Denver sandwich facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Western sandwich |
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| Type | Sandwich |
| Place of origin | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Main ingredients | Bread, Denver omelette (ham, onion, green pepper, scrambled eggs) |
| Variations | Manhattan Sandwich |
The Denver sandwich, also known as the Western sandwich, is a tasty meal served between two slices of bread. It's made with a special kind of omelette called a Denver omelette. This omelette usually has ham, onion, green pepper, and scrambled eggs mixed in. It's a popular choice for breakfast, lunch, or a quick dinner!
What is a Denver Sandwich?
Imagine a classic sandwich filled with a fluffy omelette. That's pretty much what a Denver sandwich is! The omelette part is key. It's packed with savory ingredients like diced ham, chopped onions, and crunchy green peppers, all mixed with scrambled eggs. This mix is cooked and then placed between two pieces of bread, often toasted. It's a hearty and satisfying meal that's easy to eat on the go.
Where Did It Come From?
The exact beginning of the Denver sandwich is a bit of a mystery! Many people have claimed to invent it. For example, a restaurant owner named Albert A. McVittie from Denver said he created it in 1907. Another person, M. D. Looney, also from Denver, made a similar claim in the same year. Some even say it was first made at Denver's Tabor Hotel. However, old newspaper articles mention the sandwich even before these claims were made.
As early as 1908, this sandwich was already known as the "Western Sandwich." It was mentioned in a newspaper in San Antonio, Texas. There was also a "Manhattan Sandwich" around 1909. This one was quite similar, also having fried egg, minced ham, and onion.
An Interesting Idea
Some food historians, like James Beard and Evan Jones, have a different idea about where the Denver or Western sandwich came from. They believe it might have been created by Chinese chefs. These chefs often cooked for logging camps and railroad workers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The sandwich might have come from a Chinese dish called egg foo young. Egg foo young is an omelette-like dish with vegetables and meat, often served with gravy. It's easy to see how a chef might put something like that between bread for a quick, portable meal for hungry workers!
