Dagwood sandwich

🍖 With meat or fish

The Dagwood sandwich is a tall, multilayered sandwich built from a variety of meats, cheeses and condiments. It takes its name from Dagwood Bumstead, a character in the comic strip Blondie who was often shown making enormous sandwiches.

History

The name comes from Blondie, the comic strip drawn by Chic Young. Dagwood Bumstead, one of its central characters, is repeatedly shown building oversized sandwiches. According to Blondie scripter Dean Young, his father began drawing them in 1936.

The strip never spells out exactly what goes into these sandwiches, though they seem to combine large amounts of cold cuts, sliced cheese and extra layers of bread. An olive skewered by a toothpick usually crowns the structure, and a small fish, probably a sardine, is often visible.

The term has entered everyday language. Webster's New World Dictionary includes "Dagwood sandwich," and The American Heritage Dictionary lists "Dagwood" with the sense of the sandwich.

Culture

Beyond the comic, the Dagwood became a restaurant draw. In 1951 two businessmen in Toledo, Ohio, opened a Dagwood-themed restaurant, but they had to stop using the name because they had no license. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Dagwood Diner operated until 1971, and various brands have sold lunch meats featuring the character.

Today the name appears in chains and independent eateries. In South Africa the Dagwood is a common fast-food sandwich, usually made with three slices of toasted bread, one or two hamburger patties, lettuce, tomato and a fried egg; its double-decker construction is what sets it apart. Chains in Canada and Indiana also serve versions on their menus.

Trivia

A challenge with a pound of fries. In 2008, Man v. Food host Adam Richman took on a challenge in Columbus, Ohio, to eat a 2.5-pound Dagwood and a full pound of French fries within 30 minutes. He finished in 20 minutes and was awarded a commemorative T-shirt.

A sandwich beyond the comic. A Canadian supermarket chain sells an in-store Dagwood, but it resembles a thick submarine sandwich more than the towering stacks in the comic.