h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was in Los Angeles a couple of years ago attempting to explain the principle of chip butties to a bewildered American by placing tortilla chips and salsa in a roll. Unfortunately I knew the point had been completely missed when his girlfriend exclaimed: "Hey, is that what you English call a French Fry Sandwich?"

No those are both fine. They don't count as part of the animal. Do you say you're eating cow or chicken when you eat milk or eggs?

My American friends thought the concept of a chip butty was horific - starch in starch - a starch sandwich - it's like eating a bread sandwich, etc, etc.

Yet they liked Mint Sauce, Branston Pickle, proper cheese, and ... Marmite.

Odd.

A better question is how many Americans know what HP sauce is, just saying.

'Tis said that good old John Montagu (the Earl himself) was most partial to hot roast beef in his sarnies¹; whether the appropriate amounts of mustard or horseradish were added is not, however, recorded. This would seem to refute your "ploughman's lunch" theory, but it is nevertheless an excellent theory & I wouldn't like to dissuade you from proposing others on the subject

Paul

¹sandwiches, in case you hadn't worked it out...