Po'Boy Shrimp And Oyster Sandwich

The sandwich. If the legend of it's origin is to be believed, never has there been a better object lesson of 'necessity being the mother of invention' than this culinary staple.

"John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, PC, FRS [3 November 1718 – 30 April 1792] was a British statesman who succeeded his grandfather, Edward Montagu, 3rd Earl of Sandwich, as the Earl of Sandwich in 1729, at the age of ten. During his life he held various military and political offices, including Postmaster General, First Lord of the Admiralty and Secretary of State for the Northern Department, but is perhaps best known for the claim that he invented the modern concept of the sandwich."

"The modern sandwich is named after Lord Sandwich. Evidently John Montagu had been a very conversant gambler. He did not have time to have meal during the play, so he would ask his servants to bring him slices of meat between two slices of bread during his long hours play at the card table. This habit became well known among his gambling friends and thus the ‘sandwich’ was born. Because Montagu also happened to be the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, others began to order 'the same as Sandwich!'"

"However, the exact circumstances of the invention are still the subject of debate. A rumor in a contemporary travel book called Tour to London (although not confirmed) by Pierre Jean Grosley formed the popular myth that bread and meat sustained Lord Sandwich at the gambling table. The sober alternative is provided by Sandwich's biographer, N. A. M. Rodger, who suggests Sandwich's commitments to the navy, to politics and the arts mean the first sandwich was more likely to have been consumed at his desk."

"It is also possible that Sandwich's Grisons Republic born brother-in-law, Jerome de Salis, taught him about sandwiches. The Grisons is known for its dried meat, Bündnerfleisch [thinly sliced air dried meat], while its then subject territory the Valtelline, where De Salis also grew up, is known for Bresaola [air dried salted aged meat]." i don't know if the Earl or his brother-in-law ever sampled what we know to be a Po'Boy, but i'm guessing they would be honored by it and approve.

Recipe For Po'Boy Shrimp and Oyster Sandwich: "French bread cut in half length-wise. Shrimp breaded and fried. Oysters fried. Shredded lettuce, sliced tomatos, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard [optional]. Sliced cheese [optional]. Fry fish of choice. Place cut bread face up. Layer lettuce, tomato, and cheese [optional] on bottom half. The bread may be dressed with a flavored mayonnaise [garlic or herb mayo] or a mixture of ketchup and hotsauce. Place cooked seafood [or meat] on top half of bread. Close sandwich and enjoy."

Cooking Tip Of The Week: "Raw oysters contaminated with Vibrio vulnificus [a species of Gram-negative, motile, curved, rod-shaped bacteria] can be life threatening, even fatal when eaten by someone with liver disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system. To help avoid this danger, don't fall prey to the myths that using hot sauce or drinking alcohol can kill harmful bacteria."

Image Credit: The Grill Sergeants
Text Credit: Wikipedia
Text Credit: The Grill Sergeants
Text Credit: The Grill Sergeants
Text Credit: Wikipedia