The Sandwich
Whether it is a PB&J at a picnic or a foot long meatball sub for dinner, sandwiches are a simple, savory, and portable option for any meal of the day. We take them for granted today, but what were the first sandwiches? When did all this deliciousness start? Who invented the sandwich?
The first recorded mention of a sandwich-like meal dates all the way back to the 1st Century B.C. Ancient Jewish Rabbi Hillel the Elder is reported to have started the Passover tradition of putting lamb, mixed nuts and herbs between two pieces of unleavened bread.
In the Middle Ages people used thick slices of stale bread, called “trenchers”, as plates for meats and vegetables! That created an open-faced sandwich, although the bread was sometimes too stale to eat. The bread plate was often fed to dogs and farm animals.
In the 17th Century, taverns in the Netherlands started to serve something that was a lot more like the sandwiches we enjoy today. They would hang cured beef from the ceilings of the taverns. Then they would cut from these hanging pieces of meat. The sliced chunks of meat were served together with bread and butter for customers.
Slowly the sandwich started appearing among aristocrats as a late-night meal. The Earl of Sandwich steps into the history of this convenient and delicious part of history. The sandwich got its name from this man. He was an 18th Century English nobleman named John Montague. He was also the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who regularly ordered meat between two pieces of bread. The story goes that he did this because he could enjoy his meat and continue to play cards. He could play and take bites without his hands becoming messy or greasy. Soon people started ordering “the same as Sandwich”, and the name has stuck ever since! Even though he is not the actual inventor of sandwiches, Sandwich is the name that has gone down in history.
By the 19th Century the sandwich had become popular all over Europe, especially in England because of the industrial revolution. During the industrial revolution, people needed easy-to-make, easy-to-carry lunches that would fill them up for a long day of work. Every class of person enjoyed sandwiches. Today there are sandwiches of all different kinds and flavors and for every situation. People enjoy the bite sized cucumber sandwiches at high tea as well as a good ol’ ham sandwich in a typical American lunch bag.
QUESTIONS
PART A How well did you understand?
1) How far back can we trace the first sandwich?
a) 1st Century B.C. - Ancient Jewish Rabbi Hillel the Elder
b) Middle Ages "trenchers"
c) 17th Century, taverns in the Netherlands
d) 18th Century English nobleman John Montague. He was the 4th Earl of Sandwich
2) What were "trenchers"?
a) a Philadelphia cheesesteak
b) meat and veggies on stale bread
c) finger sandwiches served at high tea
d) meat and herbs on unleavened bread
3) Who was the Earl of Sandwich?
a) Margaret Thatcher
b) Rabbi Hillel the Elder
c) John Montague
d) President Biden
4) During the industrial revolution, people needed
a) easy-to-make, easy-to-carry lunches
b) home pizza delivery
c) personal chefs
d) Kosher bakeries
5) Bite sized cucumber sandwiches are usually associated with
a) dinner in China
b) football tailgate parties
c) Superbowl parties
d) high tea
B VOCABULARY & HISTORY
Which word or words fit the following definitions?
1) This is the quintessential American sandwich found in your school lunches. (Quintessential means the typical example of something)
a) Italian hoagie
b) meat and cheese sandwich
c) egg sandwich
d) Something else. Please describe.
2) What years do the "Middle Ages" refer to?
You may Google this.
3) What does unleavened bread mean?
You may Google this.
4) What does it mean that beef is cured?
https://www.thekitchn.com/food-science-how-meat-is-cured-79301
5) When was the industrial revolution?
You may Google this.
C) THINK ABOUT IT
1) What are 3 examples of food you can (politely) eat with your hands?
You may not use the "sandwich" as one of your answers.
a)
b)
c)
2) What is “high tea”?
3) Twenty years ago, the most common sandwich for kids was peanut butter and jelly. Is this a sandwich you are allowed to bring to school? Why?
4) What is your favorite sandwich and why? Write a short essay to answer this question in the form of a fictional essay. Use the 5 senses in your description. (@ least 125 words) Remember, write a fictional essay that INCLUDES the required info. NOs remain the same.
5) What is yeast? Why is it important for leavened bread? How does it work?
Write a factual explanation that is interesting and accurate. (@ least 125 words)
Use this as your source:
