John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich
What in the world has happened to bread lately? The last few times we’ve gone out to lunch, Nyel and I have both ordered sandwiches and that has turned out to be a huge mistake. Different sandwiches, both bad — because of the bread. As in since when is plain old sandwich bread sweet? Yuck!
And how about the places that serve sandwiches on buns? I’m not talking hamburgers or hot dogs here. My order was for a club sandwich and it came on a bun! That was strange enough – I guess it’s the ‘designer sandwich syndrome’ — but, as soon as I picked it up, the bun began to disintegrate and I ended up eating the sandwich with a fork! The Earl would have fired his cook, I’m sure.
San Francisco Sourdough Bread
I mean, the whole point of a sandwich is to free one’s hands up (or one hand, as it were) up so you can continue your card game with the other. Granted, these days it might be to free up your smart phone fingers… but most of us know that it was John Montagu (1718-1792), 4th Earl of Sandwich who is credited with ‘inventing’ the custom of putting one’s meat between two pieces of bread so as not to interrupt progress at the gaming table.
It’s one of those ironies of history that the 4th E. of S.is remembered for a food creation rather than for one of his many political positions or even for his famous exchange with actor Samuel Foote. The story goes that Sandwich declared, “Foote, I have often wondered what catastrophe would bring you to your end; but I think, that you must either die of the pox or the halter.” “My lord”, replied Foote instantaneously, “that will depend upon one of two contingencies; — whether I embrace your lordship’s mistress, or your lordship’s principles.”
Bread Bowl on the Shelf
But (so to speak), back to bread. Nyel is one of the truly fine bread bakers of the world, at least in my opinion. His sourdough is right up there with San Francisco’s and his buns wouldn’t think of disintegrating on contact.
Unfortunately, bread is a serious temptation in this household. If it’s in residence, it disappears almost instantly only to reappear at our waistlines. So… Nyel has taken a baking vacation and we reserve sandwiches and other bread forms for an eating-out-treat. However, if they continue to taste like a ‘treatment’ instead, I suspect the bread bowl will be in use again soon, spare tires be damned!
I am reading your blog whilst eating an egg sandwich on an English muffin. Bread is divine.