You gotta take a look at the north Jersey Sloppy Joe wars. The sloppy joe with the coleslaw and pastrami… My dad was nuts about those. i like the turkey version.
the NJ sloppy joe has no resemblance at all to the tomato/meat style. It is a regular deli sandwich with coleslaw on it. The North Jersey delis all lay claim to them. My take on them is fresh sliced roast turkey on rye with swiss, russian dressing, and lots of coleslaw. my o my
Jim S
THE SKINNY ON THE JOE AS TOLD BY JAMES F:
You probably know the background of the NJ Sloppy Joe and how it differs from what the rest of the country calls the sandwich of the same name. The NJ version is not ground beef in a sauce on a bun. It’s a double decker on rye with a combination of deli meats, cole slaw, Russian dressing and, sometimes, cheese. It’s always cut into multiple sections, not just into 2 halves. Usually you see them on a big platter at parties, carved into squares about 3″ X 3″ X 3″ with a toothpick holding each section together.
The Millburn Deli makes a gourmet version of the sandwich. The 3 slices of rye are thinly sliced fresh to order, meats are of super high quality (fresh turkey, rare and lean roast beef), there is one slice of Swiss cheese, and the homemade slaw and Russian are kind of sweet and thick, gluing the sandwich together. The sandwich could be described as creamy. You order the sandwich by the (single) type of meat you want, for examples, a Turkey Joe or a Roast Beef Joe. The ham Joe, which I believe is the most popular version, is simply called the Sloppy Joe. One unique feature of the Millburn Deli Joe is that it is sliced into 3! sections – picture an oval rye slice divided this way with 2 opposing D shaped sections surrounding the center Wedge. Just as people have various ways they might approach eating an Oreo cookie, there are different schools of thought on whether to eat from L to R or R to L, start with the Wedge, or save the Wedge for last. (There is no toothpick, as the sandwich is only about 1.5 ” tall.) The sandwich has remained essentially the same since I first had one around 1970, even though the ownership of the deli has changed. They used to butter each slice of bread – now, that’s only done on request (by some old timers).
Here is their website, which doesn’t give too much info and provides no pictures.
You should order one (or some) and see what you think.
The MD SJ was recently featured in a NY Times Article:
I’ll try to remember to take a picture next time I eat one.
Millburn is an upscale suburban NJ town whose poshest area is called Short Hills.
JAF
FAQs
The Town Hall Deli in South Orange claims to have invented the New Jersey sloppy joe in the 1930s. According to the deli's owner, a Maplewood politician, Thomas Sweeney, returned from a vacation in Cuba, where he spent time at a bar named Sloppy Joe's.
What's the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy Jane? ›
If you're aiming to eat a lower-fat diet, then consider fixing yourself a sloppy jane. This variant on the sloppy joe swaps out regular ground beef for leaner beef. It also places a higher focus on vegetables and other low-calorie ingredients.
What's the difference between a maid rite and a sloppy joe? ›
Though they are sometimes confused, they are not the same thing. Sloppy joes typically have a seasoned tomato sauce whereas a maid-rite is seasoned, but doesn't have a sauce. Depending on where they're from, people also refer to these as tavern sandwiches, Big T sandwiches or simply a ground beef sandwich.
What is a New Jersey style sloppy joe? ›
You probably know the background of the NJ Sloppy Joe and how it differs from what the rest of the country calls the sandwich of the same name. The NJ version is not ground beef in a sauce on a bun. It's a double decker on rye with a combination of deli meats, cole slaw, Russian dressing and, sometimes, cheese.
What state is known for Sloppy Joes? ›
Many believe the Sloppy Joe is the namesake of a Sioux City, Iowa cook, who in 1930, combined the regionally popular loose meat sandwich with tomato sauce. It's less messy predecessor, the loose meat sandwich is a Midwestern favorite of steamed or sauteed ground beef, onions, mustard and pickles.
What do Northerners call Sloppy Joes? ›
We always called it BBQ, but I think that might have originated from a longer-named "BBQ beef sandwich" when it was more like a shredded beef with barbeque sauce? ........ then you'd just be eating Joe. I'm from Green Bay, but I live in Nebraska now, and Nebraskans call Sloppy Joes "taverns" or "tavern sandwiches."
What is a sloppy joe in England? ›
The sloppy Joe really lives up to its name: rich, tomato-sauced minced beef is piled messily and generously into a burger bun so that it spills out over the sides. These are great served with fries or even crisps, but whatever you do, don't forget the napkins.
What do people in Wisconsin call Sloppy Joes? ›
hot tamales, here's a breakdown of Wisconsin-isms. "Why are Sloppy Joe's called Hot Tamales in Wisconsin?"
What is a fancy name for a sloppy joe? ›
Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.
What is the difference between a Manwich and a sloppy joe? ›
Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's.
It more closely resembles a sloppy joe, without the tomato-based sauce.
What do they call a Sloppy Joe in Iowa? ›
Most Iowans call them Maid-Rites. Another faction refers to them as Taverns. A contingent craves Canteens. And when the meat's cooked in a tomato sauce base, only then can you get away with dubbing it a Sloppy Joe. Stay in the know: Sign up to our free newsletter to get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox.
Why do they ring the bell in Sloppy Joes? ›
The tip bell (which is rung with gusto when a generous tip is received) is from a Coast Guard cutter boat. Big Skinner used the bat to keep the bar in order in the 30s and 40s.
Did Hemingway own Sloppy Joes? ›
The Hemingway Connection
When Joe Russell officially opened his bar, Hemingway and his “Mob” of cohorts were enthusiastic regular customers. In fact, the author once called himself a co-owner silent partner in the enterprise.
Who invented the first Sloppy Joe? ›
Some attribute the original Sloppy Joe to a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, where, many years ago, in 1930 a cook named Joe added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches. Voila: a new between-the-bread offering, and the sandwich's official name.
Where is the original Sloppy Joes? ›
Sloppy Joe's Bar is a historic American bar in Key West, Florida located at the corner of Greene and Duval Street since 1937.
Who invented the Bobby sandwich? ›
Capriotti's Sandwich Shop founder Lois Margolet, who created the iconic Bobbie and many other sandwiches while building a nationwide brand, died of lung cancer in Las Vegas early Thursday morning. She was 68.
Who came up with Manwich? ›
