History of Club Sandwich
It is said that the sandwiches we know and love today were first
created in 1762 by John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich. As a known
gambler, the Earl would be up playing cards for hours and for sheer convenience
he asked for some meat in between two slices of bread so that he could eat at
the card table. Whilst we all love gossip like that, his biography states that
it was his commitment to politics, the navy and art which meant that he could
not leave his desk for lunch. Suddenly people started to ask to eat “what
sandwich has” which has been shortened to “sandwich” over the
years.
The first mention of the word was found in a recipe book “The Lady’s Assistant
for Regulating and Supplying the Table” written by Charlotte Mason in
1773. The invention of the automatic bread-slicing machine in 1928 made
the sandwich even more popular as they could now be made quicker and much
easier to create.
The first pre-packed sandwiches sold here in the UK was in 1880. A British
retailer wrapped up some left-over sandwiches from its Marble Arch Café rather
than waste them which immediately
suited busy London Workers.
The Club sandwich, sometimes referred to as the clubhouse sandwich, is commonly made from three slices of toast (usually white), chicken/turkey, ham/bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. It's a sandwich found in diners and lunch rooms, and now comes in many variations as well, such as a cheeseburger club.
Why is there a third slice of toast
in this sandwich? What is the origin of this sandwich? Let's examine some of
the early history of this iconic sandwich, delving into its origins as
well.
The origin of this sandwich, which is
most often associated with hotels around the world, is all a matter of
speculation and guesswork. The name probably comes because of its
popularity at resorts and country clubs. It definitely existed in the
United States by the late 19th century. The Club Sandwich was the
favorite of former King Edward VIII of England and his wife, Wallis Simpson.
In fact, she took great pride in preparing this sandwich.
1889
We find the first direct reference,
with a description of its contents, to a Club Sandwich, and its potential
origin at the Union Club in New York. It should be noted that
this sandwich existed at the Club for an unknown amount of time prior to 1889,
but it was only in 1889 that the sandwich became known to the general public.
And the newspapers at this time seemed to believe the Union Club invented this
sandwich.
1890
However, also in 1894, a recipe for a
“Club-House Sandwich” appeared in the book “Sandwiches” by Sarah Tyson Rorer. A
1912 edition of this book is available for free on the online ebook archive the
Gutenberg Project.
1894
The most popular theory is that the
sandwich first appeared in 1894 at the famous Saratoga Club-House (an exclusive
gentlemen only gambling house in upstate Saratoga Springs, New York) where the
potato chips was born. Originally called Morrissey’s Club House, were
neither women nor locals were permitted in the gambling rooms. In 1894, Richard
Canfield purchased the club
1903
The oldest recipe for the club
sandwich was published in the Good Housekeeping Everyday Cook Book, by
Isabel Gordon Curtis in 1903.
1904
The 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis
helped help popularized the club sandwich with four of the restaurants
including their version on the menus. According to the book Beyond
the Ice Cream Cone – The Whole Scoop on Food at the 1904 World’s Fair by
Pamela J. Vaccaro:
1916
From the 1916 book Salads,
Sandwiches, and Chafing Dish Recipes, by Marion H. Neil
1929
Florenece A. Cowles wrote about the
history of the club sandwich in her cookbook Seven Hundred Sandwiches,
published in 1929:
1930
Some historians think that the
sandwich was originally only a two-decker and that it originated aboard the
double-decker club cars of our early trains in America that traveled from New
York to Chicago in the 1930’s and 1940’s.
1940
According the 1940 New York Writer’s
Project book called New York: A Guide to the Empire State:
1972
James Beard (1903-1985), American
chef and food writer wrote the following about the Club Sandwich in his
book, James Beard’s American Cookery
Graham bread was a type of brown
bread, and only two slices were used. We also see that the fillings were simply
chicken/turkey and ham. Some people would later disagree whether the sandwich
should have chicken or turkey, but the original sandwich gave the option. The
sandwich also lacked lettuce, tomato, or mayonnaise. Over the next twenty
years, this basic sandwich would evolve, adding different ingredients, and
there would be plenty of variations.
Conclusions
Look, the Club sandwich is obviously
a part of American culture. I didn’t need to beat you over the head with all
those links for you to know that. I don’t know for sure where or how it came
about (though I bet it did have something to do with all those clubs
and their special sandwiches; let’s call this theory “Many clubs, one
sandwich”). And I’m not sure if you necessarily learned anything from
all those club sandwiches I ate, though the exercise certainly
gave me a pretty good idea what they’re all about.
In terms of tips for the ideal
club sandwich, much of what I learned about BLTs applies. When you
add your mayonnaise, remember that you’re dressing the veggies, not the
meat or bread, and put it in the proper position within the sandwich, multiple
times if possible. If that means you’re spreading it on the lettuce, so be it.
Also, keep in mind that tomato and bacon are a magical combination and should
be adjacent. Here’s a new, club-only tip–butter, melted by hot toast, can
help transform the moist, mild meat of sliced chicken breast into
a rich, indulgent treat.
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