Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Vincent van Gogh’s Starry night, Michelangelo’s David, Jackson Pollock’s One: Number 31, and Picasso’s Guernica, are all pristine pieces of art. They embody the sublime and the beautiful. They approach perfection. They elevate the human experience to previously unimaginable heights. They have a powerful impact on our hearts and our souls. You know what else can have such a profound and lasting impact on us? You know what else can move us, inspire us, and change us forever? A perfect sandwich.
Building a Perfect Sandwich
Building a perfect sandwich is all about understanding a sandwich’s component parts, the individual elements that make up a sandwich. Traditionally, a sandwich is composed of three primary things, bread, spread, and the base. There are literally hundreds of thousands of variations within these basic elements so there is plenty of room for creativity.
The Bread
If you don’t have quality bread, you don’t have anything. Bread supplies flavor, texture, and structure to a sandwich. When picking out the bread for your sandwich, there are a few things to consider. The bread should be sturdy enough that the sandwich won’t fall apart when you are eating it. The flavor of the bread should complement the flavors in the base. Most importantly, the bread should be of a different texture than the base. Mouth feel is a thing. Really.
The Base
This is the heart of the sandwich. The base is your meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Again, options and variety are nearly limitless. Pick out your favorite meat and build the sandwich around that. Choose a cheese that goes well with it. Lettuce, tomato, and onion are always great vegetables, but don’t feel limited by these basic options.
The Spread
A dry sandwich is a bad sandwich. Spread is a crucial element. The important thing to avoid is applying too much spread and allowing it to overpower your sandwich. You should notice the flavor and consistency of your spread, but it should not be the star of your sandwich.
