# It's technically not a sandwich **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109 "2014-07-14T21:49:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/21 "2014-07-15T01:38:50Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > For me a sandwich is a balance: you want chewy/toasty bread, lots of different vegetables, some bacon or avocado or egg or something else really fatty, some meat, and some mayo/mustard/hot sauce/other condiments. If any ingredient gets out of hand, it’s not as good. A lot of lousy sandwich places think more meat makes a better sandwich, but they’re wrong. I agree, a good sandwich should balance. When I’m constructing one out of whatever I can find in the fridge, I look for one of each of these elements: - creamy/cheesy/smooth - acid - herby/green - umami/savoury (usually meat) - allium bite - EITHER sweet or spicy, very rarely both Then I try not to double up on too many, which might muddle the flavours too much. Simple is better. And a very little meat will suffice! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/22 "2014-07-15T02:07:36Z")
Okay, we’ve debated the maximum point at which a sandwich ceases to be a sandwich. What about the minimum point? If I butter two slices of bread and put them together, is it a sandwich? Suppose I skip the butter and just put two slices of bread together? Suppose I just eat a single slice of bread? At what point (if any) has what I’m eating ceased to be a sandwich? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/23 "2014-07-15T02:17:41Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Suppose I skip the butter and just put two slices of bread together? And if “no,” what about a slice of bread between two slices of bread? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/24 "2014-07-15T02:26:36Z")
The purpose of the bread is to contain something not otherwise easily eaten by hand and to protect your hands from whatever kind of mess might be created by the ingredients, like grease, oil, sticky stuff, moisture, gloppiness, whatever. So at minimum there should be something in the sandwich that the bread is acting as a shield and support for. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/25 "2014-07-15T02:28:10Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I grew up on those. Love them, because they are the perfect balance of meat and toppings to bread when using hearty bread, which growing up in an Eastern European household, we didn’t have that squishy American bread around (although I do now.) But there’s no better name in English for them that I know of. Canapés comes somewhat close, but those are usually small and bite-sized. If you linguistic sandwich purists have any better idea for a name, let me know. Sandwish. _you wish you were a sandwich_ ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/26 "2014-07-15T02:45:53Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Looks like an awesome sammich to me. Add some chips and a bottomless glass of sweet tea, maybe swap that wimpy bread out for a Po-Boy bread. Can you eat it as a sandwich? If you can’t pick it up as a unit and chomp on it as is, then you’ve got a nice pile of corned beef, but you don’t have a sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/27 "2014-07-15T03:46:32Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If I butter two slices of bread and put them together, is it a sandwich? Suppose I skip the butter and just put two slices of bread together? Suppose I just eat a single slice of bread? At what point (if any) has what I’m eating ceased to be a sandwich? Growing up, my cousin loved her “ketchup sandwiches”. Which were: two slices of white Wonder bread… with ketchup. Even as a kid, I knew _that just ain’t right_, but she defeated me with the “well, what _else_ would you call it?” So, ketchup sandwich = sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Lubricious\_Integument](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/28 "2014-07-15T04:00:19Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Growing up, my cousin loved her “ketchup sandwiches”. Which were: two slices of white Wonder bread… with ketchup. Even as a kid, I knew _that just ain’t right_, but she defeated me with the “well, what _else_ would you call it?” > > So, ketchup sandwich = sandwich. Not according to my dad. A ketchup sandwich consists of two slices of Wonder bread smothered in ketchup, and in between a generous handful of Lay’s potato chips. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/29 "2014-07-15T13:32:25Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Growing up, my cousin loved her “ketchup sandwiches”. Which were: two slices of white Wonder bread… with ketchup. Even as a kid, I knew _that just ain’t right_, but she defeated me with the “well, what _else_ would you call it?” > > So, ketchup sandwich = sandwich. I would agree. There were also mayo sandwiches and butter sandwiches. In terms of open-faced sandwiches, though, I think the need to have a topping other than butter (or ketchup or mayo), otherwise, that’s just buttered bread. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/30 "2014-07-15T13:38:54Z")
