Inquiring Minds Need to Know: Is a Taco a Sandwich??!!

[GaryA]

This is an interesting thought because I wonder if it depends on how it's fixed.

A soft taco seems like it would be more of a wrap:

But would a hard taco seem like more of a sandwich, because the fillings are technically encased on each side by a flat sheet of carbs?!

One hard, one soft - what is the difference - both "partially surround" the fillings and can be held in the hand...???

Is being encased by carbs an intrinsic part of the definition?

 

[GaryA]

https://www.etymonline.com/word/sandwich

 

[Lynx]

Is a pizza puff a sandwich?

 

[seoulsearch]

One hard, one soft - what is the difference - both "partially surround" the fillings and can be held in the hand...??? Is being encased by carbs an intrinsic part of the definition?

I thought the point about a soft taco possibly being seen as a wrap was interesting, whereas a hard taco might be seen as almost a sandwich pocket.

The "being encased by carbs" is just my own little piece of sarcasm against the society's carb-o-phobia trend. Like anything else, it works for some, but not for others, and for a wide variety of reasons.

Technically, I'm not supposed to eat a lot of carbs either but I despise most of the low-carb options:

I'm sorry, but no one can tell me this is a sandwich -- this is a handheld salad!

That is all.

And I think a sandwich is (hopefully) one of those things that we all kind of define in a personal way -- which is pretty much what this thread is about.

 

[seoulsearch]

From the article:

According to Allen County Superior Judge Craig Bobay’s official opinion, “The Court agrees with [the restaurant owner] that tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches, and the original Written Commitment does not restrict potential restaurants to only American cuisine-style sandwiches.”

This statement declares both tacos and burritos to be "Mexican-style sandwiches" ?? ( Just think about that for a bit... )

How much "alike" or "different" are tacos than burritos? As a type/style of food item, are they more alike or different?

What about enchiladas? chimichangas? quesadillas? flautas? chalupas? Is a tostada an open-faced sandwich?

A lot more Mexican food items can easily be grouped with taco and burrito.

Does that mean half/many/most of all Mexican food items are all sandwiches?

Is anything rolled, wrapped, folded, or pressed together considered a form/kind of sandwich?

Apparently, a pita pocket filled with "food stuff" is considered to be a sandwich.

Is anything you can hold in your hand that contains "food stuff" called a sandwich now?

That seems to be where this "new" definition for 'sandwich' is heading... (for good, bad, or otherwise - I say "confusion")

If the definition is so broad that it becomes meaningless in normal conversation, it will become a totally useless word.

Before long, when someone talks about something being "sandwiched [in] between" something - you will have to ask them whether they meant rolled, wrapped, folded, pressed, pita-ed, what?

Wait - what was that? How do people use the term when they are talking about non-food situations/things?

"sandwiched [in] between"

Ahhh! There is a major clue here!

Why do we say it this way? Because, 'sandwich' has always meant something "sandwiched [in] between" two of something else.

Major clue. Yes. Major clue.

Have you ever heard the word 'sandwich' used in a non-food way where it actually meant rolled, wrapped, folded, or pita-ed?

I am thinking - not likely.

If a 'taco' is a sandwich - are all 'taco' items a sandwich? crispy tacos? puff tacos? soft tacos? hard tacos? street tacos? crunchy tacos?

(Some of these terms are the same thing to some people. Some of these terms mean different things to different people. And, I no-doubt missed a few popular terms in use today for some types of tacos.)

I tend to agree with the team of staffers from the article - who said:

We all come down on the side of “not a sandwich.”
Just like hot dogs, tacos are a classification all their own.
Furthermore, someone should probably let Judge Bobay know that "Mexican-style sandwiches" do exist, but they're called Tortas.

I will agree that:

A taco is a taco.
A flauta is a flauta.
A burrito is a burrito.
A tostada is a tostada.
A chalupa is a chalupa.
A quesadilla is a quesadilla.
An enchilada is an enchilada.
A chimichanga is a chimichanga.

I really enjoyed this mental rumination that broke down all the moving parts of a sandwich.

A sandwich is a sandwich. I wonder if the judge did any research on the Mexican concept/definition of 'sandwich' before reaching a decision...???

In the cited article, speaking from a legal standpoint, I personally think the judge was between a rock and a hard place and really had no other choice but to declare that burritos and tacos count as sandwiches.

Just imagine if he didn't.

The whole battle wasn't over the definition of a sandwich, but rather, whether or not the taco restaurant's offerings fit within the legal parameters of what the strip mall was allowing as part of their business ventures. The real heart of the matter was whether this Mexican business could open a their restaurant there -- and it became implified into is a taco a sandwich question.

