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Back to recipe archiveThe Melting Pot
Blue Plate Special photo coming soon
1910s-present
The blue plate special became shorthand for the everyday American diner meal: filling, inexpensive, and quick to order. The phrase was common by the 1920s and 1930s, tied to lunch counters, railroad restaurants, and diners serving one daily set plate.
The Melting Pot
Sloppy Joes photo coming soon
1900-1929
Sloppy Joes are ground beef sandwiches served in a savory tomato sauce on hamburger buns. Popular from the early 20th century in diners, schools, and community gatherings, they became a staple of affordable American social dining, especially at state fairs and church suppers.