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{{Short description|Single slice of bread with food items on top}}
{{Redirect|Open face|the card game|Open-face Chinese poker|}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name = Open sandwich
| image = Norwegian.open.sandwich-01.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Scandinavian ''[[smørrebrød]]'' at a cafeteria in Norway
| alternate_name = Open-face sandwich, open-faced sandwich, tartine, bread baser, bread platter
| country = 
| region = 
| creator = 
| course = 
| type = [[Sandwich]]
| served = 
| main_ingredient = [[Bread]], topping
| variations = Many variations exist
| calories = 
| other = 
}}

An '''open sandwich''', also known as an '''open-face/open-faced sandwich''', '''bread baser''', '''bread platter''' or '''tartine''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreedictionary.com/tartine|title=tar·tine, A French open-faced sandwich, especially one with a rich or fancy spread.|publisher=Free Online Dictionary|access-date=2014-05-14}}</ref> consists of a single slice of [[bread]] or [[Toast (food)|toast]] with one or more [[food]] items on top. It has half the number of slices of bread compared to a typical [[Sandwich|closed sandwich]] and has ''toppings'' rather than ''fillings''.

==History==
During the start of the [[Middle Ages]], thin slabs of coarse bread called "trenches" (late 15th century English) or, in its French derivative, "[[Trencher (tableware)|trenchers]]", were used as plates.<ref>Adamson, Melitta Weiss, Regional Cuisines of Medieval Europe: A Book of Essays. New York. 2002. {{ISBN|0-415-92994-6}}</ref> At the end of the meal, the food-soaked trencher was eaten by the diner (from which the expression "trencherman" may come), or perhaps fed to a dog or saved for beggars. Trenchers were as much the harbingers of open-face sandwiches<ref name="What's Cooking America">[http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/SandwichHistory.htm What's Cooking America], ''Sandwiches, History of Sandwiches''. February 2, 2007.</ref> as they were of disposable crockery.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

A direct precursor to the English [[sandwich]] may be found in the Netherlands of the 17th century, where the naturalist [[John Ray]] observed that in the taverns, beef hung from the rafters "which they cut into thin slices and eat with bread and butter laying the slices upon the butter".<ref>Ray, ''Observations topographical, moral, & physiological; made in a journey through part of the Low Countries, Germany, Italy, and France...'' (vol. I, 1673) quoted in [[Simon Schama]], ''[[The Embarrassment of Riches: An Interpretation of Dutch Culture in the Golden Age|The Embarrassment of Riches]]'' (1987:152).</ref>  These explanatory specifications reveal the Dutch ''belegde boterham'', open-faced sandwich, was as yet unfamiliar in England.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

==Terminology==

In countries like Denmark, where [[smørrebrød]] is common, smørrebrød is not considered a form of sandwich; rather, a sandwich is considered a form of smørrebrød with an extra piece of bread on top.<ref>{{Cite web|title=sandwich — ODS|url=https://ordnet.dk/ods/ordbog?query=sandwich|access-date=2021-09-13|website=ordnet.dk}}</ref> In a US context, open sandwiches are sandwiches that are made with only a single slice of bread.{{clarify|date=March 2021}} It has given rise to some controversy in the [[philosophy of language]] study of meaning [[underdetermination]] after a judge had to consider whether a [[burrito]] was a sandwich for the purposes of enforcing an [[exclusive use clause]] in an American legal case. The judge followed the definition of ''[[Merriam-Webster's Dictionary]]'': "two thin pieces of bread, usually buttered, with a thin layer (as of meat, cheese or savory mixture) spread between them." Because the burrito was "typically made with a single tortilla," the judge said it was not a sandwich.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.natlawreview.com/article/exclusive-use-provisions-burrito-type-sandwich|title=Exclusive Use Provisions: Is a Burrito a type of Sandwich?
|publisher=National Law Review|access-date=2021-04-26}}</ref>

==Presentation==

Open sandwiches allow for an arrangement of different types of sandwiches to be served with [[afternoon tea]]s or as an accompaniment to salads.<ref>{{cite book |title=Modern Priscilla Cook Book:One Thousand Recipes Tested and Proved at the Priscilla Proving Plant | date=1924 |page=302}}</ref> They can be cut into fancy shapes of triangles, stars, rounds and crescents, and arranged in an attractive platter for presentation. Common ingredients for open sandwiches are jam, stuffed olives, chopped herbs, cream cheese, hard-boiled eggs and pimiento. Any ingredients can be used to add flavor and color to enhance the presentation of the sandwich platter.<ref>{{cite book |title=Woman's Institute Library of Cookery: Salads and sandwiches, cold and frozen desserts, cakes, cookies, and puddings, pastries and pies |date=1924 |publisher=Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences |page=57}}</ref>

