When I think about why I love sardine sandwiches, I realize it all goes back to my childhood and one specific incident. I must have been four or five years old. I was in West New York, New Jersey, visiting my grandparents for the weekend. They owned a bakery on Palisade Avenue around 53rd Street. Until my sister was born, we lived in an apartment above the bakery. But in 1958, when she was born, we moved to a larger apartment in North Bergen. (See a blog about the bakery below.)
My parents were overwhelmed at times. And I think my grandparents missed us. So every weekend, either my brother or I spent the weekend with my grandparents. This must have been my weekend.
My grandparents and the Anoffs in the Catskills about 1951.
Also in West New York lived my grandparents’ best friends, the Anoffs. Their daughter and my Mom were best friends. And their granddaughter and I became best friends as well. Since she still lived in West New York, whenever I came to visit, I often played with her, while my grandparents worked.
I still remember the day of the sardine sandwich. We had been playing outside for a long time, when Mr. Anoff called us in for lunch. STOP right there. Mr. Anoff never fed us lunch. It was my grandmother, or my mom, or Mrs. Anoff or her daughter who made sure we ate. NEVER ever Mr. Anoff. So looking back, right there something was different. Something must have been happening, but I do not what. Neither I nor my friend know why he fed us that day. I can only imagine that the women were doing something. Could it have been a shower? I do not know, but the women were gone!
In the meantime, my friend and I followed her grandfather’s instructions and went upstairs to the apartment for lunch. I had been in the apartment before. But this was different. Mrs. Anoff was not there! Mr. Anoff was preparing a special lunch. He had out rye bread, lettuce and sardines. He toasted the bread, mushed the sardines on the bread and added lettuce. He asked if I wanted to try it. I nodded yes. He cut the sandwich in half. I remember eating sardines for the first time and Loving the taste. My friend did not eat it. She had peanut and jelly if I remember correctly. (I did not like PB andJ — peanut butter and jelly.)
I ate the entire half sandwich and asked for more. I remember Mr. Anoff smiling at me and giving me another half of a sardine sandwich. It was amazing. I actually can still see the table in my mind’s eye. I can see him making the sandwich. It just has stayed with me forever.
I will admit it started a craze for me. I would often beg my Mom for a sardine sandwich, just the way Mr. Anoff made it. I think I drove her crazy for a while. Everyone else loved the normal PB and J, but not me. I would watch her to make sure she made it just the way he did!
Honestly, I do not often eat a sardine sandwich. When they were little, my children hated the smell. So I did not eat sardine sandwiches when they were around. Now they are out of the house and I am free to do as I like. As a special treat, I purchase a can of sardines (packed in water) and make myself a sandwich. It is a moment of memory heaven.
I almost always try make it on rye bread, but since I am the only one who eats rye bread, I often substitute challah or a bagel. I always put either lettuce or cucumber on it. Just as I did when I was a child. I try to make it as much like as Mr. Anoff did as I can. I mush the sardines onto the bread and carefully place the lettuce or cucumber carefully throughout the sandwich.
I do not think Mr. Anoff ever made us lunch again. Even in the Catskills, where we spent over two months every summers, he never made us a meal. We had mothers and grandmothers there all the time. And even though he was almost always around, I never remember him ever being on lunch duty again. It was just that one magical time.
I do remember talking to him about sardines once or twice, possibly because my Mom brought up the topic. I think it was a sort of adult joke that I was still eating sardines. I remember him smiling whenever the topic came up.
But now, most important, I almost always text or email my friend to tell her when I am eating an Abe Anoff sardine sandwich. I think it makes her feel good to know that I am remembering her grandfather, and the good times we had as children. Mr. Anoff has been gone for many years. But a piece of him stays in my heart and my taste buds.
https://zicharonot.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/bakery-aromas-bring-back-delicious-memories/
zicharonot 
Hi. “My heart and my taste buds”. Wonderful. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it! Do you remember vicki and Rich Siegel? This is their Grandpa.
It’s funny how these little events influence us. My friend’s mother had us help her make appetizers that involved dill pickles, cream cheese, and ham (no, not a Jewish friend). To this day I still make them, although I use smoked turkey instead of ham. Now I am curious about sardine sandwiches. Do you take out the little spine or leave it in?
Leave the spine in. Just mush it up.
It is funny how certain food memories stick in the brain.
Like salmon bones!
My sister only ate peanut butter on peanut butter no jelly. I hated making those sandwiches and the feel of peanut butter. But since I was almost four years older, I made them all the time. Sardines were not sticky!
I love this! What a sweet memory. I’ve never eaten a sardine.
My children hated them, but I love them.