The origin of the sandwich
CEBU, Philippines – The origin of the word "sandwich" as a food item may have originated from a story about John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. He didn't really 'invent' the sandwich but he may have made it popular.
It is said that around1762, he asked for meat to be served between slices of bread, to avoid interrupting a gambling game. This story may have been rumor or adverse propaganda, put about by his rivals. But soon people may have started ordering "the same as Sandwich's," and the name stuck!
Hereditary English titles can be confusing. The family of the Earls of Sandwich has no real connection to the town itself, only the title. The 1st Earl, Edward Montagu, originally intended to take the title of the Earl of Portsmouth - but this may have been changed as a compliment to the town of Sandwich, because the fleet he was commanding in 1660 was lying off Sandwich, before it sailed to bring back Charles II to England.
The 1st Century B.C. 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' to double as plates on which they placed cooked meats and vegetables, a kind of "open sandwich," although they probably did not eat the stale bread. The Dutch also have a long tradition of serving bread and butter with meat or fish (broodjes) or other delicious fillings and toppings.
(www.open-sandwich.co.uk)
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