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

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?

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.

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

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? .

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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...

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

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.

I would classify it as an almost-wrap.

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

Is a pizza puff a sandwich?