Humans have been topping bread with all sorts of foods, both simple and extravagant, since the Middle Ages. It seems most every culture has adopted some form of open faced sandwich. Italy gave us crostini, Denmark the smørrebrød. And the French - those clever French, who do everything "food" so well - gave us the ever perfected Tartine!
In the late 15th century, thick slabs of bread called "tranches" (or "trenches") were used as the vessel for serving food. An edible plate of sorts. Piled with meat, cheese or whatever the meal might be, the bread soaked in the juices and flavors of that meal, preserving its memory. It was then enjoyed (or donated to the family hound or neighborhood beggar) as a delectable end to the meal. Thus the tartine was born! Boy, those French really do know how to eat well!
