This history lesson may not be for the faint of heart. It concerns the meatpacking industry and the less popular parts of an animal that were being used in order to not waste any of it. From this increase in extra organs came the fried brain sandwich, but you won’t find this weird meal in Illinois.
Whether you’ve had one of these sandwiches before or not, you’ll love hearing the history of how people in the Midwest started eating brains. Check it out:
Our story begins with East St. Louis and the Armour Meatpacking Plant that was an extension of the one in Chicago. In business during the late 1800s and early 1900s, this company helped create an industry that fueled Illinois’ economy and put it on the map.
Wikimedia Commons Though this old meatpacking plant was once a really cool place to explore, it was demolished in 2016 and is only remembered through pictures.
The way the brain sandwich came about is quite simple. Every animal that is slaughtered has organs and other innards that aren’t used as meat. These leftover pieces are called offal when they are sold as food, and cooks in diners around the St. Louis area caught on that the brains were good for something.
Wikimedia Commons/Javier Lastras
A brain sandwich is cheap but apparently not the easiest thing to make. Cooks have to remove the membrane before battering and frying it. Most add mustard, onions, and pickles to mask any grotesque flavors.
Wikimedia Commons/Tim Schapker If you haven’t already figured it out, the reason this sandwich isn’t sold in Illinois is that no one wants it. It’s brains. If they have to hide the flavor of it, it’s probably not worth eating for most people.
Many think this historic sandwich looks like a tenderloin, but a major difference is the thickness. Tenderloins are typically thin, but brains are just brains, and they are thick and meaty.
Facebook/Airport Steak House: Home of the Elephant Ear Tenderloin
While the original brain sandwich was made with cow brains, due to mad cow disease, restaurants that serve them now use pig brains instead. That’s more appetizing, right?
Wikimedia Commons/Michaelfthompson
Again, no restaurant in Illinois will sell this unique and, frankly, disturbing sandwich. If you really want to try one, you’ll have to check out restaurants in St. Louis and Evansville, Indiana. Good luck.
Flickr/Sam valadi
Speaking of fried pork, check out the 10 best restaurants in Illinois to get a breaded tenderloin.
Wikimedia Commons
Though this old meatpacking plant was once a really cool place to explore, it was demolished in 2016 and is only remembered through pictures.
Wikimedia Commons/Javier Lastras
Wikimedia Commons/Tim Schapker
If you haven’t already figured it out, the reason this sandwich isn’t sold in Illinois is that no one wants it. It’s brains. If they have to hide the flavor of it, it’s probably not worth eating for most people.
Facebook/Airport Steak House: Home of the Elephant Ear Tenderloin
Wikimedia Commons/Michaelfthompson
Flickr/Sam valadi
Have you ever had a brain sandwich? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Share your experiences in the comments.
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