Where does the name ‘toast cannibal’ come from?

Answer

Both the idea of ​​spreading raw steak tartare on a slice of bread and jokingly calling it a “cannibal sandwich” both originated in the 1890s in the meat capitals of the United States, Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia.

The original recipe contains ground or minced beef, raw (which was certainly dangerous at the time!) and lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, spread thickly on a piece of bread, which may or may not have been toasted. Mayonnaise, mustard, raw egg yolks, oil, onions, gherkins, parsley, spicy sauces, capers or anchovies could be added. In the early years, sandwiches were also filled with raw minced fish ‘cannibal’: sturgeon, halibut, salmon…

The name fits in with a trend at the end of the 19th century to give new dishes imaginative titles: hot dog, tartar sauce, steak à l’américaine, doughnut, Berliner…