Creating the ultimate timeline of tastes and trends, the bakers of Hovis, who are celebrating their 120th anniversary this year, have summed up the history of the past twelve decades in a twelve decker sandwich. Devised by Hovis master baker Colin Lomax and consumer historian Robert Opie, each layer, be it dainty and delicate or deep filled and decadent, features Hovis Original Wheatgerm bread and a popular filling of the era.
1. Victorian Era – 1837 -1901 The Cucumber Sandwich
The Upper Crust
(Hovis founded 1886)
The essence of British afternoon tea, the cucumber sandwich was the dainty snack of choice for the leisured Victorian upper classes. Light enough not to replace a meal, the Victorian aristocracy could afford to consume foods for reasons other than the relief of hunger, unlike the era's lower working classes.
2. Edwardian Era – 1901- 1910 Pate de Foie Gras & Cress Sandwich
French Connection
Glamorous and excessive, the Edwardian Era was marked by an enthusiaism for the art, fashions and foods of continental Europe such as Foie Gras and Champagne, fuelled by the the signing of the Entente Cordiale “Friendly Understanding” between the UK and France in 1904.
3. The Great War - 1914 – 1918 The Bully Beef Sandwich
Tinned Soldiers
Corned beef or ‘bully beef’ was the principle protein ration of the British army during WW1. Named after the French boeuf bouilli (boiled beef), bully beef was both issued in tins to the soldiers in the trenches along with bread and biscuits and became a staple of household pantries.
4. Roaring 1920s The Birth of the BLT
Jazzing up the sandwich
The end of WW1 sparked a period of optimism with cocktails, jazz and dancing firmly on the menu. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, the decade also saw the birth of the ultimate hangover food the BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato) with the first recorded recipe appearing in the 1929 book Seven Hundred Sandwiches by Florence A. Cowles.
5. The Hungry 1930s Bread and Butter Sandwich
Bread Laid Bare
When the Great Depression came, Britain’s industrial areas were hit hard with meat and eggs becoming scarce. There was widepread long term unemployment, and in protest against this, 'hunger marches' were arranged by the National Unemployed Workers' Movement.
6. 1940s Austerity Spam Sandwich
Going through the process
Invented in the US in 1937, Spam was known as "The Meat of Many Uses" and was one of the few meat products excluded from the British food rationing. Spam now has an almost legendary status and is even celebrated annually in a small local festival in Austin, Minnesota, USA.
7. The Fabulous 1950s Coronation Chicken
Chicken Royale Coronation
Chicken was invented by Constance Spry and served at the Queen's Coronation lunch in 1953. The recipe was designed to be served cold, and this is often said to be so that the public did not have to cook a hot meal on the day of the Coronation, although in fact the recipe was not published in book form until 1956.
8. The Swinging 1960s Prawn Cocktail Sandwich
Kitch ‘n’ Pink
The prawn cocktail was the height of 60s sophistication. Now a retro classic, the recipe reflected the development of British tastes post war. With the rise of the package holiday, people had started to discover new ‘exotic’ tastes and combinations.
9. The Hedonistic 1970s Cheese & Pineapple
Platforms & Party Food
Platform shoes and bellbottoms, glam and rock – the 1970’s were famous for silly combinations in all walks of life and not least in its food. The cheese and pineapple combination is a prime example which fast became a seventies party food staple, appearing in many guises from sandwich fillings to grapefruit hedgehogs.
10. The Powerful 1980s Steak Sandwich
Steak & Shoulder Pads
A decade of contradictions, the 80s saw both the arrival of delicate nouvelle cuisine and the rise of the hamburger. Steak sandwiches served at yuppie power lunches reflected the affluence of the era and the influence of American tastes.
11. The Spicy 1990s Chicken Tikka Sandwich
Currying Favour
The ‘Chicken Tikka’ sandwich, arguably the most ‘British’ way to eat a curry, reached the peak of popularity in the 1990s with Marks & Spencer’s famous version selling 18 tonnes every week.
12. The Mediterranean Naughties 2000s Mozzarella, Rocket and Pesto
Oliver and Olive Oil
Although the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet have long been known the popularity of Jamie Oliver and his influence has grown the trend for favouring ingredients such as olive oil like never before.
