The favorite sandwich of legendary Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is remarkably simple: cheese on bread — but not just any cheese.
“What is the best sandwich?” late-night television host Stephen Colbert asked Starr during a 2021 appearance on “The Late Show.”
“I don’t have a lot of them anymore, but cheese,” Starr answered. He said he loved cheese before clarifying, “But it has to be goat cheese now.”
When Colbert questioned his preference for goat cheese, Starr said, “I don’t eat anything from the cow because the molecules are so big. Have you seen a cow? The molecules are so big. And that’s why if you drink a glass of milk, you’re full. With a goat, it’s a good size for our bodies.”
Starr’s explanation about the size of the animals and their “molecules” isn’t backed by science, but there are structural differences between goat and cow milk.
Research has found that goat milk generally contains a higher proportion of smaller fat globules than cow milk and differs in its fat and protein composition.
Those differences, along with the way the proteins form curds during digestion, may affect how the two types of milk are digested.
Goat cheese also tends to have a distinctive tangy, earthy flavor and is often paired with sweet foods, such as fruit and honey, or savory ingredients like prosciutto.
Content creator @domenicskitchen featured Starr’s preferred sandwich as part of an Instagram video series in which he recreates musicians’ favorite sandwiches.
For his interpretation of Starr’s simple sandwich, he toasted two slices of bread in butter in a pan before spreading them with soft goat cheese and adding grated goat cheddar.
“This sounds incredible,” one Instagram user commented. “Imagine it with a salt and pepper, tomato and some thin slices shallot.”
“This looks awesome,” wrote another.
“Why doesn’t he have a lot of them anymore? Go for it, Ringo!” another person said.
Some social media users were surprised that the sandwich wasn’t grilled with the cheese inside to melt it, as with a traditional American grilled cheese.
Others remarked that they weren’t surprised the famously quirky Beatle — who is 86 years old — would prefer a less conventional version.
“I wonder if Ringo will ever do or enjoy one normal thing in his life,” one Instagram user wrote.
Others questioned Starr’s molecule claim, while one commenter pointed out, “Goat milk fat molecules are smaller and finer than cow’s milk, makes it easier to digest.”
Some other celebrity sandwiches @domenicskitchen has recreated include rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Little Richard’s — peanut butter, banana and honey on white bread fried in butter — and country star Alan Jackson’s — pineapple and mayonnaise on white bread.
Also recreated: country music icon Dolly Parton’s, which was pimento cheese on white bread.
