There's something especially satisfying about eating a sandwich. It's easy. It doesn't require a plate or utensils. And you can do it standing up, sitting, or lying down. But it's what a sandwich is made up of that determines its real appeal.

According to most accounts, the word ‘sandwich' originated around 1762 when the 4^th Earl of Sandwich, England, John Montagu, asked to be served some meat between two slices of bread - an easy way to eat while playing a gambling game. The account goes on to say that people started ordering “the same as Sandwich.”

What's in a sandwich? Pretty much anything you want to place between two slices of bread, or a bread-like casing – a roll, a crusty baguette, a croissant, a bagel – the list goes on.

Simple – but when you start thinking about the different kinds of sandwiches out there, it's mind-boggling.

There are cold sandwiches, hot sandwiches, open-faced sandwiches, grilled or pan-fried sandwiches. There are BLTs. There are Reubens and Rachels. There are chicken salad and egg salad sandwiches. There are club sandwiches. There are Cuban sandwiches. There are Italian sandwiches. There are breakfast sandwiches with eggs, cheese and bacon or sausage. There are meatless sandwiches, like the caprese – usually served on a crunchy roll, filled with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. There are even deep-fried sandwiches.

A CNN website story posted in honor of National Sandwich Day 2015 listed “America's Most Popular Sandwiches.” According to the story, Datassential, a market research firm, did a survey to determine what Americans’ favorite sandwiches were. Turkey came in first, followed by ham and chicken. There were fancier ones, like Reubens and paninis, but the simple ones won out.

The survey stated that when dining out, Americans favor submarine or cheesesteak sandwiches. But when fending for ourselves, we tend to stick with grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly. Apparently Americans, as a group, are lazy. Or nostalgic.

When it came to district regional sandwiches, the lobster roll shows up as Maine's biggy.

Lobster rolls are one of the more popular items on area menus. Lobsters are plentiful in and around Boothbay Harbor, and all along the Maine coast, and lobster meat is a readily available resource. A typical lobster roll is simply lobster and mayonnaise on a grilled hotdog bun. Simple but oh! So good!

Another favorite lunch menu item in and around the Boothbay area is the deep-fried haddock sandwich. The haddock is always fresh, and it's typically served on a bun, with mayonnaise, and sometimes a slice of tomato and lettuce. The combination of the crispy golden brown fried haddock and a good grilled bun is irresistible. You can also find fried clam rolls and oyster and shrimp po' boys (though with the sad lack of Maine shrimp these days it may not be up to par).

A ham sandwich sounds boring. But if you start with a good, crusty baguette and some good sliced ham from a deli, you really can’t lose. A little mayonnaise and/or a little mustard and you’re good to go. Add some tomato slices, avocado, thinly sliced onion and shredded lettuce and you’re golden. Don't bother with the cheese. You don't need a lot of extras thrown in. Just eat it. It’s not boring. Just use good meat and great bread, and make it big. Because if you don't you'll want another one.

What makes a good sandwich? In my opinion, if the bread is good – fresh from a bakery, or a quality crusty baguette from the grocery store that will be like new when toasted for a minute – you’ll have a good sandwich no matter what you choose to put inside. If manners maketh man, bread maketh sandwich.

Look for Suzi Thayer’s column, On Eating and Loving Food, every week.

For more of her stories click here.