==In various countries==
An open sandwich is a slice of fresh bread or, e.g. in Germany, a [[bread roll]] half, with different spreads,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yummly.com/recipes/open-faced-sandwich-spread|title=Open faced sandwich refspread|publisher=yummly|access-date=2014-05-14}}</ref> butter, liver [[pâté]], cheese spreads, cold cuts such as [[roast beef]], [[turkey (food)|turkey]], ham, bacon, [[salami]], [[beef tongue]], [[mortadella]], [[head cheese]] or sausages like [[beerwurst]] or [[kabanos]], fish such as [[smoked salmon]], [[gravadlax]], [[Herring as food|herring]], [[Eel as food|eel]] and [[Shrimp and prawn as food|prawns]], and vegetables like [[bell pepper]], [[tomato]], [[radish]], [[scallion]] and [[cucumber]].{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

[[File:Eggs-as-food.jpg|thumb|A Dutch ham and egg open sandwich with sliced mushroom]]
Open sandwiches like this are consumed in [[France]], [[Belgium]], [[Denmark]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mindspring.com/~cborgnaes/smrrbrd.html|title=Danish Recipes:Smørrebrød - Open-Faced Sandwiches|publisher=Danish Recipes, Midspring|access-date=2014-05-14|archive-date=2013-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513101256/http://www.mindspring.com/%7Ecborgnaes/smrrbrd.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Norway]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Norwegian-Open-Faced-Sandwiches|title=Make Norwegian Open Faced Sandwiches|publisher=Wikihow|access-date=2014-05-14}}</ref> [[Sweden]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.coop.se/Global/Recept%20och%20mat/Publikationer/pdf/CoopMat_smorgasar.pdf|title=Smörgåsar pa sundra brod|publisher=coop.se|access-date=2014-05-14|archive-date=2016-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041423/https://www.coop.se/Global/Recept%20och%20mat/Publikationer/pdf/CoopMat_smorgasar.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Finland]], [[Estonia]], [[Austria]], [[Germany]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/archiv/.bin/dump.fcgi/2007/0928/feuilleton/0017/index.html|title=Tag des Deutschen Butterbrotes|publisher=Berliner Zeitung vom 28. September 2007|access-date=2014-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001133052/http://www.berlinonline.de/berliner-zeitung/archiv/.bin/dump.fcgi/2007/0928/feuilleton/0017/index.html|archive-date=2011-10-01|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.butterbrot.de |title=Butterbrot |website=butterbrot.de |access-date=2014-05-14}}</ref> the [[Czech Republic]],<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|url=http://www.kolarsky.com/family/cookbook/oblozene_chlebicky.htm|title=Czech Obložené Chlebíčky|publisher=Kolarsky family cookbook|access-date=2014-05-14|archive-date=2018-01-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101123311/http://www.kolarsky.com/family/cookbook/oblozene_chlebicky.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Hungary]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.otletkonyha.hu/salatak-es-szendvicskremek/szendvicskremek/|title=Szendvicskremek|publisher=otletkonyha.hu|access-date=2014-05-14|archive-date=2017-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926235549/http://www.otletkonyha.hu/salatak-es-szendvicskremek/szendvicskremek/|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Netherlands]],<ref name="Kim Plofker">{{cite web|url=http://www.math.union.edu/~dpvc/personal/Kim-at-Large/travel-log/cgi/read.cgi?type=Utrecht&key=2005-02-13.17-52-46.9497.klp|title=The Chocolate Sprinkle Sandwich, and Other Treasures of Dutch Cuisine
|publisher=Kim Plofker|access-date=2014-05-14}}</ref> [[Poland]] and [[Bulgaria]] as well as other parts of [[Europe]], and [[North America]] as a regular [[breakfast]] and [[supper]] food item. The American [[tongue toast]] was offered as an entrée for breakfast, lunch, and supper and as an [[hors d'œuvre]] for formal parties.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

In former [[Czechoslovakia]], a popular type of open sandwich is called ''[[obložené chlebíčky]]'' (pl., sg. ''obložený chlebíček'') - slantways cut slice of ''[[Veka (pastry)|veka]]'' (long narrow white bread) spread with [[butter]] or with various combinations of [[mayonnaise]] salads and [[hard boiled egg]], [[cheese]], [[ham]], [[salami]], smoked fish ([[Salmon as food|salmon]] or [[European sprat|sprats]] or pickled [[Herring as food|herring]]), [[tomato]], [[pickled cucumber]], [[lettuce]], raw [[onion]] or other vegetable, etc.<ref name=autogenerated2 />

