National Sloppy Joe’s Day is observed each year on March 18th.
One of America’s all-time favorite hot sandwiches, it is often made with ground beef, onions, tomato sauce, brown sugar, cola or maple syrup to sweeten it and seasonings to spice it, all served up on a hamburger bun or roll.
There are different claims to the origin of the sloppy joe.
In Havana, Cuba in the 1930s there was a genuine bartender who gained popularity with vacationers who went by the name of Sloppy Joe. He earned his name for his less than enthusiastic way of cleaning the bar. He was, however, an attentive bartender, and the bar was a hot spot for the jet set.
However, no mention is found in papers from the era of a hot sandwich on the menu matching the description of a Sloppy Joe, and the man of the same name retired to Spain in 1933.
Another claim on the sandwich at the Ye Olde Tavern Inn by Abraham and Bertha Kaled in Sioux City, Iowa that had a loose meat sandwich on their menu in 1934.
Whoever brought the Sloppy Joe to the world, it was made more convenient when in 1969 Hunt’s put it in a can and called it Manwich.
Today, many families have their secret recipes that make their Sloppy Joes special. Some variations of Sloppy Joe recipes use meats other than the traditional ground beef, such as chuck roast or even chicken. Some others call for different spices like cinnamon or brown sugar.
Whether it’s an unusual spice, a novel ingredient for sweetening or a homemade tomato sauce, a Sloppy Joe lends itself to originality and personality. A new flavor is just around the corner.
In the south, you might come across a barbecue flavor while in the north Sloppy Joe might be a little sweeter. Whatever your flavor, it is certainly an all-American food holiday!
Fun Facts
- Most believe the sloppy joe was first served in Havana Cuba at the bar and café “Sloppy Joe’s” in the early 1900’s.
- Many say that a cook named Joe in Sioux City, Iowa, in the 1920′ created a sandwich of “loose meat” served in bread, a “sloppy’ Joe.
- The sloppy joe goes by many names, including manwich, yum yums, barbecues, dynamites, gulash, sloppy janes, slush burgers, steamers, wimpies and even sloppy jane.
- “Sloppy Joe’s” were mentioned in several movies of the 1930’s, Citizen Kane and even It’s a Wonderful Life. Even though it was not widely popular until the 1960’s.
- In 1969, Hunt’s revolutionized the Sloppy Joe when it introduced its Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce.
- Many say that a cook named Joe in Sioux City, Iowa, in the 1920′ created a sandwich of “loose meat” served in bread, a “sloppy’ Joe.
