It is a member of the great triumvirate of human invention, along with fire and the wheel.
It is diverse as it is simple. It can be made by anyone, but it constantly challenges the imagination.
Look to any people group in the universe, and probably in the history of mankind, and it will hoist its preferred version (or versions) of the sandwich made from ingredients as integral to and evident of the culture as anything else.
It is routine. We pack it in our sack lunches and carry it to work. But it's the thing we remember, the thing we crave.
It is the sandwich.
Or that is what we call it in English, apparently — after employing extensive internet research — because an Englishman named John Montague didn't like to get up from his card game. Montague, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, requested his servant to bring him meat in between two pieces of bread. Also, Montague didn't want to make the cards greasy from eating meat with his bare hands. Understandable.
Other people began to see the brilliance of this and thus began ordering "the same as Sandwich!" (Wikipedia, see: sandwich; http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/SandwichHistory.htm)
But to think the sandwich didn't come along until the 18th century is a bit naïve. The same sources as sited above indicate documentation of meat between bread as early as the first century B.C.
I suppose the actual invention of the thing that we call a sandwich happened about 15 minutes after the first loaf of bread came into the world. "Darn if this grainy substance isn't good, but it's missing something. Bring me yonder pig!"
Here in our town, we have a pretty good selection of our own takes on the greatness of the sandwich. This week, I'll highlight some of those sandwiches, mostly at local restaurants.
The photo with this blog features Schmaltz's The Schmaltz, made with mozzarella, cheddar, Parmesan, ham, salami, lunch meat, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, black olives, mustard and garlic butter on in-house freshly baked bread.
"I've been going to Schmaltz's in the Town West center as long as I can remember," WacoFork user sicembrian remarked in a review. "I've only had their namesake sandwich, The Schmaltz. Original bread is the way to go if you ask me."
That's the kind of attachment Wacoans feel toward Schmaltz's. No doubt it is one of the sandwiches that represents our cultural legacy, such as it is.
One more bite: As usual, I'm requesting your help here. What is the best sandwich in Waco?
