Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Fried Brain sandwiches in St. Louis???

Search

Fried Brain sandwiches in St. Louis???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 15th, 2010 | 10:32 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 675
Likes: 0
Fried Brain sandwiches in St. Louis???

I wish I was joking.... So my 91 year old grandma lived in stl all her life and has very fond memories of meeting my grandpa for lunch at a "pub" or bar type place in south St. Louis for fried brain sandwiches. She has since moved away, but is going back next weekend for a visit with my mom. And she said she would love nothing more than to eat a brain sandwich.
Sooo.... google hasn't been very helpful. Is there a wonderful Fordorite that has any clue where one might find a fried brain sandwich is St. Louis?
Thanks a bunch!!!
TXgalinGA is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2010 | 10:48 AM
  #2  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,876
Likes: 0
You can buy them canned and fry it yourself--horrible to say. It is quite a southern "treat".
Gretchen is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2010 | 10:50 AM
  #3  
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,027
Likes: 0
Oh yuk. I also googled it and it's apparently a St. Louis thing. Anyway, I did find some restaurant names for you at this link: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/121552

I am wondering if grandma is referring to Ferguson's Pub? Ferguson's Pub, 2925 Mt. Pleasant, St. Louis. Phone: 314-351-1466. Here's a bit about this place: http://midnightsnack.wordpress.com/s...rain-sandwich/

It's good of you to try to fulfill this little food yearning for grandma. Good luck!
sludick is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2010 | 02:19 PM
  #4  
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,628
Likes: 0
I really don't think that they are served anywhere in St. Louis anymore. I would suggest you post on the St. Louis Post Dispatch forums at the "Eat at Joe's" forums. Joe Bonwich is the food critic of the Post Dispatch and would be the person in St. Louis who would know for sure where/if there is any place that still serves brain sandwiches. He monitors his forum carefully and I'm sure he would answer quickly if you posted the question.
http://interact.stltoday.com/forums/...18055fed4ddf4f

Nice of you to try to grant grandma's craving....
Liz5959 is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2010 | 03:48 PM
  #5  
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,052
Likes: 0
I'm STL born and raised and never heard of brain sandwiches being a "St Louis thing". Perhaps they were at one time but, like Liz mentions above, not anymore. I can't recall any restaurant that served them, but you got some good suggestions for how to go about finding the info.

Good luck!
Tracy
tcreath is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2010 | 05:01 PM
  #6  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,876
Likes: 0
I would be pretty sure they aren't served any more because of the "mad cow" disease phenomenon.
Gretchen is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2010 | 05:01 PM
  #7  
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,027
Likes: 0
tcreath - yes, I read that the excitement over Mad Cow disease pretty much shut down that niche market. Those who did continue to serve it moved from calf brain to pig (I have my own thoughts about whether that was an improvement).
sludick is offline  
Old Nov 2nd, 2010 | 02:31 PM
  #8  
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,525
Likes: 0
In the late 80's, there was a restaurant on Gravois in Affton that had a large sign over the entrance that advertised brain sandwiches. Haven't been back in several years, so it's likely gone.
apersuader65 is offline  
Old Nov 2nd, 2010 | 02:49 PM
  #9  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,425
Likes: 0
I am from STL and have never seen it on a menu! I do see pigs feet at the grocery and restaurants though - ick...

I hope she found one if she had a craving for one!!!
annesherrod is offline  
Old Nov 2nd, 2010 | 05:11 PM
  #10  
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,928
Likes: 0
I wish OP would follow up and let us know if they found brain sandwich!
Jaya is offline  
Old Nov 3rd, 2010 | 03:56 AM
  #11  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,067
Likes: 0
I've been away too long to be much help, but they really did have places in StL that had brain sandwiches. I don't think they were "southern". I lived down south too, but only ever saw them at home in St Louis (which does NOT consider itself southern!)

Most of the ones I had were at home. And they're very light and airy, thank ya very much. I do remember there was one place in Lafayette area that I'd been to and another on Market that was very close to Union Station and on the same side of the street. Both I knew of were taverns. Probably all sold and changed by now, but thought I'd point out that this wasn't a myth.
Clifton is offline  
Old Nov 3rd, 2010 | 05:53 PM
  #12  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Oh boy, my mother served fried brains that I vividly remember as a kid...and it was in St. Louis! This is what I would call depression food along with other not so wonderful tidbits. I have never since liked liver or baked heart or pigs feet. Also might be kind of southern rural fare...like collard greens, beans, rice, or what have you.

Bill in Boston
Ozarksbill is offline  
Old Nov 4th, 2010 | 03:11 AM
  #13  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,876
Likes: 0
Brains are still sold canned in supermarkets in the South. Just an FYI. I didn't equate St. Louis with the "south". Just that it is another part of the country that has it on the plate.
Gretchen is offline  
Old Jun 7th, 2011 | 06:55 AM
  #14  
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Brain sandwiches in south St. Louis?
Fergies on Lemay Ferry; friend had one May, 2011.
nolilite is offline  
Old Jun 21st, 2011 | 04:51 AM
  #15  
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,611
Likes: 0
For another St Louis specialty, get a "St Paul sandwich" - egg foo young served with dill pickle slices, onion, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato on white bread.
Keith is offline  
Old Aug 24th, 2013 | 05:40 AM
  #16  
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Born and raised in STL I can tell you the brain sandwich was definitely a favorite at Del and Mary Carey's tavern in South STL, at the corner of California and Wyoming. And, this sandwich was delicious deep fried, served on white bread with a slice of white onion. I think this sandwich was more tavern food than "restaurant" fare. There was also a place on Park Avenue in South STL that sold them and they also had the sign which you may have seen..."Brains 25 cents".
rebecca_strayhorn is offline  
Old Aug 24th, 2013 | 07:03 AM
  #17  
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,589
Likes: 0
Hey, you know I do remember that sign! Who could ignore it? We lived in St. Louis in years past and often visited.
Ozarksbill is offline  
Old Aug 25th, 2013 | 11:29 AM
  #18  
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 10,169
Likes: 0
There is a high end restaurant here in Nantucket that offers brains on its menu, though in black butter like the French, not in a sandwich. I know the chefs, and they tell me that they may sell one order a night during the busy season but it is part of being that kind of restaurant.
Ackislander is offline  
Old Aug 25th, 2013 | 01:03 PM
  #19  
Conversation Starter
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 23,191
Likes: 0
I thought beef brains were banned because of Mad Cow disease. Are fried brains pork, lamb, human?
gail is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Stephen
United States
11
Mar 16th, 2014 11:05 AM
5OHS
United States
21
Jun 8th, 2009 08:11 AM
RYAYMOM2
United States
6
Dec 11th, 2008 03:11 PM
luv2fly
United States
8
Sep 21st, 2006 05:44 PM
Kristen
United States
5
Jan 2nd, 2003 04:57 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement -