Illinois Has the Horseshoe, But Missouri Has This Sandwich Icon

Illinois is known for its Horseshoe open-faced sandwiches. Kentucky is know for its open-faced "Hot Brown" sandwich. Open-faced is a plate sized sandwich with everything on top, daring you to try and get messy with it. Trust me, you can’t really grab it by the bread and fold it over into a regular sandwich. It’s too big.

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In Missouri, there is an open faced sandwich that you should seek out. The “Gerber”, originally served at Ruma’s deli in St. Louis is a local treat to sample. Dating back to the 1970’s, the story goes that a neighbor paid for the chance to create his own sandwich in the Ruma's deli kitchen.

Ruma's Deli - South St. Louis County location

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That neighbor was Dick Gerber. His sandwich used garlic bread as the base, then topped it with garlic butter, ham, and the St. Louis cheese creation “provel”. Toasted until golden and gooey, it has been a customer favorite for over 50 years.

The sandwich has become such a St. Louis staple that other restaurants began adding it to their menus -- or came up with their own version. You can now find a Yelp! list of the top ten places to get a “Gerber” in the St. Louis area. From grocery stores to pizza places, bars, barbecue joints, and others, the “Gerber” is a plate full of St. Louis. BONUS! – Toasted Ravioli is the perfect side dish to complement this sandwich.