Double-Decker Sandwiches

If you begin building a simple sandwich having one deck, but then go on to place another layer of filling on top of the ceiling slice and then top that filling with a third slice of bread, you have made a double-decker sandwich. As in building a ship, you could continue adding decks to make a triple- or even quadruple-decker sandwich. Sandwiches having more than one deck are sometimes called multi-decker sandwiches.

The most famous double-decker sandwich is the club sandwich. A classic club sandwich has a lower deck consisting of sliced roast turkey or chicken and an upper deck consisting of bacon, lettuce, and tomato. It is made on toasted white bread spread with mayonnaise. Today, many variations are made on this classic. Sometimes turkey salad or chicken salad is used; other meats, such as ham or roast beef, may be substituted. Cheese may be added. In the 1980s, Chef Anne Rosenzweig popularized the luxurious lobster club sandwich. Contemporary chefs sometimes replace the bacon with pancetta or frizzled prosciutto.