Just imagine if the judge had said, "No, burritos and tacos are NOT sandwiches; only American-style sandwich restaurants can have their business at this strip mall."

I'm thinking that would have gone over like a lead balloon. It already attracted national attention. But if the judge had ruled against the restaurant, I'm guessing this would have set off a flurry of expensive lawsuits asking for the exact legal definitions of what "American-style" sandwiches are, along with lawsuits citing racism and discrimination ("Why are only American-style sandwiches allowed to have a business here?") It could have been a death sentence for the entire strip mall, as people surely would have rioted, boycotted, and possibly verbally assault anyone who worked there, even if they had nothing to do with the case. (We see this happen all the time.)

I could be wrong, but I think the judge pretty much made his decision based more on keeping the peace and trying to prevent a continuing drawn out legal process rather than the definition of a sandwich.

 

[Magenta]

I'm sorry, but no one can tell me this is a sandwich -- this is a handheld salad!

That is all.

Isn't that a lettuce wrap? .

 

[seoulsearch]

Isn't that a lettuce wrap? .

No matter what they call it, I see the lettuce as bunny food, and I always say if I were meant to eat grass clippings, God would have made me a rabbit.

 

[Lynx]

I thought the point about a soft taco possibly being seen as a wrap was interesting, whereas a hard taco might be seen as almost a sandwich pocket.

The "being encased by carbs" is just my own little piece of sarcasm against the society's carb-o-phobia trend. Like anything else, it works for some, but not for others, and for a wide variety of reasons.

Technically, I'm not supposed to eat a lot of carbs either but I despise most of the low-carb options:

I'm sorry, but no one can tell me this is a sandwich -- this is a handheld salad!

That is all.

And I think a sandwich is (hopefully) one of those things that we all kind of define in a personal way -- which is pretty much what this thread is about.

The bunless burger was the third darkest point in our entire history as a species.

 

[Lynx]

https://www.etymonline.com/word/sandwich

Geez man, relax! It's not a matter of life and death.

Remember when Taco Bell shaped a chicken breast into a U, deep fried it and used it as a taco shell? That would be one of my all-time favorite sandwiches.

If somebody deep fried two chicken breasts, then used them as the bun to make a sandwich, would that qualify as a sandwich? I say it would, and I'll take three.

 

[GaryA]

In the cited article, speaking from a legal standpoint, I personally think the judge was between a rock and a hard place and really had no other choice but to declare that burritos and tacos count as sandwiches.

You mean - he was "sandwiched" between a rock and a hard place?

Was he the center part of a rock-and-hard-place sandwich?

Jokes aside - yes - no doubt there was more to it than just a simple matter of definition.

Personally, I think the strip mall was "shooting itself in the foot" if they only wanted "sandwich" restaurants/vendors there.

 

[GaryA]

Technically, I'm not supposed to eat a lot of carbs either but I despise most of the low-carb options:

I'm sorry, but no one can tell me this is a sandwich -- this is a handheld salad!

It might be considered to be both; however, it is definitely not your "classic" sandwich!

Perhaps, it is a salad sandwich...

 

[GaryA]

Geez man, relax! It's not a matter of life and death.

I am relaxed - unlike you - who seems to be getting bent-out-of-shape just because I showed the folks something about the origin of the word 'sandwich'.

I think you need to relax a bit and try to enjoy the topic discussion a little more...

 

[Mem]

Ok, now, am I legally covered if I list this as a 'bacon taco' on my menu?

 

[GaryA]

Ok, now, am I legally covered if I list this as a 'bacon taco' on my menu?

You could probably get away with it if your restaurant was located in that particular strip mall...

 

[Mem]

You could probably get away with it if your restaurant was located in that particular strip mall...

Nice, I could run a Taco Too's Day special, everyday!

 

[GaryA]

The bunless burger was the third darkest point in our entire history as a species.

It does not seem too bad if you are trying to cut carbs and add protein!

 

[Lynx]

Ok, now, am I legally covered if I list this as a 'bacon taco' on my menu?

Well... I would eat it.

You'll have to deal with the outraged (former) customers though. I ain't helping you with that.

 

[Mem]

Well... I would eat it.

You'll have to deal with the outraged (former) customers though. I ain't helping you with that.

IDK what's the matter with me but, it would almost be worth it to see each customers expression as they process what they thought they were getting and what they actually got...

 

[NightTwister]

I would classify it as an almost-wrap.

Isn't a sandwich supposed to be [the stuff inside] between two of something - usually bread?

Tortillas, whether hard or soft, are "bread."

 

[NightTwister]

Is a pizza puff a sandwich?

Yes, and so is a pizza (open faced).