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6 Min
03/11/2025
From the sandwich that had Ross screaming loud enough to the dishes that Ratatouille creates, food has always been a character in movies and shows across the globe. And often, the food becomes the main character, shining under the spotlight. Some folks even go to great lengths to try and replicate the food, and there are entire dining experiences where customers get to eat the same meals being served on screen. But today, let’s talk about one particular meal that you can even recreate in your home — the sandwiches!
World Sandwich Day, celebrated on 3 November, is a fun way to explore the iconic sandwiches that have existed on screen across shows and movies. From Pulp Fiction to The Big Bang Theory, sandwiches have often been central to some of the most memorable moments. Perhaps it’s the acting. The actors holding the sandwiches make it such that one can’t help but want to fix one and try it along. And even if you can’t recreate the dish, you can certainly enjoy the moment. Let’s take a look at the most iconic sandwiches from entertainment history that reached people’s souls, if not to their stomachs!
Dubbed the ‘best sandwich ever’, this sandwich makes an appearance on F.R.I.E.N.D.S.’ Season 5, Episode 20, “The One With the Ride-Along.” It’s the one that Joey dives to save from a “gunshot”, which is actually the sound of a car backfiring. On the show, it’s the perfect prop for confusion and chaos, especially as Chandler presumes Joey was saving Ross and values him more. But for viewers worldwide, it remains the sandwich worth saving from the gunshot. If only one could have a bite of it!
Considering that food is Monica’s occupation and Joey’s first love, it’s no wonder two entries from the show made it to the list. This one is from season 5, episode 9, literally named after Ross’s sandwich. Ross, who is particularly fond of a sandwich that Monica (a chef and his sister) makes. But when someone steals the sandwich she makes for him, he is shocked, to put it mildly. The result? An episode that is as memorable as the sandwich, if not more so. And guess what, it’s a leftover recipe!
For Sheldon, from The Big Bang Theory, Friday nights had a fixed plan: Chinese takeout and playing video games. But that gets thrown off in Season 11, Episode 19 of The Tenant Disassociation. Penny, his neighbour and friend, brings a pastrami sandwich that overpowers the aroma of the Chinese takeout. Things spiral, and next you know, there are new tenant elections taking place. The sandwich and its smell became the focal point of the show, giving viewers endless moments of laughter.
What more could a hungover girl, reeling from a breakup, want the morning after than a greasy sandwich? The iconic Birds of Prey egg sandwich is all about the bacon, egg, cheese and just the right amount of hot sauce that Harley Quinn grabs at her local bodega. The viewers are treated to a sight of two eggs wiggling on a griddle with plenty of bacon and cheese on top, and the hot sauce. But she barely gets to have a bite as a fight awaits her outside, courtesy of the bounty on her head.
Though the fans have dubbed Andy’s boyfriend, Nate, the real villain of The Devil Wears Prada, no one can deny that he was a devoted boyfriend at the start of the film. Andy, under the whip-cracking fashion mogul editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly (rumoured to be modelled after Vogue’s Anna Wintour), changed from the timid cerulean blue sweater-wearing intern to the girl rocking Chanel boots on the sidewalk. And when she was still coming to terms with Miranda’s never-ending demands, Nate fixed her a grilled sandwich – the Grilled Jarlsberg. While Andy let the sandwich go, Nate made sure to enjoy the fruits of his labour.
The Big Kahuna burger is actually a fictional fast food chain that shows up in many of Quentin Tarantino’s films, most notably Pulp Fiction. In Pulp Fiction, a burger made with ground beef, pineapple, bacon, cheese with mayo, BBQ or teriyaki sauce, between two burger buns, was munched on by the foul-mouthed Jules Winnfield (played by Samuel L Jackson). As he takes a bite, he goes, “mmm-hmm. This is a tasty burger”. Today, it’s the stuff of memes and pop culture.
Food is the biggest comfort for many of us when hitting a rough patch, especially for those who really love eating. Marshal from How I Met Your Mother is one such character. In the episode, The Best Burger in New York: How I Met Your Mother (Season 4, Episode 2), being jobless has taken a toll on the poor guy. When he first moved to New York, eight years ago, he had sampled a tiny shop which made the ‘best burger in New York’, and that’s what his friends tried to track down for a little cheering up. They did try different places, but Mr Marshall was hard to please, even though the others found the burgers to be delicious. After a few inquiries, they did manage to track the place down, which had just moved locations, and they had the best burgers in the city.
Food on screen is rarely just food – it becomes a symbol, a moment, a craving brought to life. Whether it’s the mind-boggling burger in How I Met Your Mother or the perfectly grilled Jarlsberg sandwich in The Devil Wears Prada, these sandwiches are more than props. So next time you’re craving a bite, take inspiration from the screen and savour your own legendary sandwich.
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