It’s time for another edition of You Know You’re From the Midwest When… (check out editions one and two!) You know you’re from the Midwest when you don’t say “Maid who??” when I tell you Maid-Rites were on the menu tonight!
Maid-Rite, a popular Midwestern restaurant, specializes in “loose meat” sandwiches, aka seasoned ground beef on a warm bun. I know. Sounds… crazy?! It is, a little, I suppose – but we totally dig them. And NO they’re not sloppy joe’s!
I had to laugh when Ben told me a story about a co-worker who was visiting from the east coast last month and was asking people where she should eat while in town. Someone suggested Maid-Rite and was trying to explain the sandwiches to her…
“So it’s a sloppy joe then…”
“No, there’s no sauce.”
“So it’s just meat?”
“Yeah, but it’s seasoned.”
“But it’s still just ground beef…”
“Right, but it’s really good. Just trust me!”
HA! I can totally hear this conversation in my brain… Anyway, my Mom has a super recipe for Maid-Rites (oh also, you can just call them “maid-rites” and everyone will know what you’re talking about) so I cooked some up for dinner!
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Maid-Rites
Description
Maid-Rites are a popular Midwestern loose meat sandwich, and they're full of savory goodness. This is my version!
Ingredients
- 1lb 85/15 ground beef (could use 80/20 - just not super lean)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1/2 beef bullion cube
- 1/2 cup water
- pepper
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons steak sauce
- Buns
Directions
- Sauté beef and onions until cooked then drain and return to pan. Add the rest of the ingredients then simmer for 30 minutes and scoop onto buns.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
SO easy, right?! I always get my maid-rites with a squeeze of cold ketchup and salty pickles. Perfection I tell you. Totally a crowd pleaser too – everyone will love these.
Bring a taste of the Midwest to your home, won’t you?
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Fill in the blank “You know you’re from (fill in your city/state here) when…”
Alternatively, do you have any unique local or regional dishes?
Iowa, of course, is know for their corn and pigs. NOT POTATOES – that’s Idaho (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten that!)
I thought I was from the midwest, but I’ve never heard of Maid-Rites. They sound good though!
I really want to try your version of sweet potato fries!!
I live in Cincinnati, OH. We have several food items you can only get here. Skyline and Gold Star Chili compete for everyone’s business. It’s chili served over spaghetti noodles with about a pound of shredded cheese. Or you can get the chili over hot dogs (coney dogs). Personally, I have never quite acquired the taste for this chili since I’m a firm believer that chili should not have cinnamon in it! But, to each their own.
Then, there’s Graters which has donuts, pastries, and ice cream. Everyone’s favorite is raspberry chocolate chip…again an acquired taste…just not for me! :)
Busken’s bakeries are another staple.
Come visit Cincy sometime! I’d love to meet you and show you around! :)
Betty Jo
You know you’re from central Illinois when you wait an hour for a seat at your favorite restaurant to have a “Horseshoe” and think you got lucky with a short wait… all I can say is Yummy. Sounds gross, looks gross, but tastes like heaven on a plate. Traditionally it is made with 2 pieces of grilled Texas toast on the bottom, 2 hamburger patties, covered in crispy fries, covered in a cheesy welsh rarebit (sp?) sauce. I prefer a chickenbreast instead and a side a spicy buffalo wing sauce….. ummm … might have to drive the hour to get one this weekend. They do make a smaller version called a ponyshoe, lol, 1 piece toast, 1 burger. Yes it is a heart attack on a plate, but oh so good.
And on the Maid-Rite fromt we alsways had a fresh frosty Rootbeer with ours at the little shop.
In northwest Iowa, maid-rites are called “taverns.” To me, a tavern is a bar, but to each their own, I guess!! There is a tavern (bar) in Sioux City called Miles Inn that serves taverns (maid-rites) called Charlie boys, and they are are the best I have ever had! The buns are steamed and the meat is moist and delicious. They are best washed down with an ice cold beer!! If you ever get up that way, you HAVE to try them! You won’t regret it!
Charlie Boy’s are the best – especially washed down with an ice cold schooner! My mom has the recipe for Charlie Boy’s….the secret ingredient is cream of wheat!
Was wondering if you could send me the recipe for Charlie Boy?
