Wisconsin’s Christmas Tradition: Would You Eat Raw Beef Sandwich?

You're dating a Wisconsinite and they say, "Come on over, we're having an old-fashioned Christmas with traditions my great-grandpa and grandmas used to do!" So, of course, you're in. An old-fashioned Christmas sounds great! Until you get there and you find out about the Canibal Sandwich.

You're Kidding...A Canibal Sandwich Is A Thing in Wisconsin?

It is, especially near Milwaukee. There's a great video tutorial/recipe below, but its basically rye bread, raw ground beef, and onions. Would you eat it? I would not...I like my meat rare, but raw is just a step too far for me (if my doctors are reading this, I believe they just heaved a sigh of relief because almost all experts agree, eating raw ground beef can easily lead to a year on the toilet or even death.)

According to Wisconsin Public Radio,

"Cannibal sandwiches are a longtime Milwaukee tradition. Come Christmastime, Bunzel’s (Meat market) goes through over 1,000 pounds of raw beef and about 250 pounds of raw onions, exclusively for cannibal sandwiches."

Why...and When...Did They Come Up With Raw Beef Sandwiches?

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According to TasteOfHome.com 

Making cannibal sandwiches is a long-held tradition at parties, especially holiday gatherings, in the Milwaukee area. So much so that cannibal sandwiches even rate a mention on the Wisconsin Historical Society website.

But beyond that, the history isn’t clear. There are several versions of the sandwich’s origins. Legends link it to the Tartars (Mongols) of Central Asia. Others say it was born in Germany or France. But in the early twentieth century, it was called steak à l’Americaine in France—so no one knows for sure.

Not exactly helpful, but the idea has been around for a long time.

The Best Way To Eat Ground Beef

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We Don't Have Weird Raw Beef Eating Traditions In Minnesota, But...

We do have some odd names!