Tavern sandwich facts for kids
A tavern sandwich with cheese
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| Alternative names | Loosemeat |
|---|---|
| Type | Sandwich |
| Course | Main |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Midwestern United States |
| Serving temperature | 33C / 91F |
| Main ingredients | Bun, ground beef, onions |
A tavern sandwich is a yummy type of sandwich. It's also known as a loose meat sandwich or loosemeat. It's made with ground beef that's cooked until it's crumbly, not shaped into a patty. This beef is then served on a bun.
Sometimes, people add cooked onions to the meat. You can also put toppings like pickles, ketchup, mustard, or cheese on it.
A tavern sandwich is different from a hamburger. A hamburger has a flat, round patty of meat. But a tavern sandwich uses meat that's cooked loose and crumbly. It's a bit like a sloppy joe, but it doesn't have the tomato-based sauce that sloppy joes usually have.
How the Tavern Sandwich Started
The idea for the tavern sandwich began a long time ago. In 1920, a person named Carroll Dietz in Missoula, Montana, made something similar. He called it a "steamed hamburger."
Then, in 1924, David Heglin started selling his own version in Sioux City, Iowa. He called his sandwich a "tavern." After he passed away, a man named Abe Kaled bought the restaurant in 1934. Kaled changed the restaurant's name to Ye Olde Tavern, named after the popular sandwich. He made the recipe for the loose meat even better!
In 1926, Fred Angell also started selling his version. He sold it at the first Maid-Rite restaurant in Muscatine, Iowa. He called his sandwich a "loose meat sandwich."
Where to Find a Tavern Sandwich Today
Today, the tavern sandwich is very popular in the Midwestern United States. You can find it in many small, local restaurants. It's also sold in bigger restaurant chains. Places like Dairy Queen and Maid-Rite serve their own versions.
In Wichita, Kansas, there's a restaurant chain called Nu Way Cafe. They serve a sandwich like the tavern sandwich, and they call it a "Nu Way." In Illinois, some people call this sandwich a "loose hamburger sandwich." And in Iowa, it's often just called a Maid-Rite, after the famous restaurant.
