Who invented the sandwich? When? Where? And Why?

Acknowledging the fact that combinations of bread/pastry filled with meat or cheese and dressed
with condiments have been enjoyed since ancient times, Food historians generally attribute the
creation of the sandwich, as we know it today, to John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich. This
Englishman was said to have been fond of gambling. As the story goes, in 1762, during a 24
hour gambling streak he instructed a cook to prepare his food in such a way that it would not
interfere with his game. The cook presented him with sliced meat between two pieces of toast.
Perfect! This meal required no utensils and could be eaten with one hand, leaving the other free
to continue the game. Sadly, the name of real inventor of the sandwich (be it inventive cook or
the creative consumer) was not recorded for posterity.

Recipes for sandwiches were not immediately forthcoming in cookbooks. Why? In England they
were (at first) considered restaurant fare. In America? Many colonial cooks in the last half of the
18th century were not especially fond of imitating British culinary trends. Did colonial American
cooks make sandwiches? Probably...most likely, though you will be hard pressed to find solid
evidence. When viewed in historical context, it is understandable why Americans didn't begin
calling their bread and meat combinations "sandwiches" until [long after the Revolution & War
of 1812] the late 1830s. The primary difference between early English and American
sandwiches? In England beef was the meat of choice; in America it was ham. A simple matter of
local protein supply. Or??! A tasty opportunity to promote government split. You decide.

This is what the food historians have to say:

"The bread-enclosed convenience food known as the "sandwich" is attributed to John Montagu,
fourth Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792), a British statesman and notorious profligate and gambler,
who is said to be the inventor of this type of food so that he would not have to leave his gaming
table to take supper. In fact, Montague was not the inventor of the sandwich; rather, during his
excursions in the Eastern Mediterranean, he saw grilled pita breads and small canapes and
sandwiches served by the Greeks and Turks during their mezes, and copied the concept for its
obvious convenience. There is no doubt, however, that the Earl of Sandwich made this type of
light repast popular among England's gentry, and in this way, his title has been associated with
the sandwich ever since. The concept is supremely simple: delicate finger food is served between
two slices of bread in a culinary practice of ancient origins among the Greeks and other
Mediterranean peoples. Literary references to sandwiches begin to appear in English during the
1760s, but also under the assumption that they are a food consumed primarily by the masculine
sex during late night drinking parties. The connotation does not change until the sandwich moves
into general society as a supper food for late night balls and similar events toward the end of the
eighteenth century...Charlotte Mason was one of the first English cookbook authors to provide a
recipe for sandwiches...During the nineteenth century, as midday dinner moved later and later
into the day, the need for hot supper declined, only to be replaced with light dishes made of cold
leftovers, ingredients for which the sandwich proved preeminently suitable. Thus the sandwich
became a fixture of intimate evening suppers, teas, and picnics, and popular fare for taverns and
inns. This latter genre of sandwich has given rise to multitudes of working class
creations...During the early years of the railroad, sandwiches proved an ideal form of fast food,
especially since they could be sold at train stations when everyone got off to buy snacks...During
the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the sandwich came into its own, especially as a
response to the Temperance Movement. Taverns and saloons offered free sandwiches with
drinks in order to attract customers."

We have two choices: to face difficulty with optimism or to face difficulty with pessimism.

I’m not saying it’s as easy as ‘just be positive about it’. This absolutely doesn’t dismiss the collective
difficulty and challenges being faced, but in looking for the silver linings, we attempt to enter a state of
acceptance and use our energy otherwise to build stronger physical health and community regardless of
the isolation we face whilst tackling this virus.