But if you're from Iowa, you may already know that. The Maid-Rite loose meat sandwich was the 1926 brainchild of butcher Fred Angell. There are stores in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Ohio- some of which have held franchise licenses since the 1920's. Have you ever eaten a Maid-Rite sandwich?

A Maid-Rite is not a hand formed burger or a saucy Sloppy Joe. It's seasoned ground beef cooked "loose." Building the sandwich requires a big spoon, a swipe of mustard, dill pickles, and a steamed bun. It's best served with chips and an orange drink on the side. And yes, you have to "mash" it down before you unwrap it. My father-in-law never had a Maid-Rite, but he always mashed his burgers before he ate them. Do you?

The Greenville, Ohio Maid-Rite that holds my heart has been around since 1934. No longer part of the franchise, they have been allowed to continue using the name though their recipe is a slightly different version of the sandwich. Maid-Rite fans tend to be fiercely loyal to the flavor of "their" Maid-Rite. Just like Mom's spaghetti which only she can get just right. Be it pie or meatloaf or anything else, is there a restaurant you think gets some, one thing "just right?"

Dad plopped me in the car and handed me a piece of gum. "Chew," he said. When we pulled up to the drive thru window of the Maid-Rite, he held me while I leaned out the car window and stuck my gum on the wall. I eventually did the same with my own kids- a tradition of long standing in the community. And yes, the owners periodically scrape the walls. Given the chance, would you add to the famous Greenville Maid-Rite Gum Wall?

Ottumwa, Iowa doesn't have a Maid-Rite, but since 1927 it has had the Canteen Lunch in the Alley, a loose meat sandwich shop. And I'd bet that would have been one of Radar O'Reilly's first stops when he returned home from serving with the 4077th MASH in Korea. Whether it's your hometown or a favorite place to visit for fun, is there a place to eat that is one of your "first stops" when you hit town?