Fried Brain Sandwiches - a St. Louis thing?
May 26, 2003, 3:58 pm
#1
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Fried Brain Sandwiches - a St. Louis thing?
I’ve read about fried brain sandwiches in St. Louis.
The opening paragraph to Lycos.com Travel on St. Louis is the following:
When they're not boasting about their city and chiding tourists who call it "St. Louie," locals at the pubs along Route 66 merrily toast the Cardinals over tasty fried-brain sandwiches. It's a St. Louis thing.
Two places I believe serve the fried brain sandwiches are:
CAFÉ MANHATTAN
Dieckmeyer’s
Anyone had one? And how was it?
The opening paragraph to Lycos.com Travel on St. Louis is the following:
When they're not boasting about their city and chiding tourists who call it "St. Louie," locals at the pubs along Route 66 merrily toast the Cardinals over tasty fried-brain sandwiches. It's a St. Louis thing.
Two places I believe serve the fried brain sandwiches are:
CAFÉ MANHATTAN
Dieckmeyer’s
Anyone had one? And how was it?
Last edited by Sweet Willie; Aug 28, 2004 at 4:18 pm
Aug 31, 2004, 3:56 pm
#4
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Definitely not a "St. Louis thing". It's more of an Ohio Valley thing. There were always fried-brain sandwich vendors at the local fairs where I grew up (Indiana and Kentucky).
My hometown was featured in a news article about these sandwiches during the brief Mad Cow scare earlier this year. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3969530/)
You don't taste the brain too much because there is so much batter on it.
Go ahead and try one!
My hometown was featured in a news article about these sandwiches during the brief Mad Cow scare earlier this year. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3969530/)
You don't taste the brain too much because there is so much batter on it.
Go ahead and try one!
Sep 6, 2004, 12:16 pm
#6
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I think as the article says it is more of a midwest German descent thing than specifically St. Louis. Ive tried eating lots of things. I love fugu for instance. But not a chance on brains.
Sep 7, 2004, 11:36 am
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Originally Posted by SteveinSTL
Sorry, but that's not one I know of. Toasted Ravioli, frozen custard, hot dogs, yes. Fried brains, no.
Of course, by definition i'm not here much.....
Of course, by definition i'm not here much.....
Sep 7, 2004, 12:38 pm
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Originally Posted by Sweet Willie
I’ve read about fried brain sandwiches in St. Louis.
The opening paragraph to Lycos.com Travel on St. Louis is the following:
When they're not boasting about their city and chiding tourists who call it "St. Louie," locals at the pubs along Route 66 merrily toast the Cardinals over tasty fried-brain sandwiches. It's a St. Louis thing.
Two places I believe serve the fried brain sandwiches are:
CAFÉ MANHATTAN
Dieckmeyer’s
Anyone had one? And how was it?
The opening paragraph to Lycos.com Travel on St. Louis is the following:
When they're not boasting about their city and chiding tourists who call it "St. Louie," locals at the pubs along Route 66 merrily toast the Cardinals over tasty fried-brain sandwiches. It's a St. Louis thing.
Two places I believe serve the fried brain sandwiches are:
CAFÉ MANHATTAN
Dieckmeyer’s
Anyone had one? And how was it?
Google reveals NJ & NY area reference too. Likely a German heritage thing as someone posted.
My Irish Grandfather was born & raised in farming country 100 miles south of St. Louis. He ate scrambled eggs & brains, but I don't recall sandwiches ~ guess that would work between bread. I turned purple @ idea & did same when I read your question. I imagine he liked it or he wouldn't have eaten it more than once. Canned pork brains are available in some grocery stores. (not in my cart!)
An uncle transplanted to Ohio & told about a German friend making blood sausage. I didn't ask any questions. Anyone with info about that dietary delight?
Sep 7, 2004, 12:41 pm
#9
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Originally Posted by jg2411
Google reveals NJ & NY area reference too. Likely a German heritage thing as someone posted.
My Irish Grandfather was born & raised in farming country 100 miles south of St. Louis. He ate scrambled eggs & brains, but I don't recall sandwiches ~ guess that would work between bread. I turned purple @ idea & did same when I read your question. I imagine he liked it or he wouldn't have eaten it more than once. Canned pork brains are available in some grocery stores. (not in my cart!)
An uncle transplanted to Ohio & told about a German friend making blood sausage. I didn't ask any questions. Anyone with info about that dietary delight?
My Irish Grandfather was born & raised in farming country 100 miles south of St. Louis. He ate scrambled eggs & brains, but I don't recall sandwiches ~ guess that would work between bread. I turned purple @ idea & did same when I read your question. I imagine he liked it or he wouldn't have eaten it more than once. Canned pork brains are available in some grocery stores. (not in my cart!)
An uncle transplanted to Ohio & told about a German friend making blood sausage. I didn't ask any questions. Anyone with info about that dietary delight?
Blood sausage is pretty common, also blood pudding I think. Im guessing the black sausage I had for breakfast in Dublin once was one in the same. Blood sausage is okay although not a favorite, just no brains thanks.
Sep 14, 2004, 2:20 pm
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Originally Posted by pseudoswede
Definitely not a "St. Louis thing". It's more of an Ohio Valley thing. There were always fried-brain sandwich vendors at the local fairs where I grew up (Indiana and Kentucky).
My hometown was featured in a news article about these sandwiches during the brief Mad Cow scare earlier this year. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3969530/)
You don't taste the brain too much because there is so much batter on it.
Go ahead and try one!
My hometown was featured in a news article about these sandwiches during the brief Mad Cow scare earlier this year. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3969530/)
You don't taste the brain too much because there is so much batter on it.
Go ahead and try one!
Last edited by cawhite; Feb 26, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Feb 26, 2007, 11:07 am
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So anyways, if you check out Episode 2 of Alton Brown's Feasting on Asphalt on Food Network, he visits Evansville and tries a brain sandwich. No, he didn't like it, but he also had some poignant comments on why it still exists (and why it's not found anywhere else).
Feb 26, 2007, 7:39 pm
#12
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It was...
a very common sandwich in STL around the turn of the century (1900). Yes, the large german population in STL was probably the instigator of such a delicacy. They were still pretty popular in the 1940s and I am sure you can still get one somewhere today. I do remember driving downtown for Cardinal football games with my Dad and passing a brick building on Chouteau Avenue with "Harvey's Sandwhich Shop. Brains Sandwiches 25 cents" painted on the side. Of course it was no longer in business.
