National Sandwich Day November 3rd
When I heard an announcement on the radio while driving in my car regarding hailing “Happy National Sandwich Day!” I was intrigued! Come to find out, National Sandwich Day is celebrated on November 3rd each and every year! November 3rd is the birthdate anniversary of John Montagu, The Fourth Earl of Sandwich. John Montagu was a British statesman who succeeded his grandfather, Edward Montagu The 3rd Earl of Sandwich, as The 4th Earl of Sandwich in 1729 at the tender age of 10 years old. John Montagu is credited with the dissemination of the sandwich, putting the beloved food item on the map! According to popular legend, in 1762 John Montagu asked his cook to prepare him some slices of meat served between 2 pieces of bread, so that The 4th Earl of Sandwich could eat his dinner with one hand—without getting his other hand dirty and greasy AND without getting up from the gaming table during a long card game! The convenience of eating without a fork and knife during lengthy gambling sessions became lore, and the handy meal of salt beef between 2 slices of bread was named after John Montagu, The 4th Earl of Sandwich- forever inextricably linking their names together. The Earl’s suitable and favorable meal creation quickly caught on with his friends and gambling companions who began ordering “the same as Sandwich,” and the highly ballyhooed name was thus brought into vogue! While “the gambling story” is highly touted and publicized, some historians suggest an alternative theory; that the first sandwich may have been created so that The Earl could eat at his desk while working long hours as a busy public servant. The 4th Earl of Sandwich was a significant political and naval figure, beyond his associations with the fame of the sandwich. John Montagu held various positions in The British Government, including Postmaster General and First Lord of the Admiralty. Notably, explorer Captain James Cook named “The Sandwich Islands” (now Hawaii) after John Montagu in recognition of The Earl’s support and achievements regarding expeditions and peregrination. Nowadays, National Sandwich Day is celebrated by devouring sandwiches with unabandoned enjoyment, as well as appreciating all types of sandwiches, from simple to gourmet sandwich handiworks. Below is a “Portrait of The Earl of Sandwich,” by famed English draughtsman (British English), printmaker, portrait and landscape painter, Thomas Gainsborough; considered one of the most important British artists of the second half of the 18th century.
“There is no known surviving visual rendering- drawing or painting- of the first salt beef sandwich. The historical accounts focus on its consumption and context rather than its precise physical appearance. The first sandwich was described simply as:
–Filling: A few slices of cold salted beef; or possibly roast beef.
–Bread: Placed between 2 slices of toasted bread.
–Condiments and Additions: The sandwich may have included butter—but no other ingredients like mustard, cheeses, pickles are mentioned in the earliest descriptions.
–Appearance: It was likely a simple, plain preparation; created for convenience so that one may eat without using utensils.” The sandwich was initially a practical food item for one person, not a formal culinary dish requiring documentation or artistic depiction. The name “sandwich” was adopted by others in the general populous and the concept became widely familiarized and recognized, and various iterations developed across continents and cultures. During John Montagu’s travels in the Mediterranean, he witnessed how the Greek and Turkish cultures served their “meze platters;” with cheese and meat layered upon bread. Montagu utilized these ideas and added varieties. Below are renderings of Traditional Greek and Turkish Meze Platters.
“Before we started putting food between 2 slices of bread, many cultures already used flatbreads as an easy way to serve food. Flatbreads in various forms are staples of the cuisines of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, African, and Asian cultures. In fact, the wrap-style sandwiches that we enjoy today are culinary descendants of these traditional flatbreads. We even have references to these flatbreads in classical literature! In the Aeneid, which tells the story of the origins of ancient Rome, the Trojans receive a prophecy from a harpy: ’They will not find their new home until they are so hungry that they eat their tables.’ When the Trojans arrive in Italy, they eat a meal served on flatbreads. Once they finish the other food, they’re still hungry. So, the Trojans eat the flatbreads. They realize that they have ‘eaten their tables’ and therefore, have found their new home,” states Bill & Bob’s Famous Roast Beef—the Roast Beef Experts! “Roast beef sandwiches owe their existence to some surprisingly ancient history!”
