The Sandwich That Started It All: Earl of Sandwich Opens in SM Megamall

Who knew a card game one night back in 1762 would change the way we eat bread? Well, it did. It was an ordinary evening just like any other, but when the 4th Earl of Sandwich asked for a serving of roast beef to be placed between two slices of bread during a card game, little did he know that his hand-held feast would be an enduring global favorite. That evening almost three hundred years ago, the sandwich was born... 

You could say it's the next best thing to sliced bread. That night back in 1762 would forever change how we eat bread, making it an everyday household staple loved all over the world known by the name of John Montagu's noble title, the sandwich. Tender roast beef between two slices of bread, it's the sandwich that started it all. Lord John Montagu, the 11th Earl of Sandwich, recreates this culinary milestone with the chain of restaurants named Earl of Sandwich in 2004. And it's now in Manila...

The descendants of the noble sandwich inventor, the 11th Earl of Sandwich Lord John Montagu and his son, the Honorable Orlando Montagu, honors this family legacy with artisan bread and the freshest ingredients, each handcrafted and made-to-order, at Earl of Sandwich. 

Many say Earl of Sandwich makes the world's greatest hot sandwich. And cold ones too. They're probably right. Starting with fresh-baked artisan bread with a lightly crisp outer crust and soft inside filled to the brim with premium ingredients, Earl of Sandwich takes the popular staple to a whole new level with the freshest flavors. Wrapped in the vibrant colors of the Union Jack, there's a whole lot of history with every bite of their signature sandwiches.

At the opening of their very first branch in Manila at SM Megamall, Marissa Florete-Gorriceta, EVP-Marketing and Merchandising for the F&C Group of Companies welcomed guests showcasing the signature sandwiches and hand-crafted wraps of Earl of Sandwich. 

Marissa Florete-Gorriceta is joined by Alex Garland, Earl of Sandwich's Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Asia at the launch, sharing stories and insights on the rich history of the sandwich as well as expansion programs in the near future. And it all started with a card game one night back in 1762.  

Earl of Sandwich offers twelve hot and savory sandwiches using their signature fresh-baked white bread, each one filled with the freshest and premium ingredients. The delicate layering of the different ingredients make each sandwich unique with their own distinctive flavors.

Leading the pack of hot and savory sandwiches is The Earl's Club (P 299) loaded with turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato slathered in a creamy sandwich sauce.

The delicate notes of the turkey are complemented by the bold flavors of the bacon and tart tomatoes, mellowed by the Swiss cheese with the lettuce and special sandwich sauce binding everything together. Each bite is announced by a muted crunch from the crisp bread and lettuce, followed by rich layers of fresh and vibrant flavors. Solid flavors in every bite, it's a proper sandwich from the inventor of sandwiches.

But there's more to Earl of Sandwich than just sandwiches...

At the launch, guests were served sampling portions from their menu, including refreshing salads like the Earl's Cobb (P 195) with garden-fresh and crisp Romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, bacon, Cheddar, Roma tomatoes, cucumber, cranberries and creamy Ranch dressing. Earl of Sandwich will also be offering other salads like Chicken Caesar (P 165) and Apple Cranberry (P 199) for even more tasty options.

The Spaghetti Carbonara (P 199) with prosciutto, ham, chicken and soft yet firm spaghetti draped in a rich and creamy Alfredo sauce topped with Parmesan is just one of many comforting offerings at Earl of Sandwich. Other pasta dishes include Chicken Pasta (P 189), Baked Ziti (P 199) and Spicy Shrimp Pasta (P 189).

What's best paired with a hearty grilled cheese sandwich, or any sandwich? A warm and soothing cup of Tomato Soup (P 125), that always works for me. Thick and creamy with bright tart notes and just a subtle hint of sweetness topped with crisp home-made croutons, the Tomato Soup by Earl of Sandwich is the perfect savory side to any of their signature sandwiches. 

No visit to Earl of Sandwich is complete without a bite of their other signature specialties, like The Full Montagu (P 359) with tender roasted beef, turkey, Swiss cheese, Cheddar, lettuce, tomato and mildly spicy and sharp mustard sauce...

