Letter To Earl Of Sandwich

Dear Earl of Sandwich-

I pray this correspondence finds you well, I suppose it doesn’t truly matter as you are deceased. I wanted to send this letter earlier so it would reach you but seeing as you died in 1792, I suppose there was little hope of a timely delivery. You might be wondering why, after so many years had past, someone would take the time to write. I wanted to tell you of my undying love for your keen mind and creative intellect! I would like to let you know sir that your triumph lives on. It seems sir, that your invention has a place in eternity.

I wanted to let you know that your invention, the sandwich, holds a special place in my heart. When I was a lad I always took the condiment and meat stacking task to be one that had been done for eons. I was quite surprised to learn in my adolescence of the sandwiches origins. It seems while my colonial forefathers were beginning the task of asserting their rights, you sir were creating snacks that might have made those revolutionary's happy to stay within England's grasp.

The sandwich sounds so simple, bread, meat, cheese, bread. Add some spread, pickles, tomatoes or what ever you fancy and something miraculous happens. The thing is greater than the sum of its parts. It amazes me this hadn’t been stumbled upon sooner. Imagine what culinary delights were missed by previous generations. A nice cold cut of mastodon rump served with honey on a crunchy nut bread. Were it be that you were born years before! Who knows if the time would be right though, or your influence wide enough. Maybe your invention would have just fizzled into obscurity!

I cannot think on a world without the sandwich. Would we know what to do with Thanksgiving leftovers, rough cut roast beef or even the lowly baloney? We owe you quite a bit. Delicatessens, corner sub shops and even a popular comic strip are devoted followers of you sir. I have been told that the invention was due to a lack of restraint on you part. That because you spent long hours at the gambling table and didn’t want to break for supper. You asked to have you meal assembled in a more gambling friendly fashion, and so the sandwich was born. Is this true?

I generally do not approve of gambling, and believe that little good can come from it. Mostly it tortures souls, leaves people wanting and creates an addiction to greed. Additionally it leaves many people penniless, and unhappy. Once I discovered that the sandwiches origins might be at all connected with this vile affliction, I paused. I decided if something as good as the sandwich could come from it, than it couldn’t be all bad. At least all that suffering hasn’t been in vein. I can now get a ham and swiss on rye, so I suppose it all worked out in the end!

So here’s to you, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely;
Peter Brown

PS. Sorry to be the one to tell you but they renamed the Sandwich islands. I for one thought it was a travesty and think Hawaii is a ghastly name.

14 comments:

J Crew said...

I would not know what to have with my chips if it wasn't for Earl the Pearl

Peter Brown said...

J Crew-

Agreed.

I find it funny that he and Capitan Cook where good friends. Seems he was destined for cuisine greatness...

Ando said...

A hearty Huzzah! of agreement.

Boston Love said...

Is there a National Sandwich day? There's should be!! And since there isn't anything else on the calendar - let's proclaim it so.

Peter Brown said...

Ando-

Huzzah!

Peter Brown said...

Boston Love-

I just looked this up...

National Sandwich day is celebrated on Nov 3. The Earl's Birthday.

I personally might be celebrating this a bit early (tonight I imagine)!

Stephanie said...

I didn't realize there was a National Sandwich Day - and I am with JCrew - what would I have done with my chips - had it not been for the Sandwich - I love chips on my sandwich - sounds weird but good - especially Doritos :)

Becca Sports said...

Hmmm...I'm with the others, I had no clue there was a sandwich day. I guess they have a day designated for everything.

Peter Brown said...

SJ-

I see nothing wrong with chips on sandwiches! You put it between two slices of bread and I'd eat it.

Peter Brown said...

WCS-

I had no clue either!

I was ready to proclaim yesterday as "National Sandwich Day" at Boston Love's suggestion. I was quite surprised there already was one!

Tara said...

Yay for sandiwches. Without them, the day after Thanksgiving would not be nearly as enjoyable. By the way, a restaurant of some type opened in Santa Clarita recently, and it is called Earl of Sandwich. I assume they serve sandiwches but maybe not. Anyway, anyone know if it's a chain? If so, have you eaten there?

Peter Brown said...

Tara-

I haven't heard of that one, at least we don't have one yet.

With a name like that, I imagine they must have at least a few sandwiches on the menu! :)

Tara said...

Kludge--
I looked online, here's the link. Seems that it's new since they only have 2 locations so far, but what I found interesting is that it is owned by the earl of sandwich family!

http://www.earlofsandwichusa.com/

Peter Brown said...

Tara-

Thanks for the link! I would say that they definitely serve sandwiches! I personally could go for The Scudetto

"Salami, Capicola, Ham& Mortadella with Fresh Sliced Mozzarella, Roma Tomato and Marinara!"

Baby!