PrintDoes a BLT Need the L?
It's tomato season here in the produce-challenged northeast, which for me means it's BLT season.
I am relentless in my BLT-making. Today I served my 85 year-old cousin Terry (I don't think she has a cholesterol problem) a BLT for lunch, made from two absolutely amazing heirloom tomatoes I bought at my local greenmarket yesterday, superior Nueske's bacon, Hellman's mayonnaise, a Pullman loaf (an excellent white bread with a nice chewy crust) from a local French bakery, and, yes, some baby arugula.
I only served the baby arugula in deference to my cousin Terry, who would have seen my leaving out the lettuce as unnecessarily revisionist. But over the last month or so I have been assembling "BTs" for myself, my son Will and my wife Vicky, and not once has anyone complained about the absence of the "L".
THE LETTUCE IS SUPERFLOUS IN A BLT.
There. I said it. I feel much better now. The bacon gives you smoky, porky, slightly sweet flavor, the tomato is sweet, juicy and lends just a touch of needed acid to the sandwich, the Hellman's mayo is creamy and rich, and the Pullman loaf's crusty edge gives you the crisp crunch some would say the lettuce provides.
Am I crazy? Is this food heresy?
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9 Comments:
Not only is it not heresy -- you don't go far enough. The T is superfluous as well. When I need to take my bacon in sandwich form, it is as a BBB: bacon and butter on a toasted bialy.
jozersky at 10:24AM on 08/14/06
I'm a fan of the L. The crisp edges of a toasted pullman loaf (or toasted ciabatta, or challah, whatever the bread vehicle) are dry and pointy, while the crispness of lettuce is cool and soothing. So you get two kinds of crispness.
I know iceberg lettuce is held in distain in it's not in a wedge smothered in blue cheese, but I quite fancy it on burgers, tuna sandwiches, and BLTs. It's all about texture, not flavor.
SaraBir at 10:44AM on 08/14/06
I never make or order them with lettuce. I always leave it off. They're extra good on challah bread.
Cheesecake Factory makes a Shrimp Club. I had it the first time I ate there I've never even tried anything else, it's so delicious.. Grilled shrimp, tomato, bacon and a special herbed garlicky mayo that takes it up another notch. They serve it on a challah/brioche type buttered toasted bread. It kind of puts a normal BLT to shame:) Oh - it has lettuce but I order it without. I also ask them to take out the middle slice of bread - it's just too much bread and an enormous sandwich.
Red
red at 2:22PM on 08/14/06
I have to agree with Sara - it's a texture thing.
True, the BT sandwich would taste good, but I need that crunch.
If the lettuce is fresh enough, it's like Sensurround in your mouth.
So, Ed, it's a texture, sound and crunch thing.
Polecat at 4:25PM on 08/14/06
Yep. Sorry Ed. I need the lettuce as well.
But I respect your anti-authoritarian stance all the same.
norman at 8:21PM on 08/14/06
i could give or take the lettuce - if i leave it off it's kind of a daring "oo - i'm not eating a vegetable" moment. peppered bacon on toasted rye is deelish as well... as is my childhood favourite, and 4-times a year treat, of peanut butter and bacon on toast... sigh.
Julma at 8:44AM on 08/15/06
Baby arugula IS superflous to a BLT, but iceberg lettuce is not. Comprising elements of both the crunchiness of the bacon and the sliminess of the tomato, iceberg lettuce provides a common ground between them, a flavorless space where the tastes of the bacon and tomato come together in the most vivid way, and a bridge between the two textures allowing each to best complement the other.
It also provides crucial layer of temperature. The room temperature tomato and the hot bacon need cold iceberg to maintain the ideal balance among the sandwich elements.
merricat at 12:42PM on 08/16/06
Ed:
You,ve had the guts to pose a question that may have gotten you burned at the stake in midiieval times!
I,ve found myself sweating in many a diner, luncheonette and coffee shop when it came time to order my BLT sans L. Many confused quizzical looks have come my way...IMHO, i just think the lettuce , at worst detracts from the perfect meld of the B&T and at best doesnt really bring much to the party...I feel as if a 100 pound weight has been lifted from my shoulders!
Doctorted at 6:51PM on 08/16/06
Does anyone like a BOT? What about the Onion? Let it take the place of the Big L.
Earlj at 8:40AM on 09/01/06