Dubuque’s Holiday Sandwich That Never Leaves the Menu

A small butcher shop has become the proud guardian of the comforting, Thanksgiving-on-a-bun turkey ‘n’ dressing sandwich.

The sandwich's success comes from its simple familiarity, including traditional dressing ingredients that many families prepare for holiday meals. Travel Dubuque

I am always intrigued by local food traditions: Oklahoma and its onion smashburger, Cincinnati and its cinnamon-tainted and noodled chili, Rhode Island with its long list of curiosities. And now I can add Dubuque, Iowa, and its unusual yet simple and satisfying local sandwich that most of us can get on board with: the turkey ‘n’ dressing sandwich.

Taking Over for Grandma

As I spent a weekend in Dubuque, enjoying the abundance of historic buildings, it pleased me to find an old-school butcher shop, Cremer’s Meats. Opened in 1948 by Ralph Cremer Sr., the small local grocery is now run by his grandson, Jeff Cremer. Here, I was told, was the place to find the iconic local sandwich.

I walked in to find Jeff Cremer chatting up the regular customers as he worked.