When I saw this photo online, it brought back a flood of memories with my older sister.
We would often cruise around town (St. Joseph, Missouri) in my sister's newly acquired clunker car that our parents had given to her for her 16th birthday.
The fun began for this 6 year old too because I became my parent's insurance policy to keep my sister out of too much trouble. She could go almost anywhere within reason and as long as I was in tow.
Often she would stop at Wade's Hamburgers to eat her favorite fried brain sandwich. The only place in town that served them. Yes they were 25¢ and a waste of a quarter in my opinion! 😱
I can tell you it didn't taste like pork, it didn't take like beef and it didn't taste like chicken.
A brain sandwich tasted a little like mushy scrambled eggs with a fried coating.
Yuck was my response with the first bite off her sandwich. 😝
The Fried Brain Sandwich was first introduced in the late 1800s / early 1900s in the meat packing plants of East St. Louis, Illinois, according to Atlas Obscura when it was discovered to be a cheap sandwich filling.
Originally made from cow brains, they were battered and deep-fried in cast iron skillets.
After the discovery of Mad Cow Disease in the late 1980s, the recipe replaced cow brains with pig brains.
Another favorite was Snow White Restaurant which was located on the Belt Highway just north of Frederick Avenue
The original Snow White was remodeled shortly after 1957
By the late-1950's Snow White had expanded and become the largest and most popular drive-in restaurant in St Joseph
Snow White as the home of the 59 cent Big'un!, a big double decker cheeseburger with a special sauce
Every booth had a small juke box player. For a quarter you could listen to 5 songs
Their pies were made by Jerre Anne's, who made the best pies in St Joseph
In the mid 1960's, the curb service closed, only inside eating was provided
I was at the curb service one night, I observed some kids were getting out of hand squirting mustard and ketchup
The curb service was closed down permanently the very next day - this may have been the reason
I understand years later on January 25, 1991, the Snow White was razed
Shortly after, Winsteads Hamburgers was constructed on the site
Winsteads was torn down about a year later
Then I understand that Winsteads was replaced with a Walgreen Pharmacy.
Now a place I really enjoyed was Shakey's pizza.
In fact, it was the beginning of my love affair with pizza
It became a favorite with my older siblings because they never seem to question the later teens with one order each of their draft Ole English Ale & a pizza.
Of course the Manager was our neighbor so he seemed always have a pocket full of gum for all of us. ( I did not especially need it because I always had just a Coke.) 😂
It definitely was always a hoot hanging out with my siblings but especially my sister... Good Memories!
Nana
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