In the spirit of one-upmanship…
New Hampshire needs an official State Sandwich. We recently gained an official state fruit–the pumpkin, and the sandwich is the next logical choice to pursue.
I heard recently that legislation was introduced in Massachusetts, to make the “Fluffernutter” the official sandwich of the commonwealth. For those of you from outside of New England, a “Fluffernutter” is a simple sandwich composed of 2 slices of bread, peanut butter and Marshmallow Fluff.
Not surprisingly, the home of Fluff’s manufacturer, Durkee-Mower, who has been making this concoction since 1920, is in Lynn, Massachusetts. Ironically, while some legislators are pushing for the “Fluffernutter” as the official state sandwich, yet another legislator is planning to file an amendment to the school nutrition bill to restrict schools from serving Fluff.
Ok, enough about Massachusetts… and on to New Hampshire. Before some goofball creative person decides to petition the New Hampshire legislature to approve their own preferred selection, I’d like to make some nominees of my own.
1. Ketchup sandwich – these were popular on the east side of Manchester, New Hampshire, during the 50s and 60s. Yep, they were composed of just white bread with ketchup sandwiched in between. A highbrow experience–deliciously tart, snappy, with a hint of nostalgia.
2. Gelatin sandwich – I’ve never tried one of these, and perhaps no one should has. The logistics of keeping the wiggly main ingredient between the bread slices may be exhausting, perchance it would taste too sweet. But Plymouth Rock Gelatin company IS New Hampshire based (started in 1980 in New London), where they make flavored and unflavored gelatin and desserts.
3. Turkey Guton – “guton” is a French Canadian favorite. Typically it is served on toast, with mustard, but heck, let’s go all out. Just add another slice of toast, and it will turn into a sandwich. This nomination would certainly celebrate the ethnic origin of a significant number of New Hampshire’s population.
4. Grinder – now this is a great idea. The word “grinder” is a term originating in New England, indicating a submarine sandwich, hoagie, etc. My research indicates that the earliest of these long sandwiches were filled with meatballs, which would make sense because the sirloin would have to go through a grinder” first to become hamburg [sic]. Later the word became associated with any large submarine sandwich. Gerry Desrosiers, an 88.5 FM radio listener reportedly said: “A sub is just a hoagie with delusions of grinder.” (doh).
5. Sandwich – let’s make the New Hampshire town of Sandwich our official state sandwich, heh. Reportedly it was named in honor of John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, who was supposedly the inventor of the sandwich. How appropriate.
Does anyone out there have any ideas for our state sandwich?
:::tap tap tap::
Does anyone out there want a sandwich?
Janice
**Additional Reading**
Definitely a Grinder for the state sandwich is my vote.!!!
Definitely steak and cheese. I’ve lived in Nashua for almost two years now and whenever friends order sandwiches, it is almost always “steak and cheese” that is requested, most. 🙂 The second is cranberry and walnut chicken salad.
Hope that helps! :/
Representative Mark Pearson (R, Kingston) recommends the kosher veggie Reuben.
I, too, was a fan of the ketchup sandwich as a kid in Nashua. (When I tell people about it they think it sounds revolting and that I’m insane.) Also a fan of gorton on toast, but disagree about making it a sandwich. My vote goes to the ham grinders that we used to get in school.