The Earl Who Started It All
Picture this: it’s 1762, and a card game at a London club is heating up. John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, was playing cards and did not want to leave the gaming table to eat. He asked for a serving of roast beef to be placed between two slices of bread so he could eat with his hands. What seemed like a simple request would spark one of the most notorious food controversies of the 18th century. Besides gambling, he also involved himself in several scandals involving porn and a mistress. But here’s the twist that nobody expected – this wasn’t just about a gambling addiction. For those living in the 18th Century, his affair provided much more entertainment than did the sandwich. The 18th Century knew Montagu’s name not for food delivery system, but because he had a years-long public affair with Martha Ray. The Earl was already infamous for reading pornography aloud in Parliament, making him the perfect villain for this food scandal.
The Sandwich Rebellion Spreads
Initially perceived as food that men shared while gaming and drinking at night, the sandwich slowly began appearing in polite society as a late-night meal among the aristocracy. Think of it like wearing sneakers to a black-tie event – it just wasn’t done! Sandwiches being frequently served in these places meant they were also associated with men’s vices and irresponsible behavior. These seedy, smokey spaces were seen as dens of vice, and sometimes financial ruin. In them, men could — and often did — lose fortunes and plunge their families into poverty. The sandwich became guilty by association, carrying the stench of scandal wherever it went. Society ladies probably whispered about it the same way they’d gossip about a scandalous affair – it was just that shocking to proper folks.
When Did Sandwiches Become Respectable
Despite its inauspicious beginning, the sandwich soon gained popularity outside of men’s gatherings for its portability and versatility. Social gatherings among the upper crust often ended with a light supper, and sandwiches soon became a supper-table staple. By this time, the sandwich had also evolved from a mere layer of cold beef or ham between two pieces of bread into something a bit more refined. House cooks were encouraged to use flavors and ingredients worthy of refined social gatherings. This new trend resulted in delicate tea sandwiches filled with thinly sliced cucumber, cress, and fresh butter or savory cheese and pickles. It’s amazing how adding cucumber and cutting off the crusts can transform a scandalous snack into sophisticated fare. The working class was already catching on too – men employed in mills and factories often worked too far from home to join their families for a midday meal. Instead, they’d carry sandwiches with them to work to sustain them during the day.
Modern Sandwich Scandals
You’d think we’d be past sandwich drama by now, but think again! There has been social media debate over the precise definition of sandwich, specifically whether a hot dog or open sandwich can be categorized as such. As all citizens of the Internet know, “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” is one of the great conundrums of our time. It’s a question that’s inspired heated debate on message boards and at picnic tables across the country. Subway’s public image has taken several hits in recent years. The Jared Fogle scandal deeply damaged its brand. Then came viral controversies — from “fake bread” lawsuits to questions about the authenticity of its tuna. And let’s not forget the Masters Tournament pimento cheese scandal – the problem began more than 20 years ago, when the Masters chose not to renew the contract for the tournament’s longtime pimento cheese vendor, Nick Rangos. Afterward, the caterer refused to share his private recipe, taking its secret to his grave in 2015. Apparently, some sandwich secrets are worth taking to the grave!
What would you have guessed was more scandalous – a nobleman’s gambling habit or his choice of lunch?
