Thanksgiving sandwich


A Thanksgiving sandwich or Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich, also called a Gobbler, Pilgrim, or Puritan, is an American sandwich constructed from traditional foods eaten on American Thanksgiving, such as roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy.

History

The origin of the Thanksgiving sandwich is disputed. It may have originated in New England, with recipes and local restaurant claimants by the 1950s. A recipe for a "Thanksgiving Sandwich Special" sandwich featuring a meat salad of turkey, veal and optionally cranberry jelly is given in a 1915 Chicago trade journal.

Variations

Hot turkey commercial

In Minnesota, a variation of the Thanksgiving sandwich known as the hot turkey commercial is commonly eaten after Thanksgiving. This sandwich is open faced and consists of turkey, turkey gravy, and mashed potatoes on white bread.

Commercial versions

The Thanksgiving sandwich has been adapted to chain store menus:
; Capriotti's, the Bobbie : pulled turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mayonnaise
; Wawa, the Gobbler : hoagie with hot turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy
; GetGo, the Pilgrim : sliced turkey, cranberry sauce, cheddar cheese, gravy on stuffing bread
; Publix, Turkey Cranberry Holiday Sub : sliced deli turkey, cranberry-orange relish, bacon, Gruyère

Popular culture

In the 1998 episode of Friends, S5E9 "The One with Ross' Sandwich", character Monica Geller constructs a double-decker Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich for Ross featuring a so-called "moist maker"—the middle bread slice soaked in gravy. Ross's sandwich, referred by fans by the synecdoche "The Moist Maker", features in the show's official cookbook, released 2020.