The sandwich evolved from a poor man's meal. "Let them eat cake."
Although, it didn't have a name then, it was probably stale bread leftover from the table of wealthy landowners, either thrown out or fed to beggars and dogs.
It's widely accepted that the first actual sandwich was by Rabbi Hillel the Elder, who lived during the 1st century B.C. It's reported that he slathered a mixture of chopped nuts, apples, spices and wine between two matzohs during Passover.
Then, of course, there's John Montague (1718-1792) the Fourth Earl of Sandwich. Yes, if you didn't know, that's his real title. He was Lord of Admiralty, patron to Captain Cook. You've heard of Cook, haven't you? He explored New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, Hawaii and Polynesia. Cook named the Hawaiian Islands, Sandwich Island.
Long story, but in 1840, the sandwich was introduced to America by Englishwoman Elizabeth Leslie (1787-1858). In her cookbook, Directions for Cookery, she had a recipe for ham sandwiches that she suggested as a main dish.
In the 1900's, the sandwich became popular in America when bakeries started selling sliced bread. Sandwiches were an easy, portable meal for skilled and non-skilled trades such as railway workers, carpenters and miners, as well as, school children.
Cream cheese had been invented in New York (1872) but became mass marketed by Philadelphia Brand in 1928. That brought on the cheesesteak, hamburger, hot dog, peanut butter sandwich and sloppy joe.
In the 20s, the luncheonette brought fame to hot sandwiches. Warm meat could be carved and placed on bread topped with hot gravy.
World War II years created popular sandwiches, such as the hero, hoagie, grinder, submarine, Po' Boy and torpedo.
Americans from various parts of the country began their own version of the sandwich. There's the Denver Omelet (eggs on toast), Fluffernutter (peanut butter and Fluff marshmallow creme, a New England invention), French Dip created in Los Angeles (sliced roast beef on French roll or baguette au jus).
There's the Muffaletta from New Orleans, with ingredients similar to a hero or sub, but served on a slice cut from a loaf of round Sicilian muffaletta bread, instead of a long roll; Philadelphia Cheesesteak (thin slices of grilled steak with melted cheese on a roll; the ever popular Reuben Sandwich from New York City—pastrami, sauerkraut and melted cheese on pumpernickel or rye bread.
World War II soldiers combined mess kit C-Ration crackers with peanut butter and jelly, and Elvis Presley made the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich his foodie fare.
The next gen began putting "extras" on sandwiches, such as crunchy potato chips and french fries. Salt and Vinegar "Chips" complimented fried fish sandwiches. BBQ "Chips" went well with the turkey sandwich.
According to Blondie scripter Dean Young, his father, Chic Young, began drawing the huge Dagwood sandwich in the "Blondie" comic strip in 1936.
Named for the comic strip character, Dagwood Bumstead, the sandwich contains healthy amounts of cold cuts, sliced cheese and vegetables separated by more than one slice of bread. An olive skewered by a toothpick crowns the edible tower of goodness.
If you watch Guy Fieri on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, you see many different mouth-munching smiley faces enjoying all sorts of hot and cold sandwiches.
Esquire has a list of the best sandwiches in America, unranked. No burgers.
Award-winning travel writer Larry Olmsted, in an article for Forbes, clued me to the Food Network's list of favorite 50 sandwiches.
Can you guess which sandwich is the best sandwich in America?