The sandwich – how far it’s come!

A picnic favourite with many variations
from roast beef to super-sarnie!

The Earl was gambling at the time – his favourite pastime – and he wanted a bite of something to keep him going. He asked for roast beef between two slices of bread.

Presumably he often asked for this convenient meal and so his name became associated with it. Then others started ordering their own versions of it.

The Earl was also First Lord of the Admiralty and he financed the expedition of Captain Cook, who named the Sandwich Islands after him.

A sarnie is still an extremely useful part of any picnic lunch and has become an easy picnic food idea.

Variations are eaten worldwide and have spread into our cuisine.

We fill Greek pitta breads with tasty salad or lamb and hummus, in Scandinavia they only use one piece of bread and we call it "open", and the Mexican wrap is also ideal for rolling up nourishing fillings, to eat with your hands.

And then we have the American burger - see our homemade hamburger

The Super-Sarnie

Dietitian Sian Porter and the bread company Warburtons have created what they say is the ultimate picnic sandwich.

For this they imagined worst case scenario picnic (none of ours are like this are they?!) - soggy sarnies, hay fever starting and an attack by mozzies.

So they've come up with this super version:

• wholemeal bread spread with cream cheese and chives (to keep the bread firm)
• smoked salmon (anti-inflammatory)
• avocado
• tomatoes
• lemon juice
• chilli flakes (decongestant and insect repellent)

I guess it tastes good too!