The Hemingway Sandwich Features An Extremely Unusual Combo
Ernest Hemingway was a lover of food and alcohol, dining on both delicacies and humble foods. In his memoir "A Moveable Feast," Hemingway details his appreciation for oysters while living and writing in Paris (via Fine Dining Lovers), but he was also known to enjoy roast pork and creamy cheeses. When it came to beverages, Hemingway would savor a good cup of coffee or a well-made dry martini, per Food Republic.
Growing up, Hemingway learned early how to hunt and fish from his father and then enjoy the trout, venison, and duck he killed, per The Washington Post. Later in life, Hemingway's love of fishing and hunting would take him to Wyoming, where he killed and ate grizzly bears. In Africa, he hunted and ate antelope, per Fine Dining Lovers. All this consumption of meat and alcohol left Hemingway overweight at times. According to Canyon News, his weight would range from 190 to 250 pounds. In 1947, Hemingway was advised to go on a diet by a doctor, and after a couple of months, his blood pressure was lower, and his weight dropped by about 30 pounds. But even then, his evenings were often spent eating well and drinking wine.
'The Mount Everest Special'
While Hemingway loved his meat, there was a sandwich he enjoyed that was high in protein but lacking meat. In his book "Islands in the Stream," Hemingway detailed the "Mount Everest Special," which was made of peanut butter and onion (via Eat a Sandwich). It's unknown if Hemingway invented the sandwich himself, but it is now commonly referred to as "The Hemingway." However, it is documented he liked onions from a young age. According to The Washington Post, Hemingway's biographer, Carlos Barker, said Hemingway's father told him how cleaned wild onions are a good sandwich filling.
While the combination of onion and peanut butter doesn't sound too appealing, Lillian Stone wrote for The Takeout that the peanut butter mellowed out the bite of the onion, but the onion still provided a good crunch. There is science to support why the sandwich works. Both the onions and peanuts are sulfurous, according to The Takeout, and therefore they complement each other. Hemingway was also known to pair the sandwich with a glass of red wine. Whether or not you want to add The Hemingway to your sandwich rotation is up to you. But, it just might be a great way to pay tribute to a literary giant who loved to live life through what he ate and drank.