*Note: The Aeneid is a Latin epic poem written by the Roman poet Virgil between 29 and 19 BC. The Aeneid tells the legendary story of the Trojan, Aeneas, who fled the fall of Troy and travelled to Italy, where he became the ancestor of the Romans. The Aeneid comprises 9,896 lines in dactylic hexameter: a form of meter used in Ancient Greek epic and didactic poetry, as well as in epic, didactic, satirical, and pastoral Latin poetry. Consequently, it has been considered to be THE grand style of Western Classical Poetry. The first six of The Aeneid’s twelve books tell the story of Aeneas’ wanderings from Troy to Italy, and the latter six tell of the Trojan’s ultimately victorious war upon the Latins, under whose name Aeneas and his Trojan followers are destined to be subsumed. Pictured below please find a photo of “The Aeneid” manuscript, and the painting “Escape of Aeneas from Troy,” by Italian painter, engraver and draftsperson Federico Barocci, and a photo of the Map of Aeneas’ Journeys.
“Using bread as a plate is a practice that was carried into Medieval Europe. Thick slabs of stale bread called ‘trenchers’ served as plates. After the meal, the food-soaked bread was soft enough to eat. Poorer people would eat the bread, while wealthy people would feed it to animals or give it as alms,” www.billandbobs.com continues.
Bill & Bob’s Famous Roast Beef – “Home of the Original Roast Beef Sandwich!” For over 55 years, “Bill & Bob’s has proudly served the highest quality and freshest food to thousands of customers. From the famous 3-way roast beef sandwich to melt in your mouth pastrami and unforgettable burgers, dine-in or takeout, when you dine with Bill & Bob’s you know you’re getting only the best!” Bill & Bob’s Famous Roast Beef has locations at:
–9 Bridge Street
Salem, Massachusetts 01970
978-744-9835
–57 Main Street
Woburn, Massachusetts 01801
781-935-9842
–2 Central Street
Peabody, Massachusetts 01960
978-531-9605
“Like every successful restaurant, there’s a face and a story behind it. At Bill & Bob’s Famous Roast Beef, you’ll find the same. Coming to Lynn, Massachusetts from Greece in 1961, Nondas Lagonakis was hired by his brother-in-law to work at a family restaurant. However, Nondas strived for more…”
“It was in 1968 that Bill Aylward decided to sell his restaurant- the Salem location- and Nondas jumped at the opportunity. Dedication and hard work would now be the new focus…And let’s just say that, that dedication surely paid off. With a passion to provide only the highest quality and freshest food to the community, Bill & Bob’s grew but never failed to keep its roots first and foremost. So, what makes this place so special? Perhaps it’s the cut of hand trimmed meat that is cooked several times throughout the day to ensure the freshest roast beef sandwich in town.” Or maybe it’s the fact that Nonda helped create the Bill & Bob’s Famous Roast Beef Barbeque Sauce and uses nothing but since. Pictured below is Nondas Lagonakis, hard at work as per usual.
www.billandbobs.com also has a “News” section on their website, with articles such as:
–“5 Reasons Takeout is the Perfect Midweek Treat: We believe a good meal should be easy to enjoy, and takeout can turn any ordinary evening into something you look forward to.”
–“Welcome to Chili and Chowder Season: The Coziest Time of Year: Whether you crave bold spice or creamy richness, we’re serving up bowls of comfort that hit the spot every time.”
–“Build Your Own Dog: Creative Combos You Have to Try: If you’re looking for inspiration to spice up your next hot dog night, here are a few fub ideas you can try in your own kitchen.”
–“Uncovering the Sweet History of the Milkshake: At Bill & Bob’s Famous Roast Beef, we’re not just known for our signature sandwiches—we’re also proud to serve up thick, creamy milkshakes that pair perfectly with your favorite meal.”
AND MORE! You may also follow Bill & Bob’s Famous Roast Beef on Social Media @billandbobs_roastbeef on Instagram and on their Facebook Page: Bill & Bob’s Famous Roast Beef. Of course, I would be remiss to leave you without adding some mouth-watering FOODIE PHOTOS of Bill & Bob’s Roast Beef Menu Specialties and (Hilarious!) T-shirt Merchandise to my article…Hopefully you can assuage your Roast Beef Cravings with a quick trip to one of their Massachusetts North Shore locations!
