BLT Sandwich. Ollylalin / wikimedia / 2006 / CC BY 2.0
The 22nd of July is BLT Day.
It celebrates Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato (BLT) sandwiches, one of the more popular sandwiches to come out of the 20th century.
The sandwich combo just seems to tick people’s comfort checklist on so many levels, though some say the sandwiches are really at their best in summers when local tomatoes are in season.
Do you like your BLT warm or cold? On white or brown bread? Toasted or plain?
And what do you like with yours? Fries seem to be traditional, but do you prefer a side salad, or nothing but a beverage, if the sandwich is substantial enough? And what’s the beverage you like with yours: a soda pop, a coffee, a tea, or milk, or something else?
Today could be a good day to treat yourself to a good old fashioned BLT in your favourite diner. Or if you are on the run, you could grab one to go for lunch.
#BLTDay #BLTSandwichDay #NationalBLTDay #NationalBLTSandwichDay
See also: Bacon, Tomatoes, Sandwiches, Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day, Grilled Cheese Day
If you are in a hurry, you can always grab a BLT to go. kiliweb / Open Food Facts / CC BY-SA 3.0
Activities for today
- Try a different bread such as a chewy sourdough baguette, a bagel, brioche bread, ciabatta, a pita, a tortilla, a taco shell or a kaiser roll;
- Try a different bacon such as Canadian, English or Irish style, or pancetta, or turkey bacon;
- Iceberg lettuce is traditional, but you can jazz up the lettuce by opting for romaine or bibb, or spinach leaves, and maybe with some arugula, basil, watercress or sprouts to pep it up;
- You can take the tomatoes to a whole new level by opting for homegrown heritage tomatoes, or sun-dried tomatoes marinated in olive oil, or fried green tomatoes;
- Try adding slices of avocado or cucumber, or a dab of guacamole, or grilled red peppers;
- Try a flavoured mayo such as sriracha or garlic mayonnaise;
- Try some bacon jam or brown sauce;
- Try adding slices of roasted chicken breast or a fried egg or slices of boiled egg;
- Try adding a slice of ham;
- Try a cheese slice;
- Try adding some slices of Vidalia onions, Bermuda onions or Spanish onions;
- Look for promotions at local restaurants.
- Feature BLT sandwiches at a cafeteria, market or restaurant where you work.
History
In 1982, Rolfe Neil, publisher of The Charlotte Observer, proposed a BLT Day for July.
“All of our holidays, even New Year’s with its resolutions, are so serious. We need a holiday clearly defined For Fun Only. I propose one. My suggested observance honors the greatest sandwich ever concocted — the bacon, lettuce and tomato, often known by the shorthand of BLT.
July is definitely the right month for BLT Day. This is the season when the sandwich’s key ingredients are locally grown and at their most succulent. To eat a properly prepared BLT is to feast with the gods….
For now, forget the Falklands. Shun the cares of nuclear disarmament and the Soviet pipeline. Have some fun. Help celebrate the BLT Day this month on the date of your choice. When you bite into that magnificent sandwich, you will extend the definition of personal ecstasy.” — Neil, Rolfe. One BLT Please, And Heavy On The Mayonnaise. Charlotte, North Carolina: The Charlotte Observer. Sunday, 4th July 1982. Page 3D, col. 3.
The first print allusion that CooksInfo has found to Rolfe Neil’s idea being taken up occurred in 2009, though not with any associated date given:
“March 1: National Pig Day (Not be be confused with National BLT Day)” — Shea, Jim. From Hairballs to Rhinos, The Awareness Just Piles Up. Hartford, Connecticut: Hartford Courant. Saturday, 18 April 2009. Page C1, col. 1.
Sources
In case you didn’t know it’s BLT Day! Santa Monica, California: The Rooster. 18 July 2019. Accessed June 2021 at https://www.theroostersantamonica.com/post/in-case-you-didn-t-know-it-s-blt-day
It’s National BLT Day! Celebrate with Quaker Valley Foods! Philadelphia, PA : Quaker Valley Foods. 22 July 2020. Accessed June 2021 at https://quakervalleyfoods.com/its-national-blt-day-celebrate-with-quaker-valley-foods/
Strickland, Patrick. Celebrate National BLT Day at these 5 sandwich spots in Garland. Dallas, Texas: Dallas News. 20 July 2020. Accessed June 2021 at https://www.dallasnews.com/food/2020/07/20/celebrate-national-blt-day-at-these-5-sandwich-spots-in-garland/