Gerber sandwich facts for kids
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Gerber sandwich
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| Place of origin | United States |
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| Region or state | St. Louis, Missouri |
The Gerber is a special kind of sandwich that's popular in St. Louis, Missouri, in the United States. It's called "open-faced" because it only has one slice of bread on the bottom, with all the yummy toppings on top!
What is a Gerber Sandwich?
This tasty sandwich starts with a piece of Italian or French bread. First, the bread is spread with garlic butter. Then, it's topped with slices of delicious ham. The original Gerber sandwich used provolone cheese, but today it's usually made with Provel cheese. Finally, a little bit of paprika is sprinkled on top.
After all the toppings are added, the sandwich is toasted. This makes the bread crispy and the cheese perfectly melted. It's a simple yet very popular dish in St. Louis.
How the Gerber Sandwich Started
The story of the Gerber sandwich began at a local family-owned restaurant called Ruma's Deli. This deli is famous for creating the "Gerber Special." The sandwich was named after a customer and neighbor named Dick Gerber.
Mr. Gerber owned a tire store right next to Ruma's Deli. The owners, Dee and Tom Ruma, would let him use their kitchen to make his own sandwiches. One day, Mr. Gerber created a new sandwich that really impressed them. It was so good that Dee and Tom Ruma decided to add it to their menu. This happened in 1973.
Since then, the Gerber sandwich has become a local favorite. Many other restaurants in St. Louis have also started making their own versions of this unique open-faced sandwich.
