What goes between two pieces of bread? Almost anything. Week after week, Dish Podcast celebrities prove just that with answers as varied as the guests themselves. In closing their interviews, cohosts Nick Grimshaw of BBC Radio fame and chef Angela Hartnett often ask rapid-fire, food-related questions: What's your favorite way to eat eggs? What's your favorite form of potato? What's your favorite pasta? What's your favorite sandwich filling? If you pay attention to the varying preferred sandwich fillings, it becomes a tour of the many culinary delights of the world.
Falafel
Natalie Portman, an American actress living in Paris, adheres to a vegan diet and said falafel is her favorite sandwich filling. Made from fried balls or patties of chickpeas and fava beans, falafel has a contested origin. Speculations attribute it to India, Lebanon, and more. According to History Today, falafel was most likely developed in Egypt then slowly made its way throughout the Middle East and the world.
Ham and pease pudding
Little Mix group member Jade of South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, said ham and pease pudding is her favorite sandwich filling. “Pease pudding is a northern thing. … It's not a green [pea]; it's like a yellowy pea,” Jade explains.
According to an article at Medium, pease pudding is a simple dish made from split yellow peas, water, and salt. Also called pease porridge or pease portage, the dish was created as a cheap source of protein for the industrial working class such as miners, ship builders, and railway workers. Some say its namesake is Edward Pease, a Quaker dubbed “Father of the Railways” for his work in advancement of railways and locomotive design.
The humble egg
English actor, comedian and writer Stephen Fry said his favorite sandwich filling is egg without elaborating. This leaves so many questions. Fried eggs? Scrambled eggs? Sliced boiled eggs? Egg salad? The world may never know. But eggs are a staple in cuisines around the world in breakfast, main courses, and desserts.
New York pastrami
Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan said her favorite sandwich filling is New York pastrami. Pastrami is made from brined, seasoned, and smoked cured beef brisket. Katz’s Deli, famously featured in that scene of “When Harry Met Sally,” is also famous for its pastrami, often cited as the best pastrami sandwich in New York. An article on New York City’s website attributes pastrami's roots to The Ottoman Empire. When Eastern European immigrants made their way to New York, they brought the tradition of pastrami with them.
Turkey
American actress, singer and beauty queen Vanessa Williams said her favorite sandwich filling is turkey. The history of the turkey sandwich likely goes back as far as the sandwich itself. According to Earl of Sandwich USA, John Montague, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich, asked for roast beef to be placed in between two pieces of bread so he could eat it with his hands. That fateful day in 1762, the sandwich was born.