Why A Club? Why A Sandwich?

Please accept my resignation. I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member.

Groucho Marx

Not even if they offer you a good sandwich, Groucho?

But why is this delicacy so called and from which club, if any, did it originate? Lovers of acronyms have made the suggestion that it stands for Chicken and Lettuce Under Bacon. Probably the same brigade that would have you believe that POSH stands for Port Out, Starboard Home. Both spurious, I believe.

It seems we have 19th century New York to thank. A productive time there. Waldorf Salad and Eggs Benedict are another couple of fine foods which spring to mind. Two clubs are credited as possible sources. The first of these is the Union Club. Founded in 1836 it still exists today, very much in the old school style for the New York elite and wealthy. An article appeared in the Evening World newspaper in 1889, describing such a sandwich and crediting the Union Club. (That one contained ham, which rather spoils the acronym theory.)

The other contender is Saratoga Club House, a private gaming club in Saratoga Springs in New York State. The idea of a late night snack for gamblers carries weight. That after all is how the Earl of Sandwich created the original. Another adminicle of evidence is that the club was (and is) often served with potato chips, or crisps as we know them. The potato chip/crisp was apparently invented nearby.

To make a club sandwich, you really need to swallow your principles and use a thin sliced sandwich loaf. But here's a thing. Sliced bread wasn't introduced until 1928. You want to know more? Thought so. It was in a bakery in Chillicothe, Missouri, owned by one Frank Bench, using a machine developed by Otto Frederick Rohwedder.

There are many skills which every cook should learn. One of the more difficult ones involves slicing bread, particularly if you want even, thin slices.

Fairly simple to make. To avoid too much of a resemblance to the good old BLT, I like a spread of egg mayo in mine, which also prevents it from being too dry. Toasting is advised to help the whole thing hold together. You certainly need some mayonnaise in the layers, but it's a matter for you whether to use butter or not. It seems to be accepted that both sides of the middle slice should be coated in something.

Ingredients (for 2 sandwiches)

6 slices white sandwich bread; quantities of - thinly sliced chicken or turkey; crispy bacon or ham;  egg mayonnaise (optional); crispy lettuce; sliced tomato; s & p.

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Now I was about to proceed when it occurred to me that you may just possibly know how to make a sandwich. Just a couple of points then, if I may. To prevent the edifice from collapsing it is strongly recommended that you toast the bread. That brings its own pressures, as a toasted sandwich needs to be served before it goes completely cold.

Secondly, it is customary to slice a club on the diagonal into either halves or quarters, and hold together with a cocktail stick. You can of course add a dill pickle (or anything else) on the side, but if you are doing this because your sandwich may be dry, you just haven't made it correctly.

It will not be easy to eat elegantly. Provide plenty of napkins.