History of the BLT

Many might recall that BLT day occurs in July but for the entire month of April the BLT is celebrated as a National Month event. Made up of bread that is often toasted, lettuce, tomato, bacon and mayo the BLT is a favorite of many. But how did all of this come together??

Bread or toast is found at the base as well as the top of the BLT. The ancient Egyptians had long enjoyed flatbread but eventually they would prepare loaves of bread that were made with yeast and offered a chance to create different items and taste.

Ancient Egyptians have also been credited with cultivating lettuce which was first commonly thought of as a weed into food. Early on many types of lettuce were grown by both Greeks and Romans.

Wild boar meat was smoked, salted, and dried as early as the stone ages common to the manner in which early bacon was made. Wild boars became domesticated and pigs were raised by farmers aprox 13,000 B.C It would not be until the 1700s that bacon as we know it began to come on scene. Even then "bacon" was titled to only the back part of porks and later to all cured pork. Eventually "bacon" would become distinguished as the side of pork, cured with salt.

Whether it be fruit or vegetable tomatoes came from Europe to the new world during the 16th century. They did not appear as large or even red rather they were yellow cherry tomatoes that were thought to be poison. These early tomatoes were raised as houseplants and would not be eaten until the great famine in Italy during the 1800s.

Mayonnaise was invented in 1756. It like other parts of the BLT was nothing like the topping that is prepared for the BLT today. The great chef from France Marie Antoine Careme would change the first early recipe for mayo sauce by blending veggie oil and egg yolks into an emulsion that would lead to the creation of the mayonnaise that is popular today.

With all parts of the BLT present now how would they all come together??

The act of forming a sandwich came out of necessity. The fourth Earl of Sandwich who was also a great gambler refused to leave the table to eat. So in 1762 during a game he asked for his meat and bread to be put together and brought to him so he could continue the game this way he could eat without any utensils. For more than 100 years this new way of eating the "sandwich" would continue before someone would take the next step and create a club sandwich.

The romance of the Victorian ear would find tea sandwiches made with bacon, lettuce and tomato. Most possibly created in the USA at the Saratoga Club in Saratoga New York this club sandwich would begin to spread to other clubs Eventually a printed recipe in 1903 would appear in the Good Housekeeping Everyday Cook Book calling for bacon, lettuce, mayo and a slice of turkey that was put together in the form of a sandwich

Today BLT's are created in a number of different ways with the same common principles in mind. Whether you serve it

• with different breads that are toasted or not, serve it on a croissant or in a wrap is your choice. 
• make your BLT with bacon, bacon jam, canadian bacon, jowl bacon, pancetta, pepper bacon, or pork belly is your choice as well. 
• lettuce as well comes in a variety ranging from bibb, romaine, watercress or perhaps just a few sprouts
• tomatoes are still present but maybe as easy as cherry tomatoes, fried green, heirloom tomatoes, sundried, or another of different ways

The BLT has become a very versatile sandwich and one loved by many. How do you enjoy your BLT??

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