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There is an art to the business of making sandwiches which it is given to few ever to find the time to explore in depth. It is a simple task, but the op
by whoopdedo 9y ago
There is an art to the business of making sandwiches which it is given
to few ever to find the time to explore in depth. It is a simple
task, but the opportunities for satisfaction are many and profound.
Reading this in 1992 I was entertained by Douglas Adams's whimsical storytelling talent. But now with this bit of historical context I see there was also, as in many of his stories, a social commentary which had passed me by as an American.
Of course over here we have restaurants such as McDonald's and White Castle. Did those chains not have a presence in the UK in 1980? Or do other countries make a distinction between beef patties on a bun and sliced bread sandwiches?
- Nursie 9y agoWe do make a distinction. While a burger is clearly meat between two bits of bread, it's not usually considered a sandwich. McD's was certainly not widespread until later in the 80s, IIRC, and White Castle has never had a presence here AFAIK.
- mrgordon 9y agoWhite Castle also isn't present across most of America either. Subway is the largest fast food chain in the world so it would be more interesting to hear what sort of presence they have.
- Lio 9y agoSubway are everywhere in the UK. Having colonised most town centres they’re now popping up in garage forcourts (service stations).
- stevekemp 9y agoWhile McDonalds wasn't widespread there were regional burger / fast-food places around in the UK at that time. For example I had a small birthday-party, which I still remember fondly, at a Wimpy burger-place back in 84 or so.
- Nursie 9y agoI certainly remember Wimpy, it was great back then - you got your food on a real actual plate :) Something which is disappearing at the high and the low end of the market these days!
- triplesec 9y agoTo be honest, it is far from clear that these commercial burgers are anything remotely like meat. And not sandwiches in our lexicon, certainly, no more than these shops are anything like restaurants. They might be food-like substances, rather. https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20090323/7-rules-for-eating https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20090323/7-rules-for...
- walshemj 9y agoJust started to come in around then before that we had Wimpys as one comedians said we took the idea of American fast food and made it worse.