A Sandwich Fit For The King: The 'Elvis' Sandwich
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Elvis Presley had a surprising passion beyond the stage — he was a true foodie.
Elvis's love for culinary delights add a fascinating layer to his larger-than-life personality. Much like his taste in music, his appetite ventured into the flamboyant and idiosyncratic.
In 1976, following a concert in Denver, Elvis encountered the Fool's Gold Loaf, an extravagant sandwich comprising a sourdough loaf, a pound of bacon, and jars of peanut butter and jelly—an estimated 8,000 calories.
The King's fervor for this sandwich was so intense that he boarded his private jet with friends, flew to Denver, and had 22 of these colossal sandwiches brought to the hangar. Elvis, without leaving the plane, paired the feast up with Perrier and champagne before jetting back to Graceland.
Priced at $49.95 (hence the "Fool's Gold" name), this sandwich, with its outrageous ingredients, became a symbol of Presley's extravagant tastes.
Although the Colorado Mine Company, where Elvis first encountered the sandwich, has closed, the cook who prepared the midnight snack, Nick Andurlakis, later opened Nick's Café in Golden, Colorado, offering the authentic Fool's Gold Loaf to this day.
While the Fool's Gold Loaf steals the spotlight, Elvis had a more manageable daily indulgence—a sandwich now famously known as "The Elvis."
This sandwich featured two pieces of bread thickly spread with creamy peanut butter, topped with sliced or mashed banana, crowned with bacon, and fried in a skillet. Different versions of "The Elvis" still grace menus across the South.
Elvis's culinary journey wasn't limited to sandwiches though. Reports of his daily food intake border on the unbelievable, ranging from 10,000 to 12,000 calories a day. His breakfast alone included bacon, sausage, eggs, fried potatoes, bread rolls, and coffee.
His cook, Mary Jenkins, revealed his fondness for a sandwich with fried bananas and peanut butter.
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