Martino sandwich
A disputed Belgian sandwich of spicy filet américain.
The Martino sandwich is a Flemish specialty, popular in Belgium and nearby regions. It consists of filet américain (also known as americain préparé or steak tartare) on a baguette, topped with spicy condiments, pickles, and onions, and served cold. The sandwich dates to the 1950s, though its exact origin is debated between the cities of Antwerp and Ghent.
One account credits Albert De Hert, a former footballer and restaurateur with a shop near Antwerp’s De Coninckplein. According to local legend, in 1951, De Hert’s friend and fellow footballer Theo Maertens—who called himself “Martino”—came in with a hangover and asked for a spicy sandwich, telling De Hert to “put everything you have in the cooler on it.” De Hert assembled chopped onion, pickle slices, Tabasco, pili-pili, cayenne pepper, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce on a baguette. The sandwich is said to be named after Maertens.
Another version places the sandwich’s creation in Ghent in 1954, at a snack bar called Martino. Owner Raymond Noë made it for a boxer named Martino, topping it with tomato, gherkin, anchovies, pili-pili, and mustard. In Ghent, the Martino became closely tied to the 24-hour sandwich bar ’t Hoekske, at the corner of Sint-Kwintensberg and Kortrijksepoortstraat. Open around the clock for over thirty years, it was a late-night favorite for students and locals. Its Martino was so iconic that newlyweds once stopped by in full wedding attire for a bite. The shop closed in 2021, ending an era for many Ghent residents who saw it as part of the city’s culinary identity.
Typical ingredients include filet américain, pickles, onions, and spicy condiments like mustard, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, and ketchup, all on a baguette. In the 1950s, *Gazet van Antwerpen* called the sandwich “a sensation in Antwerp’s nightlife,” while *Het Nieuwsblad* described it as “a household name” in Ghent.
- field
- Culinary
- nationality
- Belgian
- known_for
- Spicy filet américain sandwich on a baguette
- created
- 1950s
- origin_dispute
- Antwerp vs. Ghent
Lore & Background
The sandwich's origin story is disputed between Antwerp and Ghent. Some sources attribute the creation to former footballer and restaurateur Albert De Hert, who operated a sandwich shop near Antwerp's De Coninckplein. According to this version, the sandwich is named after Antwerp footballer Theo Maertens, a friend of De Hert. Local legend says Maertens, who called himself 'Martino', requested a spicy sandwich to cure a hangover in 1951, asking De Hert to 'put everything you have in the cooler on it.' De Hert assembled chopped onion, pickle slices, Tabasco, pili-pili, cayenne pepper, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce on a baguette.
Another version holds that the sandwich was first produced at a snack bar named Martino in Ghent in 1954, when owner Raymond Noë created it for a boxer named Martino, topping it with tomato, gherkin, anchovies, pili-pili, and mustard. In Ghent, the Martino sandwich became closely associated with the iconic sandwich bar ’t Hoekske, open 24/7 for over three decades and popular with students and locals. The shop closed in 2021.
Reader's Guide
The Martino sandwich holds a significant place in Belgian culinary identity, particularly in Flanders. Its disputed origins between Antwerp and Ghent reflect local pride and the sandwich's deep roots in both cities' nightlife and food culture. In Antwerp, it was described as 'a sensation in Antwerp's nightlife' in the 1950s, while in Ghent it became 'a household name.' The sandwich's association with ’t Hoekske, a 24-hour snack bar that operated for over three decades, underscores its role as a late-night staple for students and locals. The closure of ’t Hoekske in 2021 marked the end of an era for many Ghent residents who considered the sandwich part of the city's culinary identity. The Martino's enduring popularity is evidenced by its continued presence in sandwich bars and its mention in modern media, such as TikTok queues and alternative Flemish canons. Its recipe—filet américain with spicy condiments, pickles, and onions on a baguette—remains a distinctive and beloved regional specialty.
Did You Know?
- The Martino sandwich was created in the 1950s, but its exact origin is disputed between Antwerp and Ghent.
- One origin story involves footballer Theo Maertens, who called himself 'Martino,' requesting a hangover-curing sandwich in Antwerp in 1951.
- In Ghent, the sandwich was closely associated with the 24-hour snack bar ’t Hoekske, which closed in 2021.
- The sandwich is typically served cold on a baguette and includes filet américain, pickles, onions, and spicy condiments.
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