National Monte Cristo Day is a holiday observed annually on September 17th that encourages everyone to try what is arguably one of the greatest sandwiches ever created by mankind. This sandwich is essentially a ham and cheese sandwich dipped in egg and then cooked in the same way you would cook French toast. This club sandwich is a treat that can be enjoyed at any time of the day or night, not only on this holiday but on any day of the year as well. So, grab some bread, ham, cheese, eggs, and butter and make yourself one of these very tasty sandwiches.

The History of National Monte Cristo Day

This holiday was first created by a restaurant called Bennigan’s in 2015. This restaurant is known around the world for its Monte Cristo, so it’s no surprise that they would create a holiday to celebrate this club sandwich. Of course, they weren’t the first ones to create a Monte Cristo sandwich. In fact, this sandwich had been around for quite some time before they started making it.

Many people believe that the origins of this sandwich can be traced back to a very similar French dish called a Croque Monsieur. This ham and cheese sandwich was first made in a Paris café in 1910. Between the 1930s and 1950s, the recipe for the Monte Cristo would appear in cookbooks under names such as French Toasted Cheese Sandwich and French Sandwich. In the 1950s, it would become the sandwich it is known as today and is believed to have been first served in California.

Observing National Monte Cristo Day

Making a Monte Cristo isn’t all that difficult, but it is essential to celebrating this holiday. Just put together some ham, Gruyère cheese, mustard, mayonnaise, dip into a mixture of beaten eggs, and then fry in butter. Yum! Once that’s done, go ahead and take a picture and post it to the internet using the hashtag #NationalMonteCristoDay. Let’s all see your delicious creation!