Cream Cheese Sandwich

Cafe Society
1

Simple poll. I grew up eating cream cheese sandwiches. They consisted of white bread and about a half inch thick cream cheese in the middle. Nothing more.

Now, I thought this was normal but my wife is disgusted by the idea and, it turns out, pretty much everyone I work with has never heard of it and thinks it sounds gross. To most everyone I know cream cheese is a condiment like mayo, not the main attraction.

So I ask you is cream cheese a condiment or a main attraction when it comes to sandwiches?

Also please answer in your post whether you’ve eaten or heard of a cream cheese sandwich.

2

I’ve never had cream cheese on anything but bagels. How do you get cream cheese to spread on white bread? Seems like it would tear it up.

Now that I’m thinking of it, I have a friend whose mom used to make him cream cheese and jelly sandwiches, not sure what kind of bread, though.

3

Asking my daughter… “On white bread? Not a bagel? Never will.”

Me, cream cheese and hot giardiniera on, oh, pretty much any definition of stiff starch does the job.

4

I can see cream cheese as the only thing on a bagel or on a cracker. I can see it as the primary (but not only) filling in some other bread (such as, as part of a spread that also includes crab and cocktail sauce). But just cream cheese, nothing else, on white bread? Baffling.

5

I wouldn’t consider it a condiment. I’d consider it a cheese. I’ve had it on a tomato sandwich on occassion, but I’d agree with Sarahfeena. Othen than stuffed in celery, I’ve most commonly had it as a schmear on a bagel.

6

I…simply cannot believe I never thought of doing this before.

I would like to sign up for your newsletter.

7

Whipped cream cheese.

And my older sister ate cream cheese and grape jelly sandwiches for lunch every day in grammar school.

They were disgusting.

8

I like it spread on rye bread. Softer bread falls apart too easily.

9

I have never had a sandwich that is ONLY cream cheese, but I have had instead of other cheese. I think it is really good, especially on Veggie sandwiches.

10

I’ll call cream cheese a spread, like peanut butter, hummus, pimento cheese, tapenade–more than a condiment but less than a “main attraction.” (No vote in the poll.) I might eat these on bread or cracker with nothing else, but it would have to be a good substantial bread or cracker. Or, I might use them in combination with other sandwich fillers.

11

I’ve never heard of it, but I love cream cheese and would certainly try it (and probably will).

12

You forgot the “gak! Cream cheese is vile and is neither a condiment nor main attraction” option. Which is my answer.

If it’s any consolation, my girlfriend says it’s good, especially if you roll the bread and cook in in the oven for a couple minutes.

13

Lunch counters used to serve sandwiches filled with cream cheese mixed with chopped black olives and chopped walnuts (on white bread). I haven’t had one since I was a kid, but they were pretty good back then.

14

With the right bread and good quality, fresh cream cheese, it can stand on its own. Although on standard white bread? Meh. Slap some freshly opened Philly, or Trader Joe’s Lite on some nice pumpernickel or toasted challah, and you’ve got yourself a freaking meal, brother.

Although even when it’s not the main attraction, I hesitate to call it a condiment - a turkey, cream cheese, and lingonberry sandwich on dark rye is a sublime experience that is completely lacking without the cream cheese. I’d rather lose the turkey than drop the cream cheese from that particular sammy.

Or, ooh, how about a cream cheese wrap with alfalfa sprouts and pepper jelly? Or cream cheese, with whole grain mustard (Ingelhoffer FTW) on a nice thick slab of pugliese?

Dammit, I hate food threads - I’m still full from dinner, but I’m also hungry now. I fear I shall make poor late-night dining decisions tonight.

15

Cut it into blocks and lay the blocks down on the bread. Not that bread is really necessary if you need a cream cheese fix.

16

My favorite sandwich: cream cheese and tomato, with a paper-thin slice of onion and a little dill.

17

If you will toast that white bread, you’ll find it easier to spread the cream cheese on.

Of course, it’s better on a bagel. Especially if you top it with half a slice of ham. I don’t care for lox, but cream cheese and ham are a match made in heaven.

18

This is about how I feel as well. Maybe if the bread is toasted I could see it as the main attraction, then it is more in line with a breakfast food.

19

Come to think of it . . . if someone offered me a cream cheese on white bread sandwich . . . I’d question the white bread, not the cream cheese.

20

Other than bagels, in my experience cream cheese works best on cornbread or banana bread.