The open sandwich is the common, traditional sandwich type in the [[Nordic countries]],<ref name=autogenerated1>[Ida Davidsen and Mia Davidsen, Open your heart to the Danish open – : the Davidsen dynasty and their best recipes, Lindhardt og Ringhof, 2006. {{ISBN|978-87-614-0400-8}}.]</ref><ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web|url=http://www.idadavidsen.dk/cms/Velkommen|title=Open sandwiches since the 17th century, (Danish).|publisher=Ida Davidsen|access-date=2014-05-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524044730/http://www.idadavidsen.dk/cms/Velkommen|archive-date=2014-05-24}}</ref> [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Belarus]], [[Russia]], [[Poland]], [[Ukraine]], [[Kazakhstan]] where it is typically eaten at breakfast, [[lunch]], [[supper]], or as a snack. In [[Finland]] the sandwich is called ''voileipä'', and in Estonia similarly ''võileib'', which also means "butter bread".{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

[[File:Smørrebrød at Kastrup IMG 8275 C.JPG|thumb|Danish ''Smørrebrød'' with eggs, shrimp and roast beef]]
The Scandinavian open sandwich ({{langx|da|smørrebrød}}, {{langx|no|smørbrød}}, {{langx|sv|smörgås}} or ''macka'') consists of one piece of buttered bread, often whole-grain [[rye]] bread ({{langx|da|[[rugbrød]]}}, {{langx|sv|rågbröd}}, {{langx|fi|[[ruisleipä]]}}), topped with, for instance, cheese, cold [[steak]], ham, turkey, [[Shrimp and prawn as food|shrimps]], smoked [[Salmon as food|salmon]], [[caviar]], hard boiled eggs, bacon, [[Herring as food|herring]], fish fillets, liver pâté ({{langx|da|[[leverpostej]]}}, {{langx|no|leverpostei}}, {{langx|sv|leverpastej}}), or small meatballs. This is typically complemented by some [[herb]]s and vegetables such as [[parsley]], cold salad, thinly sliced cucumber, tomato wedges or pickled beets, etc. on the same slice of bread.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://alltommat.se/10-goda-gi-mackor/|title=10 goda mackor|publisher=Allt om Mat, Swedish|access-date=2014-05-14|archive-date=2014-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514202210/http://alltommat.se/10-goda-gi-mackor/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A condiment, such as mayonnaise, or mayonnaise-based [[Salad#Dressings|dressing]] is also often included in some form.<ref name=autogenerated2 />
An old traditional replacement for butter on a piece of bread with herring is pig fat. There are many variations associated with the smørrebrød/smørbrød/smörgås and there are even special stores, cafés and restaurants (especially in Denmark) that specialize in them.<ref name=autogenerated3 /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitcopenhagen.dk/da/koebenhavn/gastronomi/top-10-smoerrebroed|title=Top 10 smørrebrød|publisher=Visitcopenhagen.dk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514211947/http://www.visitcopenhagen.dk/da/koebenhavn/gastronomi/top-10-smoerrebroed|archive-date=2014-05-14|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://politiken.dk/ibyen/guider/ECE2050173/anmeldte-smoerrebroedsrestauranter-i-kbh/|title=Højt belagt og snaps Anmeldte smørrebrødsrestauranter i KBH|date=19 August 2013|publisher=Politiken.dk|access-date=2014-05-14}}</ref>

The Dutch and Flemish ''Uitsmijter'' consists of one or more slices of bread topped with fried eggs (one per slice of bread), and can be accompanied by slices of cheese or meat (roast beef or ham). The dish is often served as a hearty breakfast. Sweet toppings are commonly used for breakfast in the Netherlands and [[Belgium]]: e.g. [[sprinkles]], [[vlokken]], or [[muisjes]], next to the more widespread [[peanut butter]], [[honey]], [[Fruit preserves|jam]], and [[chocolate spread]].<ref name="Kim Plofker"/>

In Great Britain, open sandwiches are rare outside of Scandinavian delicatessens. The open sandwiches found in Great Britain are the [[Welsh rarebit]]<ref name="bcscb">[[Fannie Farmer|Farmer, Fannie M.]], ''[[Boston Cooking-School Cook Book]]'' Boston, 1896, {{ISBN|0-451-12892-3}}</ref> and other "on toast" dishes (e.g., [[cheese on toast]]), and the [[Scotch woodcock]], an open sandwich served historically at the colleges of the [[University of Cambridge]] and [[University of Oxford]] and in the refreshment rooms of the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]] as late as 1949.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Wilcox |first=J.H. |year=1949 |title=The kitchen and refreshment rooms of the house of commons |journal=Journal of Parliamentary Affairs |volume= III|issue=2 |pages=316–320|doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.pa.a052613 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Aylmer |first=Ursula |author2=Carolyn McCrum |year=2005 |title=Oxford Food: An Anthology |publisher=Ashmolean Museum |page=26 |isbn=1-85444-058-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qBjLU0KrL6wC&dq=%22scotch+woodcock%22&pg=PP16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Beeton |first=Isabella|title=Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management |year=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-283345-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsehDNHAX9EC&dq=%22scotch+woodcock%22&pg=PR7}}</ref>

