The camel rider or desert rider is a type of sandwich that is popular in Jacksonville, Florida.[1][2] The sandwich is usually made with lunch meats, Italian dressing, and pita bread.[1][2] It is often served with tabbouleh and cherry limeade.[1][3][4]
 Camel rider | |
| Alternative names | Desert rider |
|---|---|
| Type | Sandwich |
| Course | Main dish |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Main ingredients | Lunch meat, Italian dressing, pita bread |
| Variations | Shrimp rider, veggie rider, and steak-in-a-sack |
The camel rider is a product of Arab immigrants who first settled in the Jacksonville area in the 1890s.[1][2] Since then, Jacksonville has had a large Middle Eastern population.[3][5] It became popular in Jacksonville in the 1960s.[2] The Arab immigrants would have grocery stores in predominantly African-American neighborhoods where they would sell the dish.[4] Although the exact origins are unclear, it is often traced to Joe Assi, a Lebanese-born baker, who owned the Gold Room restaurant where he served the dish.[2] In the 1970s, it continued to grow in popularity and was served in restaurants like The Sheik, Desert Rider, and Pinegrove Market & Deli.[2] During the early years of its popularity, pita bread was considered a novelty locally.[6] Some locals refer to the pita bread as Arabic bread or Syrian bread as a nod to the origins of some of the bakers.[1]
The name camel rider was initially pejorative but has since been accepted by the Arabic producers and local consumers.[4] Nevertheless, some have avoided the term or created variations, such as the shrimp rider, veggie rider, and steak-in-a-sack.[1][2][7] One popular breakfast variation served at The Sheik is pita stuffed with eggs and sausage and served with grits.[4] It can be found in other parts of the country such as Columbus, Georgia or Birmingham, Alabama, but remains most readily available in Jacksonville.[1][2] More than 50 restaurants in Jacksonville serve the dish.[1][2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "In Jacksonville, Camel Rider Sandwiches are Ubiquitous". The New York Times. 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Delaney, B. (2021). Secret Jacksonville: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Reedy Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-1-68106-334-8. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- ^ a b Davis, E.A. (2015). Jacksonville. Images of Modern America (in French). Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-4396-5357-9. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
- ^ a b c d Edge, J.T. (2018). The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South. Penguin Publishing Group. p. 298. ISBN 978-0-14-311101-6. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
- ^ "Pita Bread in Jacksonville, Baked Fresh Daily". Edible Northeast Florida. 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
- ^ Prior, Richard (2003-11-21). "Desert Rider: end of an era". Jax Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
- ^ Jaxson, The (2023-03-06). "Jacksonville's signature foods". The Jaxson. Retrieved 2023-04-28.