BLT sandwich
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The BLT is a variety of sandwichs containing Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato. The sandwich traditionally has several strips of fried bacon, leaves of lettuce (traditionally iceberg or romaine), and slices of tomato, all sandwiched between slices of toasted bread which is commonly spread with mayonnaise. Cheese is an optional but common interior ingredient for a BLT, but frowned upon by purists.
The first recorded recipe for what we know as the BLT was in the 1929 book Seven Hundred Sandwiches by Florence A. Cowles where it was referred to as a "bacon sandwich." The book also mentions a "Bacon Salad Sandwich" and a "Baconian Sandwich."
The March 1, 1936 New York Times described the Lexicon of the Soda Jerker: "When the bacon and tomato sandwich became 'the BMT,' the subway family started. It fell to the lot of the lettuce and tomato to be called 'IRT,' even though neither of the first two letters seem to stand for anything."
Bert L. Taylor ("B. L. T.") was a writer of the "A Line o' Type or Two" for the Chicago Tribune. It is not known if the "BLT" (as opposed to New York City's "BMT" and "IRT") was named in Chicago, but the "BLT" sandwich was cited in the November 10, 1944 Chicago Tribune: "B. L. T., according to Transatlantic Quiz, is the abbreviation for bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches."
A common variant is the "BLAT", with avocado added.
[edit] Trivia
- Pat Buchanan was interviewed by Ali G on Da Ali G Show, where he was tricked into referring to WMDs as BLTs.
- Stephen Colbert has dubbed the BLT "an American original" and the greatest sandwich of all time. He also recommends that people enjoy a BBBLT with extra bacon.
- The character BT in the anime .hack//SIGN is named after the sandwich, without her least favorite part of the sandwich, which is lettuce.
- The 1981 Robin Trower Album, B.L.T, for Jack Bruce (bass); Bill Lordan (drums); and Robin Trower, displays a large BLT sandwich on its cover
- In the film version of The Princess Bride, Miracle Max (Billy Crystal) refers to the MLT (Mutton Lettuce and Tomato) as being better than true love (especially when the mutton is 'nice and lean')[1].
- B'Elanna Torres from Star Trek: Voyager was nicknamed "BLT" from her days in the Starfleet Academy.
- Commander Sam Vimes from the Discworld eats BLTs from time to time; he likes them with lots of crunchy deep-fried bacon, very little tomato and almost no lettuce.
