In many people's minds, sandwiches are like "a big pancake wrapped with everything" in foreign countries. They are synonymous with "any combination" and are very popular all over the world.

The history of the modern sandwich can be traced back to 18th-century Europe. After the 21st century, the U.S. Department of Agriculture even established regulations for sandwiches, such as a standard closed sandwich with bread not exceeding 50% of the total volume and meat content exceeding 35% .

"Heartthrob" sandwich | flickr Robyn Lee

In addition to being able to freely match sandwiches according to personal preferences, there are actually some fixed combinations for sandwiches. After being integrated with local ingredients and eating habits, various special sandwiches with their own unique flavors have been formed. After being tested by everyone's taste and refined by time, they have been preserved and passed down to this day.

Europe, America and Latin America are big sandwich eaters, and many types of sandwiches have been created.

■ Philadelphia sandwich Cheese steak

The Philadelphia sandwich is a beef and cheese sandwich that originated in Philadelphia.

The most important components of the Philadelphia sandwich are its defining characteristics: beef and cheese . Traditional Philadelphia sandwiches typically use thinly sliced ​​ribeye or rump steak (other cuts of beef are also acceptable), and American cheese is often used for the cheese.

Philadelphia Sandwich | flickr Mike

The most perfect Philadelphia sandwich is the fried beef on a long loaf of bread, topped with fried onions, ketchup, hot sauce, etc., and a thick layer of cheese.

Beef and cheese are a perfect match | flickr jeffreyw

■ Reuben sandwich

The Reuben sandwich also comes from the United States, but unlike the Philadelphia sandwich, it is a toasted sandwich. The main ingredients are: corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and toasted bread .

Corned beef and sauerkraut are the essence | flickr Betty Crocker Recipes

The corned beef used here is a kind of beef brisket cured with salt. The meat is firm and is often stewed with vegetables. The sauerkraut used here is made from fermented cabbage. Although it originated from Germany, it tastes very similar to Northeast China's sauerkraut .

The Reuben sandwich became so famous that the state of Nebraska even designated March 14th as Reuben Sandwich Day .

This combination sounds delicious just thinking about it | flickr Alan C.

■  Elvis sandwich 

In a country like the United States that loves sweets, there must be sweet sandwiches. The most famous of all sweet sandwiches is the Elvis sandwich.

The Elvis sandwich, also known as the peanut butter and banana sandwich (PB&B) or the peanut butter and banana bacon sandwich (PB/B&B), is Elvis Presley's favorite sandwich.

Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich | flickr IhasAcellular

The original version of the Elvis sandwich was just toasted bread with peanut butter and sliced ​​or mashed bananas. Later, bacon, honey and jam were added.

Peanut butter, banana, and bacon sandwich | flickr Danya Henninger

Of course, in addition to the Elvis sandwich, other sweet sandwiches are popular in the United States, such as P&J and Fluffernutter. P&J is the abbreviation of peanut butter and jam, and any peanut butter with any flavor of jam falls into this category; while Fluffernutter is the official sandwich of Massachusetts, consisting of peanut butter and marshmallow.

Peanut Butter Marshmallow Sandwich | flickr Helen Rosner

■ Cuban sandwich

The Cuban sandwich is more common in Cuba and Florida, USA. In addition to Cuba, it first appeared in Tampa, Florida, USA, and later became popular in Miami as a large number of Cuban immigrants moved to Miami.

The most special thing about the Cuban sandwich is its bread and cooking method.

Authentic Cuban sandwiches are made with Cuban bread. Cuban bread looks similar to a baguette, but unlike a baguette, it uses a small amount of lard or shortening during the baking process , resulting in a hard, crispy crust and a soft, flaky interior.

Cuban bread is similar to baguette, but different | flickr annshi

Cut the Cuban bread into 20-30 cm lengths, grease the crust with butter or olive oil, and then cut it in half. Next, spread mustard on each half of the bread, top it with the roast pork, bacon, and salami, then top it with Swiss cheese and pickle slices, and close the other half of the bread.

From assembling a Cuban sandwich to eating it, there's still one crucial step missing: toasting. Toasting a Cuban sandwich requires a plancha grill. Place the sandwich on the grill, then heat and press the sandwich against the plancha until the surface is crispy and the cheese is melted. Remove the toasted sandwich, cut it in half diagonally, and you're ready to enjoy.

Cuban sandwiches are pressed and heated | flickr Robyn Lee

■ Drowned sandwich

The Drowning Sandwich comes from Guadalajara, Mexico. What does a sandwich have to do with "drowning"?

