1939. The year my mom first tasted a MAID-RITE hamburger. She and a couple of her girlfriends were coming home from their swimming lesson at the YMCA in Muscatine, Iowa. Enticing aromas tempted the girls’ nostrils as they passed a walk-up window restaurant. One of the girls had a bit of pocket change, so she paid a dime each for the girls to enjoy their first MAID-RITE.
Mom remembers the “juice” running down their arms as they giggled and devoured the delicious hamburgers invented by Fred Angell in1926.
Thus began a 75-year love affair between my mother and the loose-meat sandwiches smothered in a cabbage, onion, and pickle sauce.
I grew up eating those sandwiches; but I have to admit, I didn’t know their actual name was misspelled. Mom called them “MADE RIGHTS”, and that was all I knew about it until I traveled through Iowa as an adult.
“Maid-rite? What? The whole franchise is misspelled?”
I couldn’t believe it. It hurt my author/editor soul, let me tell you.
Since then, I’ve come to terms with the fact that Mr. Angell was, to quote the MAID-RITE website, “quite a sandwich maker but not much of a speller.” Apparently, Mr. Angell invented the sandwiches and named them after a deliveryman’s comment that the sandwich was made right. Hmm.
That’s reasonable, isn’t it?
A Disappointment
2008. Mom and I marched into one of the franchises in an Iowa mall grinning from ear to ear. We couldn’t wait to order a MAID-RITE. Passing up every other eating opportunity as we traveled across the country that day, we were starved and anticipatory.
After all, this was to be the first store-bought maid-rites Mom had eaten since 1939. I’d never eaten any but my mom’s.
Honest. I have to be honest and say that something drastic happened to those maid-rites since Mr. Angell first cranked them onto the streets via his four franchises by the end of the 1920s. Dry. No cabbage in the topping. Tasteless. Disappointing.
I still see mom shaking her head as she sat across the table from me. We took a few bites and shoved the sandwiches to the side.
You’re About to Get Lucky
Since 1939, Mom has served us MAID-RITES like the ones she first tasted – just like the ones Mr. Angell used to sell. Since she also happens to be a fabulous cook, I have to believe her method and her recipe are PURE.
The other evening, Mom made MAID-RITES. I took a picture of my plate and put it at the top of this blog. Now that’s a MAID-RITE made right! So right, that Mr. Angell would rise up and give my mom a high-five if he could only taste one!
The only thing we’ve added to the mix over the years is a sprinkle of cheddar for the top. It’s a great addition and really adds flavor. If you want to make these easy but incredibly yummy loose-meat sandwiches, cruise on over to the Chuckwagons and Campfires section of my blog for the authentic recipe.
You can’t go wrong when you go rite!
Ever had a MAID-RITE? We’d love to hear about it!
Dad always made these too but never included pickles in the sauce. I too was disappointed in Iowa by what was supposed to be a maid-rite. I called it a maid-wrong.
How cool! So this truly WAS a family recipe! It’s such a pity that big business took the franchise to such a low. Maybe someone should send them this blog? Lol! Thanks for stopping by, Jan!
OMGosh!! 6:17 AM and I’m totally obsessed with an immediate urge to consume a Maid-rite! This is the first I’m hearing of this culinary marvel, and wowsa does it sound delicious. I especially love the personal history behind your mom’s discovery and lifetime love affair with this most pretty sandwich. Ten minutes ago I was wondering over what to make for supper–so thrilled I popped over here and found my answer 😀 Thanks for sharing, Jodi!
Hi, Barbara! Did you make yourself a Maid-Rite? They are quite addictive! Too easy, too!