Gatsby (sandwich)

Recipe

There is no standard recipe for a Gatsby, but it is usually offered in a long (one foot or more) French-style bread roll cut crosswise. Other breads used may include hot dog buns or roti flat breads, although a filled roti is usually referred to as a salomie. The sandwich is made large to be shared, usually four ways. The filling of a Gatsby comprises chips with any number of other ingredients such as meats, fish and eggs. Meat fillings may include chargrilled steak, masala steak, chicken, polony sausage, Vienna sausage and Russian sausage. Fried or pickled fish, calamari, curry and eggs are also frequently offered. The fillings are commonly dressed with achar pickles or peri peri sauce.

Although the Gatsby is typically made with meat fillings, vegan versions can be found that are usually made by substituting the meat with marinated soy. Healthier versions can also be found, using ingredients such as beans which are said to significantly reduce cholesterol and fat levels.

History

The Gatsby sandwich originated in 1976 in Athlone, in the Cape Flats area of Cape Town. Food shop owner Rashaad Pandy wanted to serve a quick but filling meal to workers helping him renovate his store. He filled a large round loaf with "slap chips" (South-African-style chips with vinegar), polony sausage and achaar and cut this into wedges. "Froggy", one of the workers, declared the sandwich a "Gatsby smash", alluding to the movie The Great Gatsby which had been screened at an Athlone cinema. The name stuck and Pandy subsequently offered the sandwich in his shop. The sandwich grew in popularity and was adjusted to use a long French-style roll. The gatsby sandwich is a popular hangover cure for Capetonians.

File:Tastebud Shack 1.jpg|alt=A store in Cape Town, South Africa, with signage for Gatsby sandwiches|A store in Cape Town, South Africa with signage for Gatsby sandwiches, 2014 Root44 3.jpg|alt=A personal-sized Gatsby sandwich prepared with calamari and chips, being sold at a food stall|A personal-sized Gatsby sandwich prepared with calamari and chips, being sold at a food stall for R45 (approximately USD $3.75), 2014 File:Gatsby (1).jpg|alt=A Gatsby sandwich|A Gatsby sandwich

References

References

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