Lettuce sandwich

A lettuce sandwich is a wrap with lettuce substituted for the bread,[1] or a sandwich with a filling consisting primarily of lettuce. It should not be confused with other sandwiches that use lettuce as one of many ingredients, such as the BLT sandwich or the tomato and lettuce sandwich. The lettuce sandwich has a long history in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It has been used as a metaphor to represent things like mundanity, weakness and poverty.[2]

Shanghai-style lettuce wraps with sauces at Auburn Alehouse
Lettuce sandwich
TypeSandwich or wrap
Main ingredientsLettuce, bread or filling

History

The lettuce sandwich was mentioned in print as early as 1894 in The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine.[2] The lettuce sandwich (bread with a lettuce filling) was a common food in the United States and England during the first half of the 20th century.[3] Lettuce sandwiches have been served at fine luncheons,[4] The lettuce sandwich (bread with lettuce filling) is also an old-fashioned English food.[5] Lettuce sandwiches are still eaten in the US and elsewhere.[6][7][8]

Preparation

Bread and lettuce

When making a bread and lettuce sandwich, the bread is sometimes buttered[5] or spread with mayonnaise, and then lettuce is placed between the two slices of bread.

Breadless lettuce sandwich

To prepare a breadless lettuce sandwich, roll any filling inside a large leaf of lettuce or place it between two leaves of lettuce. The west-coast hamburger chain In-N-Out offers a lettuce sandwich variation called "the Protein" or "Protein Style" on their hidden menu. It is a hamburger patty wrapped in lettuce instead of the traditional bun.[9]

Metaphors

The lettuce sandwich has also become a cultural metaphor to represent something unattractive, unappealing, weak, or mundane.[10] In this sense, the term "limp (or soggy) lettuce sandwich" is often used.[11] Being on a "lettuce sandwich diet" refers to getting by on the bare minimum with absolutely nothing more than the necessities of life. The lettuce sandwich is sometimes indicative of poverty or hardship,[12] and also represents lack of sufficient nourishment.[13] The lettuce sandwich is considered a humble,[14] tasteless food. It can be used to represent disappointment as in "life need not be a lettuce sandwich over the sink".[15]

Health benefits

A lettuce sandwich has been claimed to be a sleep-inducing remedy for insomnia.[16] Lettuce sandwiches (no bread) are also eaten to promote weight loss. Lettuce sandwiches (bread filled with lettuce) can also be a good food choice for the health-conscious. The lettuce sandwich (bread filled with lettuce)—which contains no meat—is mentioned in a book about vegetarian diets.[17]

Health risks

There has been a death attributed to eating lettuce sandwiches contaminated with the E. coli bacteria.[7]

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See also

References
  1. Keeler, Janet K. (October 22, 2003). "The hip, hot wrap". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  2. "An Errant Wooing". The Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine. 1895. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  3. Boyle, Hal (Jun 15, 1948). "Lord Drafts a Good Chef". The Evening Independent. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  4. Pyatt, Edith Lincoln (Dec 24, 1912). "Mrs. Ennis Entertains". The Evening Independent. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  5. Slater, Nigel (10 June 2001). "This month". The Observer. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  6. Schaaf, Miv (Nov 3, 1985). "Food for Thought Whatever Happened to the Plain Bread-and-Butter Sandwich?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  7. "E.coli fears after death". BBC News. 21 June 2001. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  8. "Business Profile: If at Furse you don't succeed". The Telegraph. 10 Nov 2001. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  9. Pomfret, John (January 30, 2006). "In Calif., Internal Lawsuits Served Up at Burger Chain". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  10. Ghosh, Padmaparna (Dec 12, 2007). "Reporters's Notebook: Protest props beat 'Bali fatigue'". Live Mint Lounge: The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  11. "Rename Mermaid Quay - Tiger Bay is better". WalesOnline.co.uk. 24 July 2006. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  12. Richler, Mordecai (1996). Jacob Two-Two's First Spy Case. Toronto, ON: Penguin Books Canada. ISBN 0-14-034609-0.
  13. "Foodless and Pointless Restaurants Close Shop". St. Petersburg Times. Jun 26, 1945. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  14. Fahey, Anna (June 13, 2001). "Portrait of the artist". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  15. Miller, Betty Jean (Mar 29, 1985). "Book Offers an Escape into the Past". The Evening Independent. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  16. Nevin, Charles (3 January 1999). "Captain Moonlight". The Independent. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  17. Whitehead, Daniel (May 26, 2006). "Kicking the meat habit". Retrieved 2009-01-24.
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