Open sandwich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Open sandwich

Smørbrød, smørrebrød or smörgås, a Scandinavian open sandwich at a cafeteria in Norway
Alternative names	Open-face sandwich, open-faced sandwich, tartine, bread baser, bread platter
Type	Sandwich
Main ingredients	Bread, topping
Variations	Many variations exist

An open sandwich is a yummy meal made with just one slice of bread or toast. On top of the bread, you put different food items. It's also called an open-face sandwich or tartine. Unlike a regular sandwich, it doesn't have a second slice of bread on top.

History of Open Sandwiches

Ancient Plates Made of Bread

Long, long ago, during the Middle Ages, people used thin pieces of coarse bread as plates. These were called "trenchers". After the meal, people would eat the food-soaked trencher. Sometimes, they would give it to their dogs or to people who needed food. These bread plates were a bit like the first open sandwiches, or even like disposable plates we use today!

Early Open Sandwiches in Europe

In the 1600s, a scientist named John Ray visited the Netherlands. He saw people in taverns eating thin slices of beef with bread and butter. They would lay the meat right on top of the buttered bread. This shows that open sandwiches were already a common way to eat in the Netherlands, even before they became popular in England.

What Makes a Sandwich?

The Great Sandwich Debate

You might think it's easy to know what a sandwich is, but it can be tricky! There was even a legal case in America where a judge had to decide if a burrito was a sandwich. The judge looked at a dictionary that said a sandwich has "two thin pieces of bread" with something in between. Since a burrito uses only one tortilla, the judge said it wasn't a sandwich.

This made some people wonder: Is an open-faced sandwich really a sandwich? If it only has one slice of bread, does it count? Even big government groups like the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have different rules for open-faced sandwiches compared to regular ones!

Different Ideas About Sandwiches

Some people, like food expert Dan Pashman, say a sandwich needs a filling between two separate pieces of food. They also think you should be able to eat it without using forks or knives. This shows that even though open sandwiches are popular, what counts as a "sandwich" can be a fun debate!

How Open Sandwiches Are Served

Making Them Look Good

Open sandwiches are great for parties or when you have afternoon tea. You can make them look super fancy! People often cut them into fun shapes like triangles, stars, or circles. Then, they arrange them nicely on a plate.

Tasty Toppings

You can put almost anything on an open sandwich! Some popular toppings include jam, olives, fresh herbs, cream cheese, or hard-boiled eggs. You can use all sorts of ingredients to add flavor and bright colors, making your sandwich platter look amazing.

Open Sandwiches Around the World

European Favorites

Open sandwiches are very popular in many parts of Europe. You can find them in countries like France, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands. They are often eaten for breakfast or supper.

• In the Czech Republic, a popular open sandwich is called obložené chlebíčky. It's a slice of white bread with butter or mayonnaise salads, hard-boiled egg, cheese, ham, or smoked fish. People add fresh veggies like tomato or pickled cucumber on top.
• In Finland and Estonia, they call their open sandwich voileipä or võileib, which means "butter bread".

A Dutch ham and egg open sandwich with sliced mushroom

Nordic Delights

The Nordic countries (like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) are famous for their open sandwiches. They have special names for them: smørrebrød, smørbrød, or smörgås.

• These sandwiches usually start with a piece of buttered rye bread.
• Then, they add toppings like cheese, cold steak, ham, shrimps, smoked salmon, or liver pâté.
• They often decorate them with fresh herbs like parsley, cucumber slices, or tomato wedges.
• Sometimes, they even add mayonnaise or other creamy sauces. There are special restaurants in Denmark just for smørrebrød!

Danish Smørrebrød with eggs, shrimp and roast beef

Dutch and British Styles

• In the Netherlands and Belgium, a hearty open sandwich is the Uitsmijter. It has one or more slices of bread topped with fried eggs. You can also add cheese or meat like roast beef. It's a popular breakfast meal. For breakfast, sweet toppings like sprinkles or chocolate spread are common too.
• In Great Britain, open sandwiches are not as common. But they do have dishes like Welsh rarebit, which is cheese sauce on toast. Another one is Scotch woodcock, which is scrambled eggs on toast with anchovy fillets.

North American Gravy Sandwiches

In North America, an open-faced sandwich can also mean a slice of bread with warm slices of roasted meat and gravy poured over it. Examples include a beef Manhattan or a hot chicken sandwich in Canada. These are often served as a full meal.

Examples and varieties

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  Open Face Sandwich (Bottom: turkey and pickled vegetables; Top: cheese and pickled vegetable remnants)

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  Open-faced ham and cheese tapas-style sandwiches

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  Smørbrød, Norwegian open sandwich

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  Open-faced tuna sandwich with guacamole and cherry tomatoes

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  Russian buterbrod with tomatoes and Latvian sprat

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  Czech Jednohubky

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  Scandinavian räksmörgås (open faced shrimp sandwich) in Stockholm.

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  Scotch woodcock, scrambled eggs on toast garnished with anchovy fillets and parsley

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  Open sandwiches in Vienna, with a Pfiff-size beer

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  Small open sandwiches. Bread, butter and codfish liver paste.

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  Parata di gola

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  Egg salad and smoked salmon on a slice of toasted baguette

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  Smørrebrød with salmon and caviar

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  Smørrebrød with green and red salad, chicken liver and tartar sauce

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  A hot fish sandwich from Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish at the Franklin Food & Spirits Festival in Franklin, Tennessee

See also

In Spanish: Tosta para niños