Hey! Have you ever wondered why this food named 'sandwich' resembles the names of British towns like Greenwich, Middlewich, Northwich, etcetera? Aren't you wondering if there exists a place called Sandwich too? If yes, then you are right! There really exists an English town named 'Sandwich'.
In ancient English, ‘Wich' or ‘Wick’ means 'a dwelling' or a 'secure place where the trade happens.' So, technically 'Sandwich' means ' a market town on sandy soil.'
Let's come back to the story of this Sandwich. How did this food item get the name of a not-so-important English town?
Well... to understand that we have to travel way back to the 18th century to the story of a gambler... Yes, you heard it right…. a Gambler!
In the early 1700s, there was a nobleman named John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich. The earl used to spend a lot of time at the gambling table.
The story goes that the 'earl of sandwich' did not have time to eat during his long gambling sessions.
Hence, to avoid getting up and cleaning his hands every time he eats, he asked his cooks to bring him slices of meat between two slices of bread.
His fellow gamblers were familiar with the habit and used to order the servants, by saying "the same as Sandwich." And thus begins the humble journey of a sandwich! No wonder it is now a favourite breakfast and a snack around the globe.
So an ideal sandwich should never spill its ingredients when consumed.
And did you know? The United States annually celebrates the birthday of 'the 4th earl of sandwich' as the national sandwich day on the 3rd of November.
Next time, if you are preparing a sandwich, apart from the right bread, sauces and fillings, you have to be careful not to allow the ingredients to fall out. That's called a perfect sandwich!
If you know any such interesting food stories, do share them with us in the comments section.