Fun Facts: STL Food Edition

1. Peanut Butter

Peanut butter was originally marketed as a nutritious protein substitution for those who couldn’t chew on solid food. In 1903, Dr. Ambrose of St. Louis, MO patented a peanut-butter-making machine. By default, I think the invention of peanut butter should also allow us to claim the invention of Reese’s (the world’s best candy).

2. The Ice Cream Cone

The ice cream cone was invented at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair when an ice cream vendor ran out of cups and partnered with a waffle vendor to help solve his problem with rolled up waffles! My favorite place to get a scoop of my favorite ice cream in a waffle cone is Clementine’s Creamery. If you decide to check it out, I recommend their salted cracker caramel flavor, but they also have a variety of regular, vegan, and boozy flavors as well!

3. Iced Tea

Iced tea was also invented at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair when Richard Blechyden served tea with ice in it because of the hot weather. Although we can’t claim the invention of sweet tea, I’m more of an unsweet person myself anyways.

4. Dr. Pepper

In 1904, Lazenby and O’Hara introduced Dr. Pepper, a soda with a unique cola flavor, to nearly 20 million people at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. If you think Coke is better than Dr. Pepper… you’re just plain wrong.

5. 7 UP

Charles Leiper Grigg invented this fizzy lemon-lime beverage in October of 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri. Are 7 UP, Sprite, and Sierra Mist all the same? Let me know.

6. Provel Cheese

A combination of cheddar, swiss, and provolone cheeses. Provel has a low melting point, and therefore has a gooey and almost buttery texture at room temperature. It is said that this cheese blend was invented by the downtown firm Costa Grocery (now known as Roma Grocery on the Hill), specifically for traditional St. Louis style pizza. Personally, I like to eat provel on my roast beef sandwiches (especially at Lion’s Choice), but maybe that’s just me!

7. Gooey Butter Cake

The recipe calls for a bottom layer of butter and yellow cake batter, and a top layer made from eggs and cream cheese. The cake is dusted with powdered sugar before being served. Supposedly, in the 1930s a baker got the proportions wrong and served it anyway because it was so delicious. Today, this special treat is offered at every grocery store in St. Louis as well as most bakeries. The best spot to get gooey butter cake in all of St. Louis is Park Avenue Coffee. This local spot specializes in the home-made treat, offering a rotation of 12 flavors daily (with 73 flavors total)!

8. Thin Crust Pizza

This style of pizza is made with a cracker-thin crust that’s cut into squares; the main thing that makes it stand out is that it’s made with provel cheese, not mozzarella. Another feature worth mentioning is that this special pizza is cut into squares instead of triangles! While St. Louis style pizza is found all over the city, the best place to go is Imo’s Pizza.

9. The Concrete- Frozen Custard

Ted Drewe’s Frozen Custardmixed with toppings of your choice dates back to 1929. The thick custard is similar to ice cream, but with a thicker, richer consistency. Word on the street is that Dairy Queen tried to purchase the concept, but after that idea failed they came up with their own version referred to as a “Blizzard”. Definitely not a comparable alternative, but they tried.

10. Toasted Ravioli

Breaded, deep-fried pasta filled with meat; served sprinkled with parmesan cheese and marinara sauce for dipping. This savory fried staple was invented in the predominantly Italian neighborhood of St. Louis known as “The Hill”. As a proud Italian with family who lived in The Hill growing up, I can honestly say that Charlie Gitto’s restaurant has the best toasted ravioli in St. Louis. If you haven’t tried theirs yet, I highly recommend going ASAP.