What do you call it? Sloppy Joes, Taverns, bbq beef, Loose Meat, Slush Burger, Manwich, Yum Yum? When I was growing up we called it a 'Sloppy Joe'.

When we make 'em at our house we brown some ground beef then toss in some Ketchup, Mustard, Chopped Onion, Worcestershire sauce, then salt and pepper to taste. That simple.

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Sloppy Joes, Taverns, bbq beef, Loose Meat, Slush Burger, Manwich, Yum Yum?

The key to a great Sloppy Joe is the bun. My personal favorite is fresh-made Hawaiian Buns. And for some reason, you can't stop with just one.

Was the Sloppy Joe Invented in Sioux City, Iowa?

The origin story I find most likely is that they were invented in the 1920s at Ye Olde Tavern Inn in Sioux City, Iowa. They were prepared by a cook named Joe who mixed in his loose meat concoction and referred to it as a 'Sloppy Joe',

MORE: Growing Up In Nebraska: Tales of a Dorothy Lynch Dad

Ye Olde Tavern
(The former Ye Olde Tavern building at the corner of 14th and Jackson in Sioux City, Iowa in 2012 ) Google Maps
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Where Does the Name 'Sloppy Joe' Come From?

The other story is that it arrived in the United States when famous author Ernest Hemingway introduced the concept of the sandwich to a bar in Key West, Florida, and suggested they name it the 'Sloppy Joe' after the owner of the bar Joe Russell.

I've eaten Sloppy Joe's at Sloppy Joe's in Key West. They were darn tasty.

(Sloppy Joe's in Key West, Florida) Google Maps
(Sloppy Joe's in Key West, Florida) Google Maps
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The original Ye Olde Tavern in Sioux City was opened by Dave Heglin in 1920. The original 'Tavern Sandwitch' recipe was a closely guarded secret for years. The restaurant was sold in the 1930s after Heglin's death.

The new owners continued to sell the original sandwich for ten cents each, served on wax paper, for decades. Its popularity grew making it a local favorite.

This version of  Ye Olde Tavern closed in the early 1970s. Several different restaurants have occupied the space since. Most recently The Garden Cafe continued the tradition, keeping the sandwich on the menu until it closed in 2020.

Iowa Palmer Company's Twin Bing Products

Can you even really claim to live in this part of the country if you've never had a Twin Bing?

WHAT IS A TWIN BING?

"It consists of two round, chewy, cherry-flavored nougats coated with a mixture of chopped peanuts and chocolate. The Twin Bing was introduced in the 1960s," -Wikipedia

Not only has the TB been a staple of the Sioux Empire for over half a decade, but the makers of the classic candy have also infused the unique cherry and chocolate flavor into lots of other things.

7 Sucky Foods We Eat In South Dakota

If you live in South Dakota you may have chocked down some of these awful foods. I'd have to be on the verge of starvation before I'd ever try them...again.

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The Phillips House, Oldest House In Sioux Falls

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