...and The Original 1762 (P 359), an homage to the original sandwich created by the 4th Earl of Sandwich exactly 257 years ago with juicy roasted beef, Cheddar and horseradish sauce. The Full Montagu offers richly layered flavors from the different ingredients while The Original 1762 delivers a solid beefy punch that's perfectly balanced by the sharpness of the horseradish. The Earl's Club, The Full Montagu and the The Original 1762 by Earl of Sandwich are the ultimate expressions of what began as roast beef between two slices of bread during a card game back in 1762.  

Earl of Sandwich created more hot sandwiches reflecting the versatility of the popular staple. Other hot and savory sandwiches include the Holiday Turkey (P 249) with cornbread stuffed turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce and mayonnaise; Tuna Melt (P 279) with tuna salad, Swiss cheese and mayonnaise; the Hawaiian BBQ (189) with tender grilled chicken, ham, Swiss cheese, pineapple and smoky bbq sauce; the Italian (P 249) with salami, ham, Mortadella, Mozzarella, tomato, Italian seasoning and dressing; the Veggie (P 179) with Feta cheese, cucumber, red peppers, red onions, lettuce, tomato and creamy Mediterranean dressing; Ham & Swiss (P 249) with mustard, the All-American (P 249) with turkey, Cheddar, cranberry sauce, lettuce, tomato and Ranch dressing; the Grilled Cheese (P 129) with Cheddar, Swiss and Mozzarella; and Best BLT (P 169) with bacon, lettuce, tomato and richly seasoned mayonnaise. 

Then, there's the Hand-Crafted Wraps by Earl of Sandwich. Just like their sandwiches, the wraps are satisfying meals you can enjoy without even leaving the card game and perfect for poker nights. These hand-holdable meals are filled with the same fresh ingredients as the sandwiches, so you get to enjoy all the clean flavors with every big bite.

Earl of Sandwich offers five tasty variants of their Hand-Crafted Wraps including the Buffalo Chicken (P 199) with juicy grilled chicken, Cheddar, crisp Romaine lettuce, tomato, celery salt, special Buffalo sauce and rich blue cheese dressing; the Thai Chicken (P 199) with grilled chicken, Romaine, cabbage mix, sweet chili sauce and Thai peanut dressing; Chicken Caesar (P 199) with grilled chicken, Parmesan, Romaine and house-made croutons draped in Caesar dressing; the Spicy Tuna (P 249) with tuna salad, Romaine, tomato, olives, banana peppers, chipotle sauce and sharp balsamic vinaigrette; and the Turkey & Cheddar (P 249) with turkey, Cheddar, Romaine, tomato and mayonnaise in a whole wheat wrap.

That's not all. Earl of Sandwich also offers Rice Plates like Roasted Chicken (P 165), Asian Pork (P 175), Squid Calamari (P 200) and Beef Tapa (P 225) for comforting local flavors.  And Pizza Bread too, choose from the Cheese Pizza Bread (P 109) or the Pepperoni Pizza Bread (P 149).

During the formal opening, the open kitchen went through its paces with the foreign chefs of Earl of Sandwich at the helm. Walk-in customers also had the chance to try the world's greatest hot sandwiches straight from the kitchen of the sandwich inventor. Neat packages with the Union Jack were seen all over the mall that day... 

257 years later, the impact of that evening's card game continues to resonate as we celebrate the sandwich in all its flavorful forms. With its first branch in Manila up and running serving up hot and savory sandwiches at SM Megamall, the legacy of the 4th Earl of Sandwich is alive and well maintained by the 11th Earl of Sandwich and his son through the fast-growing chain of restaurants. And soon, a second branch will serve up the world's greatest hot and cold sandwiches at the Ayala Malls Bay Area. 

But save room for dessert. At Earl of Sandwich, indulgent desserts are baked fresh daily just like their sandwiches. Here's an insider tip. Don't leave without trying their Brownies. Celebrate the sandwich today with hearty bites at Earl of Sandwich, now open at SM Megamall...

Earl of Sandwich is located at the Fourth Level Bridgeway of SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong. You can also check out their FB Page here at https://www.facebook.com/earlofsandwichph/ for the latest updates.

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