I played a game with my co-worker Colin today called "Sandwich or Not?". Really put the ol' noggin to the test. Let's put some definitions into play before we start.
sand*wich/'san?(d)wiCH/
Noun: An item of food consisting of two pieces of bread with meat, cheese, or other filling between them
Verb: Insert or squeeze (someone or something) between two other people or things, typically in a restricted space or so as to be uncomfortable
Sounds like: Sand-witch (Quite possibly a mythical creature made of sand who flies around on a broomstick. Or something I just made up that makes no sense.)
The "game" went something like this:
PB and J?
Obviously a sandwich.
Take out the J, just PB?
Hmmm.. PB sandwich, ok I'll take it.
Swap the PB for butter.
Butter sandwich? No way, that's basically two pieces of toast with butter.
Bagel with cream cheese?
Only if it's a bagel sandwich, i.e. has something else in there like meat or vegetables.
You just said two slices of bread with PB in the middle was a sandwich. HYPOCRITE!!!
Ladies and gentlemen, is it really important to put a definition on something as unpretentious and amiable as the sandwich? I would like to think not. And I hate being wrong, so let's just go with that. (Also, if anyone asks, a burger IS a sandwich.)
Regarding the butter sandwich issue:
ReplyDeleteIf it's a piece of toast with butter...then not a sandwich. But if it's butter between two pieces of toast...then it's a sandwich. It's a boring, butter sandwich--but still a sandwich. Just like ONLY jelly is a sandwich, and ONLY peanut butter is a sandwich...it's about the something in between two slabs of carbs that makes it "sandwichy"....kapeesh?
I'm not sure if Ashima or Uncle Jesse wrote that last post, but thanks for the clarification. I have to agree that a butter sandwich is a sandwich (albeit boring unless you add some sugar!).. but then do you also think a bagel with cream cheese is a sandwich?
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