If beignets can be either choux pastries or yeast dough then I think sandwich can refer to two slices of bread\* with a filling of some sort or a piece of bread with the filling on top and exposed. \*Or one piece folded over. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/31 "2014-07-15T13:42:03Z")
Opinions and gut feelings aside, we at least have legal precedent establishing that [a burrito is not a sandwich and that the presence of at least two pieces of bread is necessary to constitute a sandwich.](http://www.stuartkaplow.com/library3.cfm?article_id=131) ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/32 "2014-07-15T13:53:40Z")
Well, I’m sure Subway will be very interested to learn that they don’t serve sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/33 "2014-07-15T13:56:06Z")
Well clearly we need to defer to the British Sandwich Association, which [says](http://www.lovesarnies.com/index.php/fresh-bytes/23-pub-quiz-answers) > [@](#): > > What is a sandwich? The British Sandwich Association defines a sandwich as: Any form of bread with a filling, generally assembled cold - to include traditional wedge sandwiches, as well as filled rolls, baguettes, pitta, bloomers, wraps, bagels and the like, but not burgers and other products assembled and consumed hot. Hot eating sandwiches are also included. So there. “Filling” is required, therefore “open faced” just isn’t a sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/34 "2014-07-15T14:01:38Z")
Wow, this thread is just screaming out for a little Mitch Hedberg. (youtube warning) Jump to the 30 second mark of [this classic bit](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyvOj-ICuAQ) on the subject of overstuffed sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/35 "2014-07-15T15:46:55Z")
[Obligatory Onion link](http://www.theonion.com/articles/it-is-my-hope-that-i-will-be-remembered-as-a-great,10896/) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/36 "2014-07-15T15:51:04Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > While we’re at it with “open-faced sandwiches”: If you want to serve, say, turkey, gravy, and bread all in one dish, that needs to be eaten with a fork, why put the bread on the bottom? That’s going to squish it all down flat. You get a much better dish, IMO, by putting the bread on the top where it can stay puffy. Gravy soaked bread is very tasty to me. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/37 "2014-07-15T16:49:03Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, I’ll draw my line at those type of open faced sandwiches. Just had a very yummy out-of-season hot turkey and gravy fix with one of those. Call it what you like. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/38 "2014-07-15T16:59:12Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Just had a very yummy out-of-season hot turkey and gravy fix with one of those. Call it what you like. 😃 I like them as well. I’m just saying my line with “sandwich” is more permissive than most’s, but I still have a line with you have to be able to eat it with your hands. The first time I had a hot turkey open-faced sandwich I was confused. I was expecting more of something like a crostini, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/39 "2014-07-15T17:03:21Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The purpose of the bread is to contain something not otherwise easily eaten by hand and to protect your hands from whatever kind of mess might be created by the ingredients, like grease, oil, sticky stuff, moisture, gloppiness, whatever. So at minimum there should be something in the sandwich that the bread is acting as a shield and support for. I would tend to agree with this. In order to qualify as a sandwich, the bread has to contain something. So two slices of bread and some butter is a sandwich. But two slices of bread by themselves are not. If you eat them, you’re not eating a sandwich, you’re eating some bread. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109/40 "2014-07-15T17:36:23Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I like them as well. I’m just saying my line with “sandwich” is more permissive than most’s, but I still have a line with you have to be able to eat it with your hands. Well, here in the northeast I have learned to eat a lot of supposed “hand” food with a fork - we’ve had the pizza discussion, and I’ve lost count of how many burgers I had to finish on the plate. I would agree that some kinds of sloppy sandwiches, including open-faced, deserve a sub-category, but they’re still yummy stuff in or on bread… and I don’t know any other category of food that is primarily bread-borne that isn’t a sandwich. So I’ll accept “open-faced sandwich” for what it is and consider it a subcat of “sandwich” in general. But no one liked my URL of Sandwich snark, so I’ll just sulk now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-technically-not-a-sandwich/693109.md?page=3)