Open-faced sandwiches are different from traditional sandwiches as they are often eaten with a knife and fork and have copious amounts of gravy and soft seasonings. They can be served hot or cold and are often made with leftovers. Menus often specify if a sandwich is open-faced.
The traditional sandwich has meat, cheese and other toppings placed between two slices of bread. Works well with most deli meats, sliced cheeses, and heartier meats like burgers or meatloaf. It doesn’t work so well with softer cuts of meat, stuffed doughs, or gravies. These sandwich items are often served on a single slice of bread, an arrangement known as an open-faced sandwich.
Open-faced sandwiches differ from traditional sandwiches in a number of ways. They are often eaten with a knife and fork, for example, rather than being held in the consumer’s hand. Contents generally include copious amounts of gravy, soft seasonings, and roasted meats such as chicken and beef. A good open-faced sandwich is often constructed on the serving platter, which allows the preparer to cover the meat and bread with a significant amount of gravy or other sauces.
An open-faced sandwich doesn’t have to be served hot, however. Some sandwich recipes call for the cold ingredients to be stacked on top of each other and served without a top slice of bread. A traditional charcuterie sandwich can be served this way if the amount of toppings would make it difficult to finish.
There are quite a few recipes available for open faced sandwiches. Some people use Thanksgiving leftover, turkey slices, and gravy to make a reheated sandwich the next day. Leftover pieces of pot roast can also be placed on top of sliced bread and served that way, with the addition of hot beef gravy. Thick slices of meatloaf also make popular toppings.
When looking at a restaurant’s sandwich menu, it often helps to see how the finished sandwich is served. Some menus specifically specify which sandwiches are served on buns or sliced bread and which are served face up. In general, if the sandwich ingredients include gravy or other sauces, it will most likely be served open-faced.
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