December 18, 1921, is the Birthday of St. Louis’s most famous waiter, “Mickey” Garagiola. In the 1940s, he worked at Oldani’s (Now Mamma’s) on the Hill when a chef, Terry Lane, messed up a ravioli order. Mickey tasted them anyway and declared that, with some seasoning, they would be a hit. Toasted ravioli was born as a St. Louis tradition.
This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.
Image from Unsplash