The answer lies in the sauce that accompanies it, which is usually a spicy sauce made with chili, garlic, oregano and other spices, or a sweet sauce made with tomatoes and red peppers.

Drowning the sandwich in sauce | flickr Carlos Carbajal

The amount of sauce depends on how you order it: "Half-submerged" means partially submerging the sandwich in the sauce; if you order "fully submerged ," the entire sandwich is completely submerged in the sauce until no more bubbles form. The submerged sandwich is then topped with garnishes like raw onion rings and red peppers.

The bread used for the slurry is quite demanding, and it's a sourdough bread called "birote bread." This bread, through a special fermentation process, has a crust that's more salty than sweet, ensuring the slurry doesn't dissolve under its own sauce .

Sourdough bread won't dissolve in the sauce | flickr Adam Goldberg

■ Bacon sandwich

The bacon sandwich, as the most common sandwich in the UK and Ireland, must not be missed.

This sandwich is a classic British dish – simple and casual. Two slices of toast, butter of your choice, grilled or untoasted bacon, and ketchup or brown sauce are all you need.

A bacon sandwich filled with casual flair | Flickr Sam Pearson

Of course, in a country as magical as the UK, there must be some magical sandwiches: like a French fry sandwich with French fries in the middle , a potato chip sandwich with potato chips in the middle , and so on.

■ Veterinarian's late-night snack

This is an open-faced sandwich from Denmark, named after a restaurant in Copenhagen.

This sandwich has a very special combination: first use a Danish black bread called "Rugbrød" as the base, spread a layer of butter or oil on the bread, and then stack it with pork liver pate, corned beef, jelly and purple onion rings ( liver and meat, it really sounds like something a veterinarian would like to eat ).

This sandwich has a really unique name | flickr AmazingSandwiches

■ Fish sandwich

Fischbrötchen is a sandwich from Germany, where the core focus is fish.

The usual white onions, pickles, and ketchup are just the standard ingredients. The most distinctive feature of this sandwich is the use of fish instead of meat. Fischbrötchen typically uses pickled or marinated herring —yes, the same herring from canned herring known for its stinky flavor. Of course, other fish options are also available, such as mackerel, cod, and salmon.

The pictures are a bit dissuading | flickr Gourmandise

Fischbrötchen is eaten more frequently in northern Germany, where it is often served at fast food stands or takeout restaurants.

Would you like to try this fish sandwich? | flickr lilou_2006

After visiting Europe, America and Latin America, I came to Asia, where I found there are actually quite a few famous sandwiches.

■ Vietnamese sandwich

The Vietnamese sandwich can be seen as a symbol of the perfect fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisine.

"Bánh mì" means bread in Vietnamese, specifically the baguette used to make Vietnamese sandwiches. Although also called a baguette, Vietnamese baguettes are different from French baguettes.

The baguette was introduced to Vietnam around the 1830s , but because imported wheat flour was expensive at the time, the Vietnamese replaced part of the wheat flour with rice flour and invented the Vietnamese baguette, which is relatively cheap and more suitable for the Vietnamese taste.

Vietnamese baguette | flickr Khánh Hmoong

Of course, besides the bread, Vietnamese sandwiches also feature local fillings. Unless they're vegetarian, Vietnamese sandwiches typically combine meat and vegetables. The most common and distinctive flavor is pork slices , though other options include ham, minced pork, tofu, and more.

The Vietnamese baguette is crispy, filled with savory pork and refreshing vegetables. It feels like you're traveling to Southeast Asia with just one bite.

Vietnamese sandwiches are full of Southeast Asian flavor | flickr Ian Teraoka

■ Western

French toast, a must-have at tea restaurants, is a sandwich developed from French toast. Common fillings for French toast include peanut butter and ham.

The key to French toast lies in the method of preparation—frying. After the sandwich is assembled , it's coated in egg and deep-fried. Finally, it's topped with honey or syrup and served with butter. Early French toast was often deep-fried, but pan-frying is now common .

The now-popular " leak milk toast " can be considered an upgraded version of French toast. Press a depression into the toasted bread slice, pour in the milk, and finally sprinkle with Ovaltine, matcha, strawberry, or other powders. Cut into it and the milk pours out, a truly satisfying sight.

Leaky Milk | Douguo Food @ Zhanyi Baking

The world of sandwiches is so vast that it's difficult to describe it all in one article. Perhaps one day, eating every type of sandwich in the world will become someone's life bucket list.

What's your favorite sandwich combination? Tell us!