It's known by many names - wedge, hoagie, sub, panini - but the sandwich has come a very long way. Much longer, in fact, than one might realize.
It goes like this: In 1762, a British nobleman was playing a game of cards. He then grew hungry and longed for something filling that wouldn't grease his fingers. But Earl John Montagu IV of Sandwich was of the resourceful sort and decided to slip some meat inside two pieces of bread, thus giving birth to the most popular lunchtime companion.
Centuries later, the 11th Earl of Sandwich opened a chain of restaurants to pay tribute to his family's legacy. Dotted all across Europe and the states, people have, once again, been singing the praises at Earl of Sandwich.
Now, he's hopped the pond to christen the company's first New York City shop. Here he talks about the history of Sandwich, the future of his restaurant and what he has for lunch.
Huffpost: Do I refer to you as Lord Sandwich?
Sandwich: I don’t see why not.
Huffpost: Do most?
Sandwich: My friends know me as John Montagu, my son is Orlando and when I’m in Parliament, I’m Lord Sandwich.
Huffpost: Can you walk me through your family legacy?
Sandwich: Well, it all started with the Port of Sandwich, which was our defense against the Danes in the 800s so all our ancestors were protected by Sandwich at one time. And then it was the name given to the first Earl in 1660 as a reward for bringing King Charles II back home because he was the admiral at the time.... Then we jump 100 years, 1762, was the first year that we have a recorded mention of the sandwich by the historian Edward Gibbon. And we still have paintings of the fourth Earl of Sandwich and one of them looks as though he’s holding a sandwich but it’s actually an official letter addressed to him at the admiralty.
Huffpost: So the story goes that he was playing cards and he didn’t want to get his hands greasy?
Sandwich: Most of the dictionaries tell you that he was gambling all night but this a really very occasional exercise...The sandwich was exactly for the reason you and I have one, it was because he was busy in the middle of the day and he didn’t want to spend time sitting down on lengthy meal.
Huffpost: So the first restaurant opened when and where?
Sandwich: I think it’s seven years since Orlando, Florida, from the first American restaurant; it’s been a terrific success in Downtown Disney.
Huffpost: Have you had the most success with tourists?
Sandwich: In some cases it is for tourists, in some cases the restaurants are for the average person passing through. And there is a restaurant in Las Vegas and there’s some in airports in the United States, so they’re not all Disney-based. And the New York one, after all, is in the center of the city.
Huffpost: Do you think you’ll be able to recreate that success in New York?
Sandwich: You get a real buzz from being in New York. There seems to be a spring in the step in America, even though there’s a recession going on and people are uncertain about jobs. So I’m sure it’s a good climate, and especially for a restaurant because you can’t lose with a restaurant in New York, I don’t think.
Huffpost: Is this one different from your other locations?
Sandwich: The one in New York is really more the model for the future. The queue is outside and yet, you’re in within moments and you’re actually looking at the sandwich as it’s being made; it’s quite a fast operation. I think when it develops as a chain it’s going to have to rely on smaller premises because that’s the way shops are in New York and in most cities.
Huffpost: It sounds intrinsically American...
Sandwich: You’re quite right, it really is an American version of the sandwich but there are records of the hot sandwich being eaten back in the 18th century.
Huffpost: Do you have a favorite sandwich?
Sandwich: Well, I’m very conventional. I like what they call an Earl’s Original and it wasn’t anything to do with me but it just happened to be the original recipe...and this is a highly flavored and absolutely delicious combination, which I do recommend. And then there are some fresher ones like the Hawaiian sandwich, which, of course, is also making the family connection.
The Earl of Sandwich restaurant opened in midtown Manhattan (1290 6th Ave) on August 31st.
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