YES..love Maid-Rites! I haven’t cooked them for a very long time for my family..on the menu for tonight!! When I lived in Iowa, my dad would always take us to Maid-Rite…just seeing the paper in your blog brought so many memories back to me. I will have to get my dad on the phone and tell him we are going to Maid-Rite when I get back home. Thanks for ALL the wonderful posts!! A day doesn’t go by without us eating something from your recipes! we had your brussels sprouts, asparagus, and sweet potatoes last night. my kids ate the BS like they were popcorn!
keep on..you are doing great!!!
I really need to try out Panko bread crumbs. Every time you use them the food looks scrumptious!
Yum, those fries look amazing.
Also being an Iowa girl I had difficulty explaining to co-workers in Texas which state Iowa is. “No, it’s not the potato state – that’s Idaho. No it’s not the Buckeye state – that’s Ohio. Maybe you should look at a map.” :)
As far as I’m concerned, there’s only one real Maid-Rite, the one in Quincy, IL—the one that was featured in Alton Brown’s Feasting on Asphalt. It’s been around for over 70 years. My husband’s grandparents went there on dates as teenagers. A visit to Quincy simply isn’t complete without at least one stop for Maid-Rites. And a chef salad, with oil and vinegar dressing—it’s sweet, and loaded with little bits of onion, and I haven’t been able to duplicate it on my own. And a slice of homemade pie.
Unfortunately, we don’t get to Quincy much since my grandparents-in-law have moved into a nursing home near my MIL. But last year, a cousin who is still in Quincy brought a sackful to a family gathering, and we all pounced on them.
My hubby is from Iowa and told me about them – last time we were back in Iowa visiting, he insisted I try the pork tenderloin sandwich, though!
I have major issues trying to get my sweet potato fries crispy! Thanks for the tip – I’ll definitely have to try this.
You know you’re from Nebraska when you throw a fit if a restaurant doesn’t offer Dorothy Lynch dressing.
(I don’t do that!)
You know you’re from the SOUTH when you say y’all when refering to more than 1 person (and spell it correctly,)and drink coke (not pop or soda… what are those?) I was born in Kansas City, MO but was raised in the south. Never heard of maid-rites but love me some Chick-fil-a! Maybe that is the south’s version of fast food!
I worked at a Maid-Rite in high school. Yum.
I’m from Indiana and have never heard of Maid Rites. We consider ourselves to be midwest but I’m not so sure… maybe eastern midwest? Huh. Anyways, you know you’re from Indiana if you know the ‘song’ “there’s more than corn in Indiana…” :) I’m sure there are other things too though, but I’m back in Indiana now after 4 years at school and 2 years of working in Ohio so maybe I’m still adapting! :)
you know you’re from philly when you know what a tastycake and wawa are
philly is known for cheesesteaks (obv), tastycakes (google it. now), soft pretzels, and apparently also for rude/ugly people… :(
Funny story about Tastycakes. I worked at a large insurance company in Des Moines and the director of my dept was from PA. He always talked about Tastycakes with one of the managers who said Tastycakes will never be better than Hostess. So one day, I get an invite to a “focus group” meeting with several other co-workers. The so called “focus group” was a taste test to compare Tastycakes with Hostess. The group as a whole decided Hostess was better but we all loved the chocolate covered cookies with peanut butter slathered on them. I’m not sure what they are called.
I am an Iowa girl and grew up in northwest Iowa were they have loose meat sandwiches called taverns. I am sure that if you haven’t heard of a maid-rite you have probably never heard of a tavern. (I know kinda weird that a sandwich has the same name as a bar:))
In LeMars, IA the place to check out is Bob’s Diner (and of course Wells Blue Bunny Ice cream). Bob’s have the best taverns!
My mother also made these throughout my childhood and still today, they are so delicious!
You know you’re from New York – well – yeah – you probably already know….ohhh – you reminded me – have to drive to the city and get those roasted chestnuts from street vendors – and pretzels, and hot do/gs….yum (because yes – the whole state is not “the city”)
You know you’re from the South when they ask you if you want Sweetened of Unsweetened Iced Tea! Otherwise, it’s just plain Iced Tea.
We have so many staples down here, but I’d say shrimp and grits are a great local fare that is delicious!
You know you’re from Florida when you can wear shorts on Christmas Day!
Dinner looked so good! I think I may need to try those next week :)