i want a sandwich!
Sammiches r good, just like me gooder grammerr
wow!! now im hungry!
One time I watched a TV special on bread. Imagine all of the types of bread in the world, they all have the two same main ingredients flour and water.
I once watched a documentry on were sandwiches were first invented and it was so that you didn't get your fingers dirty from the meat.They got the name sandwich from the person who invented it eating their lunch. So He used his last name.
what is so importent about it.
Sweet sandwich! I didn't think that 18th century people would eat sandwiches. I want one now.
cool. Dr pepper was invented in waco texas. I live right next to waco!
Wow that is actually really cool how sandwiches got their names. I also didn't know sandwich was a verb.
Now I'm starving! It all sounds so good!
wow! what a history of a sandwich!
I'm hungry now.
So interesting but weird!
I never know that sandwich was a verb. It means to squeeze in between 2 people or things. The origin of the sandwich was invented in a gambling parlor in the 18th century in England. Saturday, May 12 it was the 250th anniversity of sandwiches.
I had no idea that so many foods are named after real life people!
I never knew how the "Sandwich" got its name! that sure is interesting! it is really weird how some things get their name. most things are usually named after people do something. and then these words become part of our everyday english language!:)
thats interesting on how the sandwiches got their names
Wow, that was a really cool article. I hadn't realized how similar the foods that we eat here are to foods that people eat in other countries on a regular basis!
It's interesting how many foods are named after people.
the food! yummmmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
the food is so delicious and i wish i could eat that and sell it for money
Sandwiches taste so good. I wish I could eat one right now.
It looks so delicous,I want to eat it!The cool thing about this sandwich is there is the history in there.
That is so interesting that just by one person trying to make food easier to eat not even knowing that they even invented one of the most popular food that is eaten every where.
I love ceasar salad and I always thought that that ceasar guy made it.
Who would have known that a sandwhich had such a big background.The sandwich picture above looks delicious!
wow!
i never knew there was a town called sandwich! and that they made it!
so cool
i am hungry from reading this article
I love sandwiches they are soo good. i didnt no that the last name of the person that made it was montagu
that is cool about sandwiches, and how they where named and created. this article made me hungry.
We should eat the sandwich like that instead of peanut butter
I never knew that about the sandwich. It is amazing where some things are created, come from, or named after! This was a very delicious article!
So delicous