In [[North America]], an ''open faced sandwich'' may also refer to a slice of bread topped with warm slices of [[Roasting|roasted]] meat and [[gravy]]. Examples include a [[beef Manhattan]], a [[hot chicken sandwich]] in Canada, or [[Welsh rarebit]].<ref name="bcscb" /> This is also done in Scandinavian countries, where they also eat open faced sandwiches with fried meat and fried fish.{{Cn|date=December 2024}}

==Examples and varieties==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Tapas de jamón y queso.jpg|Open-faced [[Ham and cheese sandwich|ham and cheese]] [[tapas]]-style sandwiches
Image:Norwegian.food-Smørbrød-01.jpg|''Smørbrød'', Norwegian open sandwich
Image:Open faced tuna sandwich with cherry tomato and guacamole spread.jpg|Open-faced tuna sandwich with [[guacamole]] and cherry tomatoes
Image:Бутеброд.jpg|Russian ''buterbrod'' with tomatoes and Latvian [[sprattus|sprat]]
Image:Chlebíčky s česnekovou pomazánkou a mandarinkou.jpg|Czech ''jednohubky''
Image:Open Faced Shrimp Sandwich.jpg|Scandinavian ''räksmörgås'' (open faced shrimp sandwich) in Stockholm
Image:Scotch Woodcock.jpg|[[Scotch woodcock]], scrambled eggs on toast garnished with [[Anchovy (food)|anchovy]] [[Fillet (cut)|fillets]] and [[parsley]]
File:Viennese Open face sandwiches.jpg|Open sandwiches in Vienna, with a ''Pfiff''-size beer
File:Jednohubky z třesčích jater s máslem (detail).JPG|Small open sandwiches. Bread, butter and codfish liver paste.
File:Parata di gola.jpg|Parata di gola
File:2014 smoked salmon and egg salad toasted baguette.JPG|Egg salad and smoked salmon on a slice of toasted [[baguette]]
File:Ida Davidsen - udvalg 5.JPG|Smørrebrød with salmon and caviar
File:Smørrebrød med tartar og kyllingelevermousse (8713818231).jpg|Smørrebrød with green and red [[salad]], chicken liver and [[tartar sauce]] 
File:Hot fish with bread and pickles.jpg|A hot fish sandwich from Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish at the Franklin Food & Spirits Festival in Franklin, Tennessee
</gallery>

==See also==
{{portal|Food}}
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Butterbrot]]
* [[Canapé]]
* [[Croque-monsieur]]
* [[French toast]]
* [[Francesinha]]
* [[Grilled cheese sandwich]]
* [[Hors d'oeuvre]]
* [[Hot Brown]]
* [[Ham and cheese sandwich]]
* [[List of sandwiches]]
* [[Monte Cristo sandwich]]
* [[Obložené chlebíčky]]
* [[Sandwich]]
* [[Strammer Max]]
* [[Smörgåsbord]]
* [[Smörgåstårta]]
* [[Smørrebrød]]
* [[Tongue toast]]
* [[Welsh rarebit]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJbMtBoe2kI Dine with the Danes] Video of Danish open-face sandwiches
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFLfSxpFFYE Czech Open sandwiches]
* [http://culture.pl/en/article/a-history-of-polands-national-obsession-with-open-sandwiches A History of Poland’s National Obsession with Open Sandwiches]

{{Sandwhich}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Open Sandwich}}
[[Category:Sandwiches]]
[[Category:Austrian cuisine]]
[[Category:Belarusian cuisine]]
[[Category:Czech cuisine]]
[[Category:Danish cuisine]]
[[Category:Dutch cuisine]]
[[Category:English cuisine]]
[[Category:Finnish cuisine]]
[[Category:Hungarian cuisine]]
[[Category:Italian cuisine]]
[[Category:Latvian cuisine]]
[[Category:Lithuanian cuisine]]
[[Category:Norwegian cuisine]]
[[Category:Polish cuisine]]
[[Category:Russian cuisine]]
[[Category:Swedish cuisine]]
[[Category:Ukrainian cuisine]]
[[Category:Types of food]]
[[Category:World cuisine]]