This installment, Sandwich Sushi: (Recipe Here)
Now, my first instinct is to immediately label these rolled delights as decidedly Not Sandwich, and more in the Wrap* category, but the inclusion of traditional sandwich breads in the preparation poses an interesting question. Does a sandwich, contorted and rolled, become un-sandwich?
Unrolled, these Sandwich Sushi, are of course sandwiches. Bread, filling, everything is there. I would argue that where the problem lies, is in the intention, both in preparation, and in consumption.
Consider this hypothetical: a sandwich has been lovingly prepared and set aside for later consumption, at some point the sandwich is either rolled or folded by some unknown process in one's own lunch box, the sandwich is then undoubtedly unrolled and returned to its traditional horizontal plane before consumption. During each phase of this escapade, the sandwich has not once forfeited its original Sandwich nature due to the intention and action of the sandwich preparer.
With this in mind, I cast my vote that Sandwich Sushi be considered Not Sandwich, being that both intended preparation and intended consumption place them well outside the definition of sandwich proper. I would instead propose they be considered a Wrap Variant, substituting traditional yeasted bread in place of commonly used flat bread.
What do you think, Comments Section?
*I am sure we will discuss the Wrap/Sandwich relationship in future posts.
2 comments:
Dude, so you've assailed the sushi-wich as being decidedly Not-Sandwich based on the grounds of both preparation and consumption, but what definitions are you referring to? Without question, my sandwich based curriculum vitae is lacking, but I would certainly posit that the Sushi-wich falls squarely in the realm of sandwich. In terms of consumption, you have already stated that the ingredients are all there and I would have to assume that anyone that places a Sushi-wich in their mouth has every intention of slating their uncontrollable hunger just like any other, more pedestrian sandwich-eater. I would argue that for a sandwich to be considered a sandwich, it must:
1) be consumed in an attempt to fill not just any hunger, but a specific hunger for a sandwich.
2) constitute the major portion of the meal at hand, though there are some notable exceptions, including those little triangle appetizers.
In terms of preparation, have you even seen the "Hot Brown" post right below this one? There is only one thing I think of when I think Hot Brown, and it looks remarkably like that "sandwich." All of the elements are there, and therefore the "Hot Brown" falls into the sandwich category. Here, as with the Sushi-wich, the preparation is unorthodox, thus perhaps warranting the conditional title of "open-faced sandwich," though sandwich it should remain. The creators of the Sushi-wich should be lauded for opening yet another facet to the ever expanding polyhedron that is the sandiwi-gon.
In conclusion I move to have a free and open discussion of what truly constitutes the appropriate "preparation" and "consumption" of a sandwich.
Thank you.
To address a couple of your points:
1: Any food item can be consumed to fill a specific sandwich hunger. This does not make it Sandwich. We have all experienced this.
2. I am not so ready to adopt the "major portion" rule. Besides exception of appetizer sandwiches (which you mention), what of dessert sandwiches? Sandwich as side dish?
3. My argument regarding preparation is in reference to the sandwiches formation and design, in this case, rolled. Sandwich ingredients, while important, can not be used as the only test of what is Sandwich. Bread, turkey, mayo, and mustard, all placed in a blender, do not become a sandwich, they become a smoothie.
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