100 things to eat in Iowa before you die

Two summers ago the Des Moines Register published a list of the “100 things to eat in Iowa before you die.” In light of a recent move to the Hawkeye State, I see it as my civic duty to sample as many of Iowa’s favorite foods as possible. My first stop (#67 on the list) was Maid-Rite (one of the Des Moines franchises) for a classic Maid-Rite sandwich. It would be hard to describe the loosemeats sandwich any better than Michael Stern did in his review—it is essentially a “sloppy joe without the slop.” A simple sandwich, the standard fast food bun is elevated by the perfectly seasoned meat that spills out from every possible side. In my book, Maid-Rite is one franchise worthy of an exception to the